The Pai Lab is focused on conducting the highest quality pediatric research using clinical, basic science, and methodological approaches.

We collaborate widely with colleagues across McMaster University (Hamilton, Canada) and beyond.

Our team is small but mighty, much like our little patients whom we commit our work towards relentlessly.

We are always interested in growing our team with conscientious, dedicated, passionate trainees, and collaborators (academic, and industry).

Our philosophy is to generate strong, translational science, of strong clinical relevance. Our approach is to nurture a highly supportive atmosphere that is ambitious, stimulating, and fosters junior research talent.

If you would like to learn more about potential opportunities, please contact us.

Our lab alumni are some of the best and the brightest. As their networks have grown our research footprint has grown alongside them.

Find out more about where our team members are now!

Nikhil Pai Principal Investigator

Dr. Nikhil Pai is an Associate Professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at McMaster Children’s Hospital. He completed medical school at McMaster University, his pediatric residency at the Hospital for Sick Children (University of Toronto), and his pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital (Harvard Medical School). He is the Medical Lead of the Complex Pediatric Nutrition Service at McMaster Children's Hospital, and runs the Pediatric Intestinal Failure program. He is the principal investigator for the McMaster Fecal Microbiota Transplant Research Program, which focuses on the application of fecal microbiota transplantation as treatment for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

View ResearchGate.

Nikhil’s Twitter.

Melanie Figueiredo Research Assistant

Melanie Figueiredo is a second year medical student at the University of Toronto, and an alumni of the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University. Over the past four years, she has been working as a Research Assistant for the McMaster Fecal Microbiota Transplant Program. Melanie is interested in pediatrics research and has contributed to projects involving inflammatory bowel disease, neuropsychiatric diseases, and gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19. Melanie also works as a Teaching Assistant in the Human Physiology & Anatomy Department of McMaster University. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys traveling abroad, spending time with friends and family, and swimming.

View ResearchGate

Carly Burow is an Integrated Science student and research assistant in the Pai Lab, holding a strong interest in interdisciplinary research. Carly is currently involved in projects exploring caregiver treatment preferences and the pediatric donor FMT program. Outside of the lab, Carly is passionate about her role as cofounder and president of McMaster HOPE, a club that aims to support marginalized communities within Hamilton. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outside and painting.

Kanish Baskaran Research Assistant

Kanish Baskaran is a third year Bachelor of Health Sciences Student at McMaster University. At the Pai Lab, he has contributed to pediatric research investigating urine metabolomics, inflammatory bowel disease and neuropsychiatric disorders. Outside of his research work, Kanish helped establish the community health project Health for Homeless and teaches First Aid in homeless shelters with St. John's Ambulance. He hopes to bridge the social and biomedical aspects of medicine to address the increasingly complex factors leading to disease. 

Sarah is an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University. As a Research Assistant in the Pai Lab, she is involved in the prospective registry project aimed at identifying patterns related to enteral autonomy in the pediatric population. Her research passions lie in gastroenterological research and equity in research methodology. Previously, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Ottawa Center for Health Equity, contributing to epidemiological studies and systematic equity assessment. Outside of the lab, Sarah enjoys exploring new restaurants and getting active.

Fariha Chowdhury Research Coordinator

Fariha is a part-time Research Coordinator in the Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Fariha completed her Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Behaviour degree at McMaster University. She is currently completing her Masters in Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University. Fariha’s research interests include evaluating psychometric properties, knowledge translation, improving quality of life in marginalized communities, youth mental health and improving systems of healthcare access. Fariha’s current focus is in qualitative methodology, and she is working towards becoming a mixed-methods researcher. Fariha is currently involved in several research projects supporting the Pai Lab. Outside the lab, Fariha holds mindfulness sessions for youth in her community. During her free time, she enjoys travelling and hiking.

