Supervisor

Matthew Pamenter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
I received my Ph.D. from the University of Toronto (2003-2008), where I studied neural mechanisms of anoxia-tolerance in turtle brain in the Buck lab. I then travelled to California to undertake a postdoctoral fellowship in the Haddad lab at UCSD (2008-2012), where I studied mechanisms of ischemic cell death in mammalian stroke models. In 2012, I began a second postdoctoral fellowship, split between the Powell lab at UCSD and the Milsom lab at UBC (2012-2015), studying neural plasticity in the hypoxic ventilatory response of rodents, including the naked mole-rat.
I am broadly interested in how hypoxia-tolerant animals have evolved to survive in low-oxygen environments. My primary focus is discovering cellular and physiological mechanisms of hypoxia-tolerance, with a specific interest in how brain cells survive with little to no oxygen and how neural networks control physiological responses to hypoxia.
Lab Members

Karen Kadamani
Honours B.Sc. Student (2019-2020); Ph.D. Student (2020- )
Publications:
Attaie Y, Breedon SA, Rehman S, Ojaghi M, Kadamani K, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2026). MicroRNA-mediated regulation of hypoxic kidney adaptation in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Biochimie.
Kezar KM, Eaton L, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Otterbein LE, Pamenter ME and Tift MS (2025). Impact of acute and chronic hypoxia on the heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide pathway in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Journal of Experimental Biology.
Lashani P, Lamontagne G, Kadamani KL, and Pamenter ME (2025). Naked mole-rats employ a normoxic escape behaviour that is altered by social interaction. Biology Letters.
Ingelson-Filpula A, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2025). Hypoxia increases cardiac proteasomal activity and differentially modulates cullin-RING E3 ligases in the naked mole-rat Heterocephalus glaber. Muscles.
Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Ingelson-Filpula WA, Kadamani KL, Ojaghi M, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2024). Hypoxia-induced down regulation of RNA m6A protein machinery in the naked mole-rat heart. Biochimie.

Reyhaneh Rahnamaie-Tajadod
Ph.D. Student (2024- )
Publications:
Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Catherine Cao
M.Sc. Student (2024- )

Paige Chan
M.Sc. Student (2025- )

Amar Bhandari
USRO undergraduate student (2023- )

Areeb Shaifuddien
Honours B.Sc. student (2024- )

Edward Kim
Honours B.Sc. student (2025- )

Zaynab Rachini
Honours B.Sc. student (2025- )

Ahmed Alsaleh
B.Sc. student (2025- )
Honours B.Sc. student (2025- )

Stella Ho
B.Sc. student (2025- )
Lab Alumni

Liam Eaton
Ph.D. Student (2018-2025)
Doctoral Thesis title: Homeostasis of reactive oxygen species in brain of hypoxia-tolerant naked mole-rats
Publications:
Kezar KM, Eaton L, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Otterbein LE, Pamenter ME and Tift MS (2025). Impact of acute and chronic hypoxia on the heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide pathway in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Journal of Experimental Biology.
Otell G, Eaton L, Roy M and Pamenter ME (2025). Absence of a glutamatergic channel arrest mechanism in hypoxic naked mole-rat cortex. Neuroscience Letters.
Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Mo Ojaghi
Ph.D. Student (2019-2025)
Doctoral Thesis title: Glucose signalling in naked mole-rats during hypoxia
Publications:
Ojaghi M and Pamenter ME (2026). IGF-Mediated glucose signalling is retained in adult naked mole-rats. Journal of Comparative Physiology B.
Attaie Y, Breedon SA, Rehman S, Ojaghi M, Kadamani K, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2026). MicroRNA-mediated regulation of hypoxic kidney adaptation in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Biochimie.
Kezar KM, Eaton L, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Otterbein LE, Pamenter ME and Tift MS (2025). Impact of acute and chronic hypoxia on the heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide pathway in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Journal of Experimental Biology.
Ojaghi M and Pamenter ME (2025). Severe acute hypoxia upregulates anaerobic metabolism in non-reproductive but not queen naked mole-rats. Journal of Experimental Biology.
Ingelson-Filpula A, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2025). Hypoxia increases cardiac proteasomal activity and differentially modulates cullin-RING E3 ligases in the naked mole-rat Heterocephalus glaber. Muscles.
Ojaghi M and Pamenter ME (2024). Hypoxia impairs blood glucose homeostasis in naked mole-rat subordinate adults but not queens. Journal of Experimental Biology.
Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Ingelson-Filpula WA, Kadamani KL, Ojaghi M, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2024). Hypoxia-induced down regulation of RNA m6A protein machinery in the naked mole-rat heart. Biochimie.

Deanna Turchyn
Undergraduate student (2024-2025)

Neha Erukulla
Honours B.Sc. student (2024-2025)

Aleezah Shaikh
Undergraduate student (2024-2025)

Yasmine Yassine
Undergraduate student (2024-2025)

Gloria Lamontagne
Honours B.Sc. Student (2023-2024)
Publications:
Lashani P, Lamontagne G, Kadamani KL, and Pamenter ME (2025). Naked mole-rats employ a normoxic escape behaviour that is altered by social interaction. Biology Letters.

