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Rajini Seevaratnam, MSc |
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EDUCATION
School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Muscle Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON Thesis: The effects of coffee, caffeine, and chlorogenic acid supplementation on functional, disease and molecular outcome measures in male and female G93A mice, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Sept 2003 – Apr 2007 Honours Bachelor of Science Specialization in Kinesiology School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Science University of Western Ontario, London, ON Fourth Year Independent Study: Literary review and seminar presentation of ALS analyzing the potential mechanisms of neurodegeneration, the difficulties in clinical diagnosis, and the psychological impacts on both patients and their caregivers. AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, & DISTINCTIONS July 2009 ALS Society of Canada media release on research submitted to the 5th Annual ALS Research Forum (May 2009, Toronto, ON) June 2009 York University (Toronto, ON) April 21, 2009 The Caroline tum Suden/Frances A. Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award for Meritorious Research Presented by the American Physiological Society (APS) Experimental Biology 2009 (New Orleans, LA) April 18, 2009 Mead Johnson 1st Place Award for Experimental Animal Nutrition Research Interest Section Poster Competition Presented by the American Society of Nutrition (ASN) Experimental Biology 2009 (New Orleans, LA) April 18, 2009 Nutrition Gene Interactions RIS and Experimental Animal Nutrition RIS Poster Competition Participant Experimental Biology 2009 (New Orleans, LA) April 18, 2009 York University (Toronto, ON) Faculty of Health News media release April 17, 2009 York University (Toronto, ON) Y-File – York’s Daily Bulletin April 17, 2009 The American Physiological Society (APS) Press Room Experimental Biology 2009 (New Orleans, LA) Sept 2007 – Apr 2008 Dean’s Honour List, York University Sept 2006 – Apr 2007 Dean’s Honour List, University of Western Ontario Sept 2005 – Apr 2006 Dean’s Honour List, University of Western Ontario Sept 2004 – Apr 2005 Queen Elizabeth Aiming for the Top Scholarship Sept 2003 – Apr 2004 Dean’s Honour List, University of Western Ontario Queen Elizabeth Aiming for the Top Scholarship University of Western Ontario Entrance Scholarship June 2003 Ontario Scholar Bilingual Certificate EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Supervisor: Dr. Lorne Zinman Study: Project FIDALS – Food Intake and Disease outcome measures in patients diagnosed with ALS ALS/Neuromuscular Clinic Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON Sept 2007 – Present Research Assistant Supervisor: Dr. Mazen J Hamadeh Lab: Nutrition Intervention in Health and Disease (NIHD) School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON Jul 2001- Present Private Academic Tutor Toronto, ON Sept 2008 – Mar 2009 Teaching Assistant Course: Nutritional Aids in Sport and Exercise (KINE 4120) School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON Sept 2008 – Mar 2009 Teaching Assistant Course: Skilled Performance and Motor Learning (KINE 3020) May 2006 – Aug 2007 Toronto Social Services – Summer Student Support Assistant North York Central Social Services, City of Toronto, Toronto, ON May 2005 – Aug 2005 Research Assistant Study: Ortech Data Centre website patient research data record London Health Sciences Centre, Department of Orthopaedic Research, University Hospital, London, ON Sept 2004 – Apr 2005 Research Assistant Study: Use of Hands Free Technique among surgeons and operating room nurses during various surgical procedures University of Western Ontario, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, London, ON Sept 2004 – Dec 2004 Aquatics Instructor Boys and Girls Club of London, London, ON May 2004 – Aug 2004 Intellectual Property Department Summer Student McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Department of Trademarks and Copy Rights, Toronto, ON Aug 2002-Aug 2003 Rehabilitation Assistant Scarborough Physiotherapy and Rehab Clinic, Toronto, ON Jan 2002 – Sept 2005 Aquatics Lifeguard and Instructor City of Toronto Parks and Recreation, East District, Toronto, ON Jul 2000 – Aug 2002 Administrative Assistant Century 21 Leading Edge Realty Inc., Toronto, ON COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS Sept 2007 – May 2009 Kinesiology and Health Science GSA Treasurer York University, Toronto, ON Sept 2007 – May 2009 Graduate Student Association member York University, Toronto, ON Sept 2006 – Apr 2007 VP Student Affairs, Kinesiology Student Council University of Western Ontario, London, ON Sept 2005 – Apr 2006 Kinesiology student representative, Kinesiology Student Council University of Western Ontario, London, ON PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH MEMBERSHIPS
2008 – present American Physiological Society (APS) 2008 – present American Society for Nutrition (ASN) 2007 – 2009 Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) 2007 – 2009 Canadian Personal Trainer Network (CPTN) TECHNICAL SKILLS
Animal Research Skills: mice handling and sacrifice, surgical removal of organ and muscle tissues Laboratory Research Skills: lab maintenance (ordering chemicals and equipment), preparation of various buffers and solutions, pH titration, spectrophotometric enzyme assays, protein quantification and analysis, western blotting, graphic imaging, lab supervisory of volunteers and undergraduate students Clinical Research Skills: study patient recruitment, informed consent, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measurements, weight measurements, patient history data collection, study patient follow-up, clinical presentations, research ethics preparations, coordination with physicians and nurses VOLUNTEERING June 2008-Present Assistant at the ALS/Neuromuscular clinic Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto, ON June 2009 ALS Society of Ontario: WALK for ALS, Toronto, ON June 2009 ALS Society of Ontario: WALK for ALS, Toronto, ON May 2009 ALS Fundraising Community Helping Spread