Michal Moshkovich Research Assistant

Michal Moshkovich is a second year medical student at the University of Toronto, as well as, a graduate of the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University. She is a Research Assistant at the Pai Lab, assisting in fecal microbiota transplant and inflammatory bowel disease trials, while being involved in two of the lab’s large-scale COVID-19-GI patient projects with the support of the COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund. Michal runs the UofT Dermatology Interest Group as well as Prototype, UofT’s innovation incubator for medical ideas. Michal loves to explore nature through all means—hiking, biking, snorkeling, you name it.

View ResearchGate.

Michal’s Twitter.

Nyah is an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University. She is a Research Assistant at the Pai Lab and is involved in projects that will improve gastrointestinal health outcomes in the pediatric population. Nyah is passionate about pediatric research and has previously contributed to a trial looking to improve health outcomes of preterm infants. In her spare time, Nyah enjoys reading thriller novels, getting active, and travelling the world!

Paige Cheveldayoff Research Assistant

Paige is a Masters in Medical Sciences and Clinical Research Assistant in the Department of Pediatrics and Centre for Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes Research at McMaster University. She completed her undergraduate studies at McMaster University in Honours Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology. Paige's research experience and interests focus on translating world leading basic science into clinical practice to improve the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases and disorders in children and adults across the lifespan. In her spare time, Paige loves to swim and spends copious amounts of time at the pool as both a swimmer and as an assistant coach for the McMaster University Swim Team and Dundas Seahawks Special Olympics Swim Team. 

Romy is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences at McMaster University. At Pai Lab, she is currently investigating caregiver burden of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Outside of the lab, Romy is the president and founder of of Narrative Medicine McMaster and is currently examining the impact of digital storytelling on combatting stigmas surrounding mental health disorders. In her free time, Romy is an avid runner, enjoys cooking and spending time with her family and friends. 

Jelena Popov Research Assistant

Jelena is a Research Assistant in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at McMaster Children’s Hospital. She received her Honours Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Master of Science in Neuroscience from McMaster University. She is currently studying medicine at University College Cork in Ireland. Jelena’s research interests are in basic science, translational medicine, and clinical trials in pediatric and adult gastroenterology. Her work involves investigating the role of microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease and enteric nervous system development.

View ResearchGate

Jelena’s Twitter.

Emily Hartung Research Assistant

Emily is a Clinical Research Assistant in the Department of Pediatrics, in the Divisions of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Pediatric Emergency Medicine.  She completed undergraduate studies at McMaster University in Honours Life Sciences, and then completed graduate studies at McMaster University in Medical Sciences, and Humber College in Clinical Research. Emily’s research experience and interest is in the area of translational medicine, clinical and basic science experimental design, cellular and molecular biology, and mechanisms of disease.  In her spare time, Emily enjoys hiking on the Bruce Trail in the area.

View ResearchGate

Papiha is an undergraduate thesis student from the Health Sciences Biology and Pharmacology Co-op Program. Her previous co-op experiences include interning at Healthcare R&A and the Canadian Space Agency. She possesses diverse interests in medical research, drug discovery, and science communication and enjoys integrating these various disciplines to address complex problems. Outside of the lab, Papiha likes reading, writing, and spending time with friends and family.

Papiha’s Twitter.

Rohil Dureja Pediatric Resident

Dr. Rohil Dureja is a Pediatric Resident at McMaster University. He completed his medical school at University College Cork in Ireland and received a Honours Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Mount Allison University. Rohil has experience in various research areas including QI, clinical, and base science. He has developed a keen interest in Pediatric Gastroenterology. His work in the Pai lab focuses on using Population Health Data to identify the incidence and healthcare utilization of pediatric patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). During his free time, he enjoys cooking, golfing, cycling, and travelling.

Zarah Rahman is an undergraduate student studying in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University. She is a Research Assistant in the Pai Lab and is interested in learning about neuroimmunology and the crosstalk between the gut and the brain. Zarah is passionate about health equity and the importance of social justice in holistic care. Zarah also loves travelling, reading, and playing music! She is enthusiastic about growing as a researcher and applying knowledge to improve the lives of many.