Pareesa Lashani
B.Sc. Student volunteer, Honours B.Sc. student (2023-2025)
Publications:
Lashani P, Lamontagne G, Kadamani KL, and Pamenter ME (2025). Naked mole-rats employ a normoxic escape behaviour that is altered by social interaction. Biology Letters.

Claire Della Torre
B.Sc. Student volunteer, Honours B.Sc. student (2023-2024)

Soumiya Sivasathiyanathan
B.Sc. Student Volunteer (2023-2024)

George Otell
Honours B.Sc. Student, NSERC USRA Awardee (2023-2024)
Publications:
Otell G, Eaton L, Roy M and Pamenter ME (2025). Absence of a glutamatergic channel arrest mechanism in hypoxic naked mole-rat cortex. Neuroscience Letters.

John Bengtsson
NSERC USRA Awardee, Honours B.Sc. Student (2022-2024)
Publications:
Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Michael Qi
B.Sc. Student Volunteer, Honours B.Sc. Student (2022-2025)

Maiah Devereaux
Honours B.Sc. Student (2018-2019); M.Sc. Student (2019-2023)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Metabolic, ventilatory, and thermoregulatory responses of giant Zambian mole-rats to graded hypoxia and hypercapnia
M.Sc. Thesis title: Central nervous system mechanisms mediating the hypoxic ventilatory and metabolic responses of adult Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis)
Publications:
Abar S, Devereaux MEM, Careau V and Pamenter ME (2025). Hypoxia and thermogenesis constraint peak VO2 in exercising naked mole-rats. Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology.
Munro D, Hart DW, Sebaa R, Bennett NC, Van dermeeren E, van Jaarvsveld B, Devereaux MEM, Campbell KL, Blier PU, Harper M-E and Pamenter ME (2025). Succinate-driven cardiac mitochondrial respiration aligns with whole-animal hypoxia-tolerance in African mole-rats. Mammalian Biology.
Devereaux MEM and Pamenter ME (2023). Adenosine and gamma-aminobutyric acid partially regulate metabolic and ventilatory responses of Damaraland mole-rats to acute hypoxia. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Abdul Karim Halal
B.Sc. Student Volunteer, UROP awardee (2022-2023)
Publications:

Nathalie Marks de Chabris
Honours B.Sc. Student (2022-2023)
B.Sc. Thesis title: No Significant Differences in Calcium Buffering Capacity in Naked Mole-Rat (Heterocephalus glibber) Heart Mitochondria Compared to CD1 Lab Mice (Mus musculus)
Publication:

Bogdan Tirca
Honours B.Sc. Student (2022-2023)

Hang Cheng
Ph.D. Student (2018-2023)
2024 Cameron Award Winner for the best doctoral thesis in zoology in Canada
Doctoral Thesis title: Mitochondria: hubs of hypoxia-tolerance in naked mole-rats
Publications:
Jaffer B, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2025). Ca2+ inhibits reactive oxygen species scavenging in naked mole-rat cortical homogenates. Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences.

Sidney Abar
Honours B.Sc. Student (2021-2022)
B.Sc. Thesis title: VO2max decreases in hypoxia-tolerant naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) during continuous strenuous exercise in hypoxia
Publications:
Abar, Devereaux, Careau and Pamenter (2025). Hypoxia and thermogenesis constraint peak VO2 in exercising naked mole-rats. Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology.

Isabella Welch
Honours B.Sc. Student (2021-2022)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Identifying the roles of NADPH complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in the production of reactive oxygen species in African naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) brain.
Publications:

Jaina Patel
B.Sc. Student (2021-2022)

Bizav Jaffer
Honours B.Sc. Student (2021-2022)
Project title: Exploring the hydrogen peroxide consumption levels in complexes I and II of brain mitochondria in the African naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber)
Publication: Jaffer B, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2025). Ca2+ inhibits reactive oxygen species scavenging in naked mole-rat cortical homogenates. Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences.

Soulene Sabir
UROP awardee (2021-2022)
Project title: Adapted citrate synthase activity in naked mole-rats
Publication:

Katia Hughes
NSERC USRA awardee (2021)

Kenny Huynh
UROP awardee; NSERC USRA awardee; Honours B.Sc. Student (2018-2021)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Mitochondrial plasticity in acutely hypoxic naked mole rat heart.
Publications:

Kate Brennan
Honours B.Sc. Student (2020-2021)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Effects of glutamate receptor antagonists on the hypoxic ventilatory response of Damaraland mole-rats.
Publication:

Maria Roy
Honours B.Sc. Student (2019-2020)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Hypoxia-mediated changes in n-methyl-d-aspartate-evoked calcium flux in naked mole-rat cortex.
Publications:
Otell, Eaton, Roy and Pamenter (2025). Absence of a glutamatergic channel arrest mechanism in hypoxic naked mole-rat cortex. Neuroscience Letters.

