Our research group, led by Dr.Jean-Francois Legare, is at the forefront of ground-breaking studies aimed at advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care.
Keith Brunt, PhD
Translation Scientist
Dr. Keith Brunt is the main founder & leader of IMPART team. He is an associate professor at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, a translational scientist in the cardiovascular surgery/ cardiology departments of the New Brunswick Heart Centre. He is also the president of the Heart & Stroke Foundation New Brunswick.
Following the completion of his undergraduate studies in Physiology at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Brunt went on to Queens University to pursue Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. After a fellowship in Cardiac Surgery and Regenerative Medicine at Toronto General Hospital, he became an Assistant Professor in Pharmacology and Medicine in Saint John.
Dr. Brunt is currently teaching as an adjunct professor in the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Business in addition to directing Community Engagement and Innovation Development efforts for Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick. He is also the Chief Scientific Officer at NB-BioMatrix, Inc., and a special graduate faculty member at the University of Guelph in Ontario.
Research interests for Dr. Brunt include nano-pharmocology, heme metabolism, and molecular and cellular cardiology.
Research | Publications | News | Brunt Lab | Biospherix Partnership
Kenneth D’Souza, PhD
Senior Scientist
Dr. D’Souza is currently a Mitacs Elevate post-doctoral fellow at the NBHC and Dalhousie. He completed an undergraduate and MSc at McMaster University in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He then completed his PhD in Biochemistry at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (DMNB). Notably, Dr. D’Souza was a NSERC Vanier funded scholar (first in NB for life sciences) as well as the first PhD graduate at DMNB.
Dr. D’Souza currently focuses on cardiac amyloid disease. In addition to managing several clinical projects on amyloidosis, he is also developing novel diagnostics for amyloidosis, including the use of spectroscopy and machine learning. Apart from research, he is also the principal grant writer and assists with all aspects of research management and planning.
Dr. D’Souza is also a contracted instructor at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) and Mount Allison, where he teaches a broad range of subjects across Biology, Biochemistry and Health.
Dana El-Mughayyar, MSc, CCRP ©
Clinical Research Manager
Dana El-Mughayyar is a highly accomplished clinical research professional with over eight years of experience in spine, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, chronic pain and cardiovascular research. A recipient of multiple awards, she holds a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Biology and Psychology and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Dalhousie University, Dana focuses on advancing cardiac rehabilitation outcomes through patient-oriented research.
Her research journey began at the Canada East Spine Centre, where she contributed to studies on post-operative spine patient outcomes, 3D surgical planning, prehabilitation, and pharmacy trials. Transitioning to cardiovascular research at the NBHC, Dana has led interventional trials and observational studies addressing critical gaps in patient care, such as barriers to cardiac rehabilitation participation and post-surgical recovery outcomes.
As Clinical Research Manager at NBHC, Dana has successfully managed high-impact projects, including exceeding recruitment targets for the LeAAPS trial by sixfold. She also serves as Director of Experiential Learning for Dalhousie University’s IMPART program, enhancing her leadership in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. Dana is the founder of the Volunteer Research Program at NBHC and Volunteer Mentorship Program at IMPART funded by MyROAD.
Dana is certified as a Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) and has pursued advanced training in patient-oriented research (POR). She applies these principles to amplify patient voices, identifying barriers to CR access through her PhD in Health work at Dalhousie University under the guidance of Dr.Scott Grandy. Her commitment to enhancing healthcare is reflected in her peer-reviewed publications, extensive conference presentations, and collaborations with local and national stakeholders. Dana also serves as a peer-reviewer for esteemed journals such as Global Spine Journal and Medicine ©. Driven by a belief in the power of multidisciplinary collaboration, Dana is dedicated to creating a healthcare system where patients feel seen, heard, and empowered. Her work bridges the gap between research and patient care, pushing the boundaries of evidence-based medicine to improve outcomes for all.
Read and follow here: Publications | ResearchGate
Jeffrey MacLeod
Data Analyst Manager
Jeff MacLeod is the Data Analyst Manager at the New Brunswick Heart Centre (NBHC). Since joining the clinical outcomes research team following his undergraduate degree in 2012, he has been a constant fixture and instrumental in its growth and success, helping to build an internal research program while contributing to countless external publications and presentations addressing topics such as blood transfusion patterns, barriers to patient access in cardiovascular care, and obesity as a predictor of surgical outcomes. Although his current role finds him dealing primarily in data management and analysis, Jeff continues to be a steadfast and experienced resource for clinicians and students in all aspects of research, from study design to publication.
Manali Doshi
Clinical Research Assistant
Manali Doshi is a clinical research professional with a strong background in Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, specializing in critical trial design, data management and patient-centered research methodologies. Her expertise spans early-stage drug development, Phase 3 protocol creation, AI integration in clinical trials and innovative cancer research methodologies like basket trials. Her journey in Clinical research began with an internship at Troikka Pharmaceuticals in India, where she worked on pre-clinical and laboratory level drug development, gaining first-hand experience in the preclinical phase. She also holds a degree and certification in Clinical Research from York University and she is certified in REDCAP- Data management in clinical research. She worked as a research assistant at Baycrest Hospital, Ontario on the project for Reduction in risk of developing Dementia. Currently, she is NBHCR's Clinical Research Assistant where she actively contributes in patient recruitment, data management, and research coordination.
Ashlynn Pippy
Student Research Assistant
Ashlyn is a Student Research Assistant at the New Brunswick Heart Centre. She recently graduated with Honours in Anatomy and Cell Biology from McGill University, where her honours research investigated the viral translocation mechanisms of poliovirus. With experience in both wet lab research at McGill and clinical data collection through her ongoing work with the Nephrology Department at the Saint John Regional Hospital, Ashlyn transitioned to the Heart Centre to further her knowledge in clinical research. She is currently involved in several data collection projects, including those for the cardiac surgery database, the aortic intervention study, and the STEMI patients database. In addition, she is contributing to the development of a clinic aimed at providing essential follow-up care for post-cardiac surgery patients who lack a family doctor or cardiologist.
