Nicole Edgar
Clinical Research Program Manager
nedgar@ohri.ca

Nicole Edgar joined the Hatching Ideas Lab in 2018 and has been the Manager since early 2020. She is a jack of all trades and can often be found fighting the good fight to ensure equitable access to mental health care for underserved populations. Outside of the lab, Nicole is often spending time with her pooch Cricket, communing with nature, and crocheting!

Sarah MacLean
Senior Clinical Research Associate
samaclean@ohri.ca

Sarah MacLean has been with our lab since 2015 and is a PhD Student in the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University. When she isn’t coordinating lab outputs, she can be found living her best 90-year old life, crocheting with her three cats by her side. Sarah is passionate about advocacy, especially around access to mental health services, having lost a loved one to suicide in 2016.

Brooklyn Ward
Clinical Research Coordinator
broward@ohri.ca

Brooklyn Ward joined our lab in 2020 and graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2019 with her Bachelor's degree. Outside of work she enjoys running, paddle boarding and trying out different coffee shops around the city. Brooklyn is passionate about accessibility to mental health services, particularly for underserved populations.

Joseph Burns
Clinical Research Coordinator
josburns@ohri.ca

Joe joined the lab in 2022 after years of working in clinical research with a focus on wellness and gender equity and experience with global health. He has an interest in improving mental health care and access and is eager to help with these efforts. When not working, he might be found tending his community garden plot, writing quirky comedy fiction, or playing the hurdy-gurdy

K. Jo Wells
Clinical Research Coordinator
kwells@ohri.ca

Jo Wells is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the OHRI and joined our lab in 2022, with previous research experience in oncology and gynecology. Prior to this, Jo spent 5 years in private industry developing medical devices; she worked on a range of projects from orthopedics to COVID-19 rapid detection technologies. In her time off, Jo enjoys regenerative farming, off-grid camping, and researching the historical and therapeutic relevance of wild mushrooms.

Jennifer Derraugh-Nelson
Social Worker
jderraugh@toh.ca

Jennifer Derraugh-Nelson is a Registered Social Worker with the Ottawa Hospital. She has worked with a variety of different populations both before and during her employment at the Ottawa Hospital. She has always had an interest in mental health and the importance of access to support services. Outside of work you will find her driving her two children to their many sporting events and cheering them on from the sidelines.

Jessica Yu
Clinical Research Assistant 
jesyu@ohri.ca

Jessica Yu joined the lab in 2022 and she graduated from McGill University with a M.Sc in Experimental Medicine the same year. She has a background in epidemiological research and is eager to work in clinical research on mental health. In her free time, Jessica enjoys going on road trips and baking lots of desserts!

Parinaz Paranjkhoo
Postdoctoral Fellow
pparanjkhoo@ohri.ca

Parinaz Paranjkhoo is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and joined our lab in 2023. She recently completed a Master of Public Health degree at the American University of Armenia. Her heart beats for mental health research, and she has a strong commitment to improving the well-being and healthcare access of underserved, marginalized, and vulnerable populations. Beyond her professional pursuits, Parinaz has a passion for discovering cozy cafes in her free time, constantly on the hunt for that perfect cup of coffee.

Mahsa Jormand
Co-op Student
mjormand@ohri.ca

Mahsa Jormand is a graduate student in the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies at the University of Ottawa and is completing a Co-Op at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Mahsa’s Master of Arts thesis focuses on working with Government-Assisted Refugees at the Catholic Center for Immigrants regarding housing crisis in Ottawa. Her research interests include homelessness and the figure of the political refugee in Anthropology.

Chloe Ahluwalia
Medical Student
cahluwalia@ohri.ca

Chloe Ahluwalia is a first-year medical student at the University of Ottawa. She graduated from McGill University in 2019 with BSc. in Honours Psychology. She is interested in the field of mental health, and her specific interests include child and adolescent mental health, underserved populations, and crisis care. Chloe is a huge Raptors fan and enjoys watching basketball games in her spare time, as well as practicing yoga and chatting with her fellow medical students as a Peer Supporter.