Instructors

At the forefront of integrating AI and big data analytics into precision medicine, my role as a Clinical Genomics Specialist and Lead of Data Analytics at IWK Health is transforming the landscape of genomics diagnosis in Nova Scotia. I leverage my expertise in interdisciplinary oncology, biomedical sciences, and cancer genomics to lead a dynamic team of data experts in developing cutting-edge bioinformatics frameworks that cater to individual genetic profiles. Our AI-powered tools and state-of-the-art platforms for data integration and sharing are revolutionizing patient care, enabling personalized treatment strategies, and improving outcomes for those affected by complex genetic conditions. Concurrently, as an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University, I spearhead genomic research initiatives, unravelling the intricate interplay of genetic and epigenetic factors and environment in cancer. My research, published in prestigious journals such as Science, Cancer Discovery, and PNAS, has attracted multi-million dollar funding from renowned organizations like Genome Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute. This support fuels our ongoing efforts to decipher the molecular mechanisms driving cancer progression associated with specific environmental carcinogens that affect our population in Atlantic Canada. I am also deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of genomics experts and early-career scientists. As a mentor, I guide emerging researchers, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to tackle the complex challenges in precision medicine. This dual contribution to both research and clinical practice underscores my dedication to advancing healthcare through innovation and knowledge dissemination. With a unique multicultural perspective shaped by my Chilean heritage, I bring a diverse and inclusive approach to my work, fostering collaboration and creativity within my team. When I’m not dealing with data, you can find me being outmatched by my son in video games or playing the drums.

Dr. Gustavo Sganzerla Martinez is a postdoctoral fellow at Dalhousie University. Gustavo’s work sits at the very intersection between computer science and biology. By being fascinated by coding and how computers work, Gustavo develops computational solutions for biological problems.

My research aim is to develop and collaboratively apply data-driven methods to try and mitigate health and social crises. This is focused on two main areas: genomic epidemiology of infectious diseases and interdisciplinary health data science collaborations with experts in medicine and the social sciences.  My genomic epidemiology work involves creating novel microbial bioinformatics and machine learning approaches to better understand the diagnosis, evolution, and dynamics of infectious diseases.  This largely involves work with national and international public health consortia on problems related to antimicrobial resistance and, recently, the viral dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The broader health data science area of my work is more varied and tries to identify and solve the data-related problems of socially/health-focused academics, non-governmental organisations, and public health groups. This includes working with local shelters to identify gaps in provision, physicians to improve healthcare access among refugees, and sociologists exploring online radicalisation. I also actively support and contribute towards the MicroResearch initiative, a multinational community-based program focused on building research capacity in the Global South and under-served Canadian communities. I hold a jointly-appointed position in the Faculty of Computer Science and the Department of Community Health & Epidemiology (Faculty of Medicine), as well as an adjunct appointment in pathogenomics at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre’s Shared Hospital Laboratory.

The focus of Dr. Langille’s research is to better understand human-microbial interactions and how that can be used to improve human health. This includes leveraging novel genomic technologies and developing improved bioinformatic methods to process and integrate multi-omic data to aid in biological interpretation. These discoveries will hopefully lead to novel applications for diagnosis, therapeutics, and precision medicine.

Rob (or “Dr. Robert Beiko”, if you want to be all formal about it) is a Professor in Bioinformatics in the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University. Before coming to Dal in 2006, he was a postdoc in the lab of Mark Ragan at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. And before that, he completed a PhD in Biology at the University of Ottawa (1998-2003). Although all of his formal training was in biology, an interest in machine-learning approaches, algorithms for identifying important evolutionary events, and visualization of biological data have ultimately led him to put down stakes in Computer Science and collaborate with some of the best in the business here.