Awareness about ALS Jul 2007 ALS Society of Ontario fundraiser: Blue Jays baseball game, Toronto, ON Oct 2006 ALS Society of Ontario: WALK for ALS, London, ON Sep 2006 – Apr 2007 Kinnector (mentor) for first year kinesiology undergraduate students University of Western Ontario, London, ON Sep 2005 – Apr 2007 Child monitor for YMCA daycare, University of Western Ontario, University Community Centre, London, ON Dec 2004 – Dec 2007 Games coordinator and event organizer for Kinesiology Special Games for special needs children, University of Western Ontario, London, ON EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Travelling independently: China, England, Holland, Cuba, Switzerland, France, USA Mountain Climbing: Rochers De Naye (1810m, Switzerland); Huangshan (1864m, China) Recreational Fitness: cardiovascular and resistance training, fitness classes Recreational Sports: swimming, volleyball, tennis, British netball Nutrition, Fitness, and Health promotion JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
ABSTRACTS
Seevaratnam R, Raha S, Tarnopolsky MA, Hamadeh MJ. Coffee, caffeine, and chlorogenic acid reduce oxidative stress and apoptosis, and improve antioxidant enzyme capacity in male G93A mice, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Proceedings of the CSCN-CSNS Annual Scientific Meeting 2009:138 (abst.). Seevaratnam R, Raha S, Tarnopolsky MA, Hamadeh MJ. Caffeine increases apoptosis and decreases antioxidant enzyme capacity, in spite of decreasing markers of oxidative stress in female G93A mice, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Proceedings of the CSCN-CSNS Annual Scientific Meeting 2009:276 (abst.). Seevaratnam R, Raha S, Tarnopolsky MA, Hamadeh MJ. Caffeine reduces motor performance and antioxidant enzyme capacity in the brain of female G93A mice, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). FASEB J 2009;23:963.3 (abst.). Abstract Seevaratnam R, Raha S, Tarnopolsky MA, Hamadeh MJ. Coffee increases antioxidant enzyme capacity in the brain of male G93A mice, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). FASEB J 2009;23:109.6 (abst.). Abstract Seevaratnam R, Raha S, Tarnopolsky M, Hamadeh MJ. Coffee improves antioxidant capacity in male G93A mice, whereas caffeine reduces it in female G93A mice, an animal model of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Proceedings of the Ontario Exercise Physiology Conference 2009:27 (abst.). Seevaratnam R, Patel BP, Hamadeh MJ. The Bradford assay proves superior to the Lowry assay in determining protein concentration for comparison of nutrient protein interactions in skeletal muscle. Proceedings of the CSCN-CSNS Annual Scientific Meeting 2008:SUP14. Seevaratnam R, Patel BP, Hamadeh MJ. Determination of protein concentration in skeletal muscle using two spectrophotometric assays: the Lowry and the Bradford. FASEB J 2008;22:LB252 (abst.). Abstract Seevaratnam R, Patel BP, Hamadeh MJ. To Lowry or to Bradford: Validation of two spectrophotometric methods for the determination of protein concentration in skeletal muscle. Proceedings of the Ontario Exercise Physiology Conference 2008:26 (abst.). INVITED TALKS March 2009 ALS/Neuromuscular Clinic, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre “The effects of Coffee, Caffeine, and Chlorogenic Acid in male and female G93A mice, an animal model of ALS” October 2008 School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University “Health, Exercise, and Diet in the Aged” November 2006 School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Brief Review” CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Seevaratnam R, Raha S, Tarnopolsky MA, Hamadeh MJ. Caffeine increases apoptosis and decreases antioxidant enzyme capacity, in spite of decreasing markers of oxidative stress in female G93A mice, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Canadian Society for Clinical Nutrition and Canadian Society of Nutritional Sciences Annual Scientific Conference, Quebec City, QC, May 30 - June 2, 2009 (poster presentation). Seevaratnam R, Raha S, Tarnopolsky MA, Hamadeh MJ. Caffeine reduces motor performance and antioxidant enzyme capacity in the brain of female G93A mice, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Experimental Biology conference, New Orleans, LA, April 18-21, 2009 (poster presentation). Seevaratnam R, Raha S, Tarnopolsky MA, Hamadeh MJ. Coffee increases antioxidant enzyme capacity in the brain of male G93A mice, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Experimental Biology conference, New Orleans, LA, April 18-21, 2009 (oral presentation). Seevaratnam R, Raha S, Tarnopolsky M, Hamadeh MJ. Coffee and caffeine supplementation reduces markers of oxidative stress in male and female G93A mice, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Ontario Exercise Physiology Conference, Barrie, ON, January 23-25, 2009 (podium presentation). Seevaratnam R, Patel BP, Hamadeh MJ. The Bradford Assay Proves Superior to the Lower Assay in Determining Protein Concentration for Comparison of Nutrient Protein Interactions in Skeletal Muscle. Canadian Society for Clinical Nutrition and Canadian Society of Nutritional Sciences joint conference, Toronto, ON, May 29 - 31, 2008 (poster presentation). Seevaratnam R, Patel BP, Hamadeh MJ. Determination of protein concentration in skeletal muscle using two spectrophotometric assays: the Lowry and the Bradford. Experimental Biology conference, San Diego, CA, April 5-9, 2008 (poster presentation). Seevaratnam R, Patel BP, Hamadeh MJ. To Lowry or to Bradford: validation of 2 spectrophotometric methods for the determination of protein concentration in skeletal muscle. Ontario Exercise Physiology conference, Barrie, ON, January 25-27, 2008 (podium presentation). MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION Seevaratnam R, Hamadeh MJ. The effects of coffee, caffeine, and chlorogenic acid supplementation on molecular outcome measures of oxidative stress and apoptosis in brain tissue of Cu/Zn SOD1 mutant G93A mice, an animal model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). PLoS Medicine. 2009. |
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Last updated: July 24, 2009 |