About us
Our team united with a common passion for tackling the problem of air pollution exposure and our current mission is to improve health and safety for wildland firefighters in Canada who are exposed to smoke for many months. Focused on enhancing respiratory protective equipment tailored to the unique challenges of wildland fire contexts, our interdisciplinary team aims to empower and engage with those on the front lines. Our overarching goal is to develop innovative solutions that effectively mitigate risks, ensuring the well-being of wildland firefighters, and bridging the gap between evidence and impact to protect our protectors during wildfire season.
Background
Our project emerged from a shared concern for the health and safety of wildland firefighters facing increasingly challenging conditions. Recognizing the critical role respiratory protective equipment plays in their well-being, we assembled a diverse team of engineers, researchers, and experienced wildland firefighters. Through collaborative efforts and a human-centered design approach, we aim to improve and innovate existing equipment to better align the demands of wildland firefighting. By combining technical expertise with on-the-ground insights, we aspire to contribute meaningful advancements to the field, ultimately enhancing the protection and resilience of those who safeguard our wildlands during fire seasons. Through iterative collaboration and a deep understanding of on-the-ground realities, our project aspires to make meaningful advancements in the field, ultimately contributing to the heightened protection and resilience of those who tirelessly safeguard our wildlands.
Team members
Sumegha Jain
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Janna Mohamed
Janna is passionate about people and the planet. She believes that by collaborating across disciplines, we can problem-solve and innovate to tackle complex health challenges and translate evidence into action
Arani Ravichandran
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Dr. Angela Jerath
Dr. Jerath research and teaching interests lie within the disciplines of critical care medicine and cardiac anesthesia. Key areas of research include the use and safety of volatile agents for critical care sedation, development of gas scavenging techniques within the intensive care unit and tranexamic acid pharmacokinetic modeling for cardiac surgical patients using the technique of solid phase microextraction. She maintains a key education interest in perioperative echocardiography and has taught in many critical care transthoracic ultrasound courses, co-produced a 3D transesophageal handbook and created teaching modules for the University of Toronto’s Perioperative Interactive Education (PIE) website. Dr. Jerath is an active volunteer in overseas educational courses and engaged in physician training in Nepal and Ethiopia.
Dr. Daniel McIsaac
Scientist, Lead - Aging Innovation in Perioperative Medicine & Surgery Research Group, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Research Chair in Innovative Perioperative Care and Lead - Aging Innovation in Perioperative Medicine & Surgery Research Group, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Research Chair in Innovative Perioperative Care, Director Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Research, The Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Fabricio Zasso
Dr. Zasso is a Staff Anesthesiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is currently pursuing a Masters’ Degree in Translational Research at the University of Toronto with a focus on optimizing organ transplants during pandemics. Dr. Zasso has a major clinical and research interest in airway management, including cricothyroidotomy and airway ultrasound. Additional areas of interest are simulation, education and obstetric anesthesia. As part of his academic career, Dr. Zasso is also interested in the education of fellows and residents.
TRP Supervisors
Joseph Ferenbok
Driven to improve patient care, Prof. Ferenbok catapults projects forward with passion, wisdom, and a contagious chuckle. He is an Associate Director of the Health Innovation Hub, a Faculty of Medicine initiative intended to connect, align, serve, and facilitate the translation, innovation, and commercialization of 'Health Matters'.
Edyta Marcon
Edyta loves to encounter new questions, apply new knowledge, and meet new people. As a Senior Research Associate at the U of T Donnelly Centre, she currently studies how RNA modifications regulate gene expression and how they relate to human health and disease. Her interests extend beyond the laboratory into the application of scientific research using human centric design thinking.