Our Team

York is a Professor of Medicine from the Division of Nephrology at the University of Toronto; a Senior Scientist from the Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; and the Director of the Centre for Innovative Management of Polycystic Kidney Disease, University Health Network.

His research has mainly focused on identifying the genetic factors involved in the initiation or progression of genetic kidney diseases as a target for developing novel diagnostic tests and therapies. His research program focuses on genetic, genomic, and translational research of hereditary kidney diseases with a major focus on autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). He also made important contributions to genetic research of other hereditary kidney diseases, including familial IgA nephropathy, familial nephrotic syndrome, and Alport syndrome. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles, has collaborated widely with researchers nationally and internationally, and has trained numerous clinical and research fellows in hereditary kidney disease.

He founded the Centre for Innovative Management for Polycystic Kidney Disease in 2015 which provides advanced diagnostic and novel therapeutics for ADPKD. More than 500 patients are currently followed or co-managed at the centre with over 95% of them involved in at least one research project.

Dr. Pei was the co-recipient of the Lillian Jean Kaplan International Prize for polycystic kidney disease in 2019 and the recipient of the Medal for Research Excellence by the Kidney Foundation of Canada in 2020.

Moumita is a Clinician Scientist in the Division of Nephrology at Toronto General Hospital. She is Associate Director of the Hereditary Kidney Disease Clinic, where individuals with genetic conditions affecting the kidney including polycystic kidney disease are seen. She has given numerous national and international talks including at the Canadian Society of Nephrology meeting, the International Podocyte meeting, the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Weeks and at the International Alport syndrome workshops.

The Barua lab research program has garnered profile on the basis of their unique genetic observations and ongoing efforts to establish biologic mechanism linking gene mutations to the development of chronic kidney disease, with a focus on glomerular disorders.  Ultimately the Barua lab’s goal is to improve diagnosis and by defining the genetic basis of clinical syndromes previously labelled as idiopathic, to have important impact on therapeutic development in the future. The Barua lab has been supported by international organizations, Alport syndrome Foundation and NEPTUNE as well as national/provincial/local organizations including Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), KRESCENT, Physicians’ Services Incorporated, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine and Toronto General Hospital Foundation.

Eran is a staff interventional radiologist and general surgeon at the University Health Network and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery and Department of Medical Imaging at the University of Toronto. He received dual training in Interventional Radiology and General Surgery at the University of Toronto. He also completed a fellowship in minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery and surgical endoscopy at the Oregon Clinic in Portland, Oregon. His clinical interests include image-guided interventions for the treatment of polycystic kidney disease, non-vascular interventional radiology, and minimally invasive surgery. His research interests include the development, training, and evaluation of hybrid therapeutic techniques.

Arash is a staff interventional radiologist at the University Health Network/Mount Sinai Hospital. He received radiology residency training at the University of Ottawa, and subsequently competed his Vascular and Interventional Radiology Fellowship at the University of Toronto, University Health Network/Mount Sinai Hospital sites. His clinical interests include image-guided interventions for the treatment of polycystic kidney disease, interventional oncology, hepatic vascular interventions (i.e. TIPS, CARTO) and vascular access. His academic interests include medical education.  He is the Vascular & Interventional Radiologist, the VIR Division Head-JDMI-MSH/UHN and is the Assistant Professor at University of Toronto.

Mostafa is a staff radiologist at the University Health Network and a Professor in the Department Medical Imaging at the University of Toronto. He graduated from Tehran University and did his Radiology residency and fellowship at the U.B.C. and McGill University. He also received a Diploma in Epidemiology at McGill University. His clinical and research interests include ultrasonography, elastography, and cancer imaging.

Korosh is a staff radiologist at the University Health Network and an Associate Professor in the Department Medical Imaging at the University of Toronto. He received his clinical and research training in abdominal imaging at the University of Toronto and is currently pursing a MSc in Translational Research at the University of Toronto. His clinical and research interests have been in the fields of kidney and hepatobiliary-pancreas magnetic resonance imaging.  He is currently involved in supervising all kidney and liver volumetric studies in our PKD patients for assessing disease severity.

