Interests

• Gene Therapy

• Molecular Reprogramming

• Neurodegenerative Diseases

• Gene Delivery Systems

• Computational Biology

• Translational Neuroscience
  

Anna Ffrench

M.Sc. Candidate

Anna began her MSc with the Theraphage Lab in Spring 2024 after completing her B.Sc. (Honours) in Biology at the University of Waterloo, specializing in molecular genetics. Her research focuses on reprogramming astrocytes into neurons as a novel therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases. By utilizing engineered bacteriophage-based vectors for targeted gene delivery, her work aims to overcome current challenges in gene therapy and provide a potential strategy for neuronal regeneration.

Education

• B.Sc. Honours Biology, with Molecular Biology Specialization, University of Waterloo (2024)

Contact

• anna.ffrench@theraphage.bio

• anna.ivanova@uwaterloo.ca

Presentations:

• Ivanova, A, Beazely, M., Slavcev, R. Intelligent Phagemid-Assembled Gene Expression (iPhAGE): Targeted Delivery of Reprogramming Factors to Astrocytes in the CNS. Presented at:

  • 2nd Annual iNeuron Symposium. 2025, Jan 21. King City, ON

  • Pursuits in Applied & Theoretical (PATH) Science Symposium. 2025, April 16. Waterloo, ON, Canada

  • Pharmacy Research Day. 2025, April 29. Kitchener, ON, Canada

  • Symposium of Aging Research (SOAR), 2025, April 29. Waterloo, ON, Canada

  • Southern Ontario Neuroscience Association (SONA). 2025, May 2. London, ON, Canada

  • Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN). 2025, May 21. Toronto, ON, Canada

• Ffrench (Ivanova), A. Singh, K. Beazely, M., Slavcev, R. Targeted Bacteriophage Gene Delivery to Astrocytes Using Intelligent Phagemid-Assembled Gene Expression (iPhAGE) Technology for Neuronal Regeneration. Poster presented at: American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy 28th Annual Meeting. 2025, May 13. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA