Team
Principal Investigator
Luka Milosevic, PhD
Luka Milosevic received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto, after which he pursued a Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Tübingen Institute for Neuromodulation and Neurotechnology, Germany. His research is at the intersection of biomedical engineering and neuroscience, and the focus of his program is on the development of novel data-driven methods of neuromodulation and brain stimulation. His lab specializes in intracranial and whole-brain neurophysiological recordings in people with neurological disorders, as well as optical, electrophysiological, and behavioural techniques in preclinical models. Dr. Milosevic and his team also play a clinical role monitoring patients’ brain activity to guide the placement of deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices at the Toronto Western Hospital. Outside of work, Luka enjoys hiking, biking, and travel!
- Scientist – Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network
- Assistant Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
- Affiliate Scientist, KITE Research Institute, University Health Network
- co-Director of the Center for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA)
Lab Members
Srdjan Sumarac PhD Candidate • Parkinson Canada Graduate Student Award
Srdjan’s research focuses on spontaneous, movement-related, and stimulation-evoked physiomarkers across various spatial and temporal resolutions to advance deep brain stimulation therapy for Parkinson’s Disease. Previously, Srdjan completed a double degree in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering and Commerce with a major in Actuarial Studies at Monash University in Australia. Outside of research, Srdjan enjoys playing basketball, cycling, practicing guitar, and traveling.
David Crompton PhD Candidate • Ontario Graduate Scholarship
David’s research is on computational modelling. He received a BSc from the University of Toronto, Canada.
Luis Antonio Franco Vergara PhD Candidate • CONAHCYT Doctoral Awardee
Antonio’s research focuses on advancing closed-loop neuromodulation for Parkinson’s disease, using feedback signals from brain and wearable-sensors. He received his BEng in biomedical engineering from the Autonomous University of Queretaro, Mexico; where he completed a thesis focused in analyzing non-invasive brain recordings to objectively identify alcoholism. During his free time, Antonio enjoys training calisthenics, running and spending time with his friends doing outdoor activities.
Dallas Leavitt PhD Candidate • DAAD Graduate Scholarship
Dallas’ research is on processing and learning about rewards: essential features for operating in, and successfully adapting to, the environment. Impairments in these functions can contribute to cognitive and psychological disorders such as apathy, impulsivity and depression, e.g., in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). He aims to improve reward processing via refined and targeted deep brain stimulation paradigms to benefit PD patients and improve cognitive symptoms of the disease. Dallas received a BSc from the University of Toronto.
Luka Zivkovic PhD Candidate • Krembil/SickKids NMH Collaborative Studentship Award
Luka’s research is centered around the functional mapping of cortico-subcortical network nodes in humans for the enhancement of deep brain stimulation targeting in the basal ganglia for Parkinson’s disease, and the nucleus accumbens for self-injurious behaviours in severe autism spectrum disorder. He received a BHSc in health, engineering science, and entrepreneurship at McMaster University, and is currently completing his PhD in biomedical engineering at the University of Toronto.
Prerana Keerthi PhD Candidate • Branch Out Graduate Grant
Prerana’s research combines electrophysiological data collected during DBS implantation surgeries and computational modelling to assess closed-loop neuromodulation strategies for Parkinson’s disease that selectively target oscillatory neural activity. Previously, she completed her Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University, where she worked on a variety of projects related to brain-computer interfaces, machine learning, and physiological signal processing.
Filip Miščević PhD Candidate
Filip’s research is on BCI devices for speech and audio perception. He received an MSc and BSc from the University of Toronto, Canada.
Muhammad Shan Sohail PhD student
Md Shan’s research focuses on combining optical and electrophysiological tools to uncover pathological and therapeutic neural circuits across a multitude of disease models. He completed his BSc in Chemistry and Biology at Osaka University and later joined the Laboratory of Advanced Brain Function as a full-time researcher followed by a specially appointed researcher under Professor Dr Hikida Takatoshi. Outside of research, he indulges in volunteering, debates, hiking, and a little passion for Gundam building.
Aidan Austin-Day PhD student
Aidan’s research focuses on the creation of new deep brain stimulation (DBS) targets for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia using animal models and looking for stimulation-based improvements in motor functions. If successful, his research may lead to improved DBS treatments for people suffering from spinocerebellar ataxia. Aidan recently finished his BSc at the University of Toronto, where he majored in Neuroscience. Outside of the lab, Aidan also trains and competes for the Varsity Blues Track and Cross-Country teams, swims and plays ping pong.
Alisha Baldwin PhD student
Alisha’s research focuses on elucidating the neurophysiological modes of action of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease patients. Previously, Alisha completed her BA in Molecular and Cell Biology; Neurobiology at UC Berkeley. Following graduation, she worked as a Research Associate in the Innovative Genomics Institute’s Covid-19 Diagnostic Testing Laboratory. She then joined the lab of Dr. Jennifer Doudna, where she developed methods to optimize the delivery of Cas9 using enveloped delivery vehicles.
Tristan Lawson PhD student
Tristan uses computational modelling, intraoperative recordings, and rodent models to investigate the mechanisms of deep brain stimulation, and its effect on neighbouring nuclei in the basal ganglia. He received a BASc in mathematics and engineering from Queen’s University and an MEng in biomedical engineering from University of Toronto. In his free time, Tristan enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and reading.
Nicole McSwain Undergraduate research assistant
Nicole is working on whole-brain mapping in rodent models to elucidate the circuit mechanisms of pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS). She is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto specializing in Neuroscience.
Yizhu Leo Chu Undergraduate research assistant
Leo is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto majoring in Neuroscience and Physiology. His research focuses on understanding the neural circuits within the subthalamic nucleus and its role in affective and motor behaviors, with applications in improving deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapies for Parkinson’s disease. Outside of the lab, Leo enjoys playing piano, basketball, and running.
Alumni
Reese Clinton: Undergraduate research assistant (Summer 2024)
Zhi Ling Jiang: Undergraduate research assistant (Summer 2024)
Claire Lipton: Undergraduate research assistant (Summer 2024)
Yijinmide Buren: MASc student (2022-2024)
Maximilian Scherer, PhD: Postdoctoral Fellow (2022-2024)
Arthur Akbulatov: Undergraduate thesis student (2023-2024)
Camille Guerin: research assistant (2023-2024)
Supreet Phangura: Undergraduate research assistant (Summer 2023)
Anna Popovic: Undergraduate research assistant (Summer 2023)
Emily Haniff, RN: research assistant (2020-2023)
Leon Amadeus Steiner, MD/PhD: Postdoctoral Fellow (2020-2022)
Kiah Alyssa Spencer: MASc student (2020-2022)
Cindy Nguyen: research assistant (Summer 2022)
Samantha Chau: Undergraduate thesis student (2021-2022)