Ludmilla Boyer

Secretary to Dr. Cuello

I am Dr. Cuello’s secretary – a.k.a. his aide-de-camp! I am in charge of his secretarial and administrative duties. In short, I ensure the smooth functioning of his office operations. Besides coordinating grant applications, meetings and communications with industrial collaborators as well as editing  manuscripts, I assist the group and academic visitors with special events.

On a more biographical note, I speak and write French, English and Russian and enjoy classical literature in all three languages.  I love music and arts (eclectically), and love to play guitar/sing (amateurishly), adore classical stretch and enjoy swimming and taking long leisurely walks, when time permits!

Agustina Lavagna

Research assistant

I am from Argentina where I obtained my degree in Biochemistry. After travelling for a couples of years I settle down in Canada and obtained my MSc at the University of Montreal.

I joined Dr. Cuello’s lab in 2018 as a research assistant and I am fully dedicated to generate monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that can be use to detect different molecules affected in Alzheimers Disease.

I enjoy hiking, cooking and reading, and lately I am crazy about plants, specially in summer when I build my own little veggie garden!

Adriana Ducatenzeiler

Research assistant

I obtained my degree in Biology at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina). I got my MSc in Microbiology and Immunology at the Université de Montréal (Canada). In 1990 I joined Dr Cuello’s laboratory as Chief Research technician and have been working with him for 30 years. My work focused in the production of monoclonal antibodies, molecular biology, immunocytochemistry and the creation and management of the transgenic rat and mouse colonies. In 2017 I retired but continued to work part-time overseeing the operation of the laboratory.

Abhay Parmar

MSc student

I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Calgary in June 2024. Research within my undergraduate degree was broad and included: assessing risk factors of depression in mother-daughter dyads using EEG measures at the Mathison Centre for Mental Health, helping co-author a paper on the surgical evolution of managing chronic heart failure, and exploring the immunoprotective role of pericardial fluid in porcine models at the Foothills Medical Centre.

Additionally, I worked on creating a literature database exploring the efficacy of Neurofeedback Therapy in treating a variety of neurodivergent conditions at Myosymmetries Psychology Clinic with a manuscript exploring the role of hypocretin neuron activity in social behavior at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute within the Sargin Lab. 

 I joined the Cuello Lab as a Masters student in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in Fall 2024. My focus is on developing small-molecule drugs to target Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) dysmetabolism in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) progression.

 In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, reading, and long-distance running.

Alexa Di Pede

MSc Student

I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences at McMaster University, where I had the privilege of contributing to a variety of research projects both within and beyond the university.

My research background spans multiple institutions, including McGill, EPFL, SickKids, and McMaster, and covers topics from mitochondrial function in aging and resilience to the molecular mechanisms of glutamate receptor plasticity in Drosophila. At SickKids, I evaluated neurodevelopmental screening tools for early childhood, while at McMaster, I studied the influence of gut bacteria and diet on IBD severity.

In Fall 2024, I joined the Cuello lab as a Master’s student in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience. My research focuses on identifying baseline abnormalities in Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) metabolic pathway biomarkers in biofluids from carriers and non-carriers of pathogenic presenilin1 (PSEN1) mutations, with the goal of improving early prediction of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy swimming, hiking, reading, and watching far too many movies—always open to recommendations!

Quentin Bonomo

PhD student

I graduated from a B.Sc. in Honours Neuroscience at McGill University. During my undergraduate research project, I became proficient in the use of AAV-mediated gene delivery to knock out targeted genes in mice.

In 2020, I joined the Cuello lab to start a M.Sc. degree in IPN. My project will focus on experimental therapy related to halting Alzheimer’s pathology in transgenic rat models for amyloid and tau.

In my free time, I love to write SF stories, play piano and cook food “à la Provençale”.

Ai Liu

PhD student

I am from China where I received my master’s degree in animal medicine. My master's project is related to the pathogenesis of depression disorder which inspired my interest in neuroscience.

I am working on my PhD in Neuroscience as a member of the Integrated Neuroscience Program (IPN) supported by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) Joint Scholarship Program. I joined the Cuello lab at McGill in Fall of 2021.

In my free time, I love traveling and cooking.