Mauricio is a clinical research fellow in Hereditary Kidney Disease at the University Health Network. He received his medical degree at the Católica de Santa María University (Arequipa, Perú) in 2010, and completed his residency training in Nephrology at Clínico San Carlos Hospital in Madrid, Spain (2014 – 2018). Before coming to Toronto, he was a full-time nephrologist at Infanta Cristina Hospital in Madrid. His major interests include the clinical care of patients with inherited kidney conditions, and the development of novel therapies and new tools for risk assessment in patients with polycystic kidney disease.

Sol is a clinical research fellow in Hereditary Kidney Diseases at the University Health Network, University of Toronto. She received her medical degree at the University of Cartagena (Cartagena, Colombia) in 2013, and completed her residency training in Nephrology at Fundacion Jimenez Diaz in Madrid, Spain (2017-2021). Additionally, she completed the GlomCon virtual Fellowship in 2020-2021 and has also pursued a postgraduate diploma in artificial intelligence and big data in healthcare.

Dr. Carriazo is a PhD candidate at University Autonoma of Madrid, with a focus on systems biology in nephrology with an anticipated thesis defense in 2024. Her interests include the use of precision medicine and innovation in the nephrology field, including the role of genetics in kidney diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, tuberous sclerosis complex, glomerular diseases, among others.

She was honored with the European Renal Association Grant for the best presentation by a young nephrologist at the Spanish National Congress of Nephrology in 2021, has contributed to over 50 articles, and collaborated with several international institutions in education, research, and clinical settings. Her goal is to make meaningful impact on the lives of patients with kidney diseases through her work.

Taher received his medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (2017), Iran. After moving to Canada, he pursued and earned a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (2020). His major research interests include applications of machine learning in medical image analysis, artificial intelligence ethics, and human-centered AI.

Yobiga is the nurse coordinator for the Centre of Innovative Management of PKD at the University Health Network. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ryerson University and a Master of Nursing, Specializing in Education from Athabasca University. She began her career at University Health Network working in Cardio-Oncology, advancing her role to include patient coordination, educating, and community support. She also provided clinical expertise and educational support to healthcare professionals within the department. Currently, Yobiga liaises with community physicians to optimize PKD clinical care by providing patient education and risk assessment and coordinating the treatment of novel or experimental therapeutics (e.g. Tolvaptan and cyst ablation by foam sclerotherapy). She is passionate about nephrology research and innovation and strives to provide quality care to her patients.

Winnie is the clinical research coordinator for the Hereditary Kidney Disease Program at the University Health Network. With more than 30 years of clinical research experience in pharmaceutical or peer-reviewed/grant-funded studies. She has an extensive clinical trials experience in renal osteodystrophy, cardiovascular complications in chronic kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, hepatitis and HIV-related studies, end stage renal disease especially on Nocturnal Hemodialysis, as well as multiple studies related to hereditary kidney disease. Her main role includes, but not limited to, preparing research proposals, study budget, contracts, and execute trial protocols plus the program administration. She has established quality training standards and compliance to standard operating procedures for all research staff.

Celine Yu, MSc, MBA is a drug reimbursement specialist for the Division of Nephrology at the University Health Network. She received her dual degrees from Vancouver Island University. Celine has always enjoyed working with patients. She is well-versed in both public and private reimbursement not only in Ontario but throughout Canada.

Working at Shoppers Drug Mart and Innomar Strategies has exposed her to the knowledge with both private and public reimbursement rules and regulations. She has also gained dispensary knowledge from the previous experience, learning the intricacies in billing, filling, and the logistics behind dispensing. Her current role with the Hereditary Kidney Disease program involves liaising with insurance providers, government bodies, and pharmaceutical companies to obtain reimbursement for prescription medications.

Nicholas is a genetic counsellor affiliated with the Hereditary Kidney Disease program at the University Health Network. He completed his MSc in Molecular Genetics while studying synapse formation in the model organism C. elegans. He subsequently went on to complete an MSc in Genetic Counselling at the University of Toronto. Since graduation, Nicholas has worked on contract in specialized genetics clinics, including metabolic genetics at London Health Sciences Centre and high-risk prenatal genetics at McMaster Children’s Hospital. He is currently employed at Mount Sinai Hospital in the Diagnostic Medical Genetics clinical laboratory as a Genetic Diagnostic Data Specialist, and is involved in result analysis, variant assessment and reporting. Nicholas is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counselling and the Canadian Association of Genetic Counselling and is a faculty member in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Toronto. He now counsels patients at Toronto General Hospital in the Hereditary Kidney Disease Clinic.