Sarah Chiasson
Honours B.Sc. Student (2019-2020)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Glutamatergic receptors modulate the ventilatory but not metabolic response to acute hypoxia.
Publications:

Daniel Munro, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2019)
Publications:
Munro D, Blier PU and Pamenter ME (2026). Assessing mitochondrial quality in non-traditional models. Canadian Journal of Zoology.
Munro, Hart, Sebaa, Bennett, Van dermeeren, van Jaarvsveld, Devereaux, Campbell, Blier, Harper and Pamenter (2025). Succinate-driven cardiac mitochondrial respiration aligns with whole-animal hypoxia-tolerance in African mole-rats. Mammalian Biology.
Pamenter and Munro (2019), Longevity or hypoxia: who’s driving? Aging-US

Chau Nguyen
NSERC USRA awardee; Co-op work placement; Honours B.Sc. Student (2016-2019)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Exploring the contribution of heat shock protein to the hypoxia-tolerance of the naked mole-rat
Publications:
Al-attar, Childers, Nguyen, Pamenter and Storey (2020). Differential protein phosphorylation is responsible for hypoxia-induced regulation of the Akt/mTOR pathway in naked mole-rats. Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry.

Samantha Torne
Honours B.Sc. Student (2018-2019)

Tina Wang
Honours B.Sc. Student (2018-2019)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Naked mole-rat neurons control reactive nitrogen species production during reperfusion following hypoxia or ischemia.
Publications:

Salome Cadrin-Aubin
Honours B.Sc. Student (2018-2019)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Vascular adaptations in muscle to exercise / work in hypoxia in 6 species of African mole-rats.

Lisa Borecky
M.Sc. Student (2015-2018)
M.Sc. Thesis title: Hypoxia inducible factor and the control of hypoxic ventilatory and metabolic responses in Mus musculus and Heterocephalus glaber.
Publications:
Borecky and Pamenter (2017). Oxygen sensing and transcriptional regulation of adaptive hypoxic responses. In: Chemosensory sensors and systems: evolutionary significance biological effects, and new insights. New York, USA: Nova Science (M. Brandt, ed.).

Cécile Baldy, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2018)
Publications:
Pamenter ME and Baldy C. (2017). Chronic intermittent hypoxia contributes to sleep-disordered breathing in infants and adults. Berlin, GER: Avid Science. (S. Ravini, ed.).

Amanda Zhu-Pawlowsky
B.Sc. Student (Summer 2018)
Project title: Exploring the role of a moisture-mediated body temperature cooling strategy in hypoxic naked mole-rats
Publication:

Sarah Zhang
NSERC USRA awardee; Honours B.Sc. Student (2017-2018)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Hypercapnic ventilatory and metabolic responses in the fossorial Damaraland mole-rat: a whole-body and mechanistic perspective
Publications:

Travis Branigan
Honours B.Sc. Student (2017-2018)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Behavioural Responses to Environmental Hypercapnia in Damaraland Mole-Rats (Fukomys damarensis)
Publication:

Nikita Malholtra
B.Sc. Student Volunteer (2017-2018)
Project title: Thermal adaptations to acute hypoxia in naked mole-rats
Publication:

Amanda Vandewint
Honours B.Sc. Student (2017-2018)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Exploring the role of a moisture-mediated body temperature cooling strategy in hypoxic naked mole-rats
Publication:

Lewis Han
UROP awardee (2017-2018)

Alexia Kirby
B.Sc. Student (2015-2016); M.Sc. Student (2016-2018)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Behavioural, thermal, and metabolic strategies of the naked mole-rat, Hetercephalus glaber, in hypoxia.
M.Sc. Thesis title: Metabolic adaptations to acute hypoxia in naked mole-rats.
Publications:
Hart, Bennett, Best, van Jaarsveld, Cheng, Ivy, Kirby, Munro, Sprenger, Storey, Milsom and Pamenter (2023). The relationship between hypoxia exposure and circulating cortisol levels in social and solitary African mole-rats. General and Comparative Endocrinology.
Max Clayson
Honours B.Sc. Student (2016-2017)
B.Sc. Thesis title: The role of carbonic anhydrase in modulating metabolic and ventilatory responses to hypercapnia in naked mole-rats
Publication:
Chelsea Houlahan
Honours B.Sc. Student (2016-2017)
B.Sc. Thesis title: The effects of hypoxia on the behavioural and thermoregulatory huddling responses of the naked mole rat
Publication:
Sulaf Elkhalifa
Honours B.Sc. Student (2016-2017)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Behavioural and thermal responses to hypercapnia in naked mole-rats
Publication:

Aaron Ilacqua
Honours B.Sc. Student (2015-2016)
B.Sc. Thesis title: Behavioural and thermal responses of individual naked mole rats to environmental hypoxia within their thermoneutral zone
Publication:
Garrett Fairman
NSERC USRA awardee (summer 2016)
Publications:

Sharn Gill
B.Sc. Student Volunteer (2015-2016)
Project title: Exploring the role of glutamatergic receptors in the control of ventilatory responses to acute and chronic hypoxia in naked mole rats
Publication:



