Our Team

Dr. Indra Narang leads a diverse team of post-doctoral fellows, clinicians, graduate students and undergraduate students. 

Jun Chun Ting Au

Research Fellow

PhD, RPSGT

Jun, a dedicated researcher, joined Dr Narang's lab in 2022. He earned his PhD in Medical Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 2019 and immediately began his academic career as a faculty member in the Department of Paediatrics, CUHK, in the same year. His research has primarily focused on sleep-disordered breathing and sleep patterns in children and adolescents, exploring various aspects that include the cardiovascular and neurocognitive complications and the treatment responses, the natural history of OSA from childhood to adulthood, the familial aggregation and heritability of childhood OSA, anatomical markers, novel screening tools, and epidemiology. His ongoing work includes developing alternative diagnostic tools for OSA using facial photogrammetry, exploring ways to define OSA better using new biomarkers such as hypoxic burden and heart rate responses to respiratory events during sleep study, and the long-term effects of surgical intervention in children with OSA.

In addition to his research, Jun has also been a registered sleep technologist (RPSGT) since 2008. Over the years, he has been training new technologists and sleep physicians on scoring and interpreting paediatric sleep studies.

E-mail: jun.au@sickkids.ca

Aditi Garg

Clinical Research Project Manager

MHEcon & Policy, BSc

Aditi joined Dr. Narang's lab in 2025 as a Clinical Research Project Manager. With over a decade of experience in clinical trials and research operations, she has led the operational management of multi-centre trials across Canada. Her diverse portfolio spans cardiac electrophysiology, medical devices, chronic disease prevention, neuromuscular diseases, and now pediatric sleep medicine.

Returning to her original passion for pediatric health, Aditi is eager to apply her clinical operations expertise to drive meaningful research in pediatric sleep medicine and improve child health outcomes. She is dedicated to fostering collaboration and supporting clinical trials that run efficiently, ethically, and with compassion.

Within Dr. Narang's lab, she leads the CHOSA trial, a national randomized controlled trial evaluating home-based therapies for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.

Aditi holds a Master of Science in Health Economics and Policy from the University of Lucerne and an Honours Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo. Her work spans clinical trials and international health policy, including a first-author publication on disability and rehabilitation legislation across five countries. She also enjoys guest lecturing on healthcare leadership and clinical trial management and has been featured on the PH Spot podcast to discuss mentorship and supporting early-career researchers.

She is committed to growing as a leader in clinical research and operations, with a focus on building compassionate, high-performing teams that drive meaningful change in healthcare.

E-mail: aditi.garg@sickkids.ca

Giorge Voutsas 

Ph.D Candidate - University of Toronto

H. B.Sc. Kinesiology - McMaster University

In 2015, I joined the Department of Translational Research at The Hospital for Sick Children under the guidance of Dr. Narang. My experience in Dr. Narang's lab inspired me to pursue deeper exploration in the field of sleep medicine, aiming to contribute meaningfully to both clinical practice and scientific advancement. Building on this motivation, I sought to expand my impact by earning admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program at the University of Toronto's Institute of Medical Sciences. My research focuses on evaluating modifiable risk factors influencing physical activity (PA) patterns in children with severe asthma, as well as examining neighbourhood factors that affect PA levels.
This innovative study employs GPS correlation to explore how urban design—specifically neighbourhood features like increased green space, enhanced walkability, and a higher active living index based on GIS metrics—affects physical activity (PA) and sleep in children with severe asthma. Currently, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding non-pharmacological strategies to improve symptoms and outcomes in this population. This research is critical, as children with severe asthma face higher risks of morbidity and mortality, placing a substantial burden on healthcare systems. The findings have the potential to positively impact numerous children with severe asthma by addressing these unmet needs.

Furthermore, this project allows me to integrate the knowledge gained from my undergraduate kinesiology degree into my graduate research, reinforcing my passion for understanding the biological mechanisms that link exercise to pathology in clinical pediatric populations. Not only does this work align with my immediate career aspiration of conducting impactful scientific research, but it also serves as a stepping stone toward my long-term goal of becoming a rehabilitation scientist focused on clinical translational research.

E-mail: giorge.voutsas@sickkids.ca

Zeina Beidas

Clinical Research Project Assistant

Zeina graduated from the University of Toronto in 2022 with a 
BSc. in Neuropsychology. She has worked across ten labs over six years, intentionally seeking out diverse research environments to gain a comprehensive set of skills. She is passionate about bridging laboratory findings with clinical application, a mission that aligns closely with the goals of the Narang Sleep Lab. She is interested in the social determinants of sleep disorders in children, and in contributing to the development of novel diagnostic models of sleep apnea in children. Zeina hopes to continue expanding her expertise in clinical research to lead large-scale, high-impact translational projects.

E-mail: zeina.beidas@sickkids.ca

Sumenjit Waraich

Clinical Research Project Assistant

Sumenjit is a dedicated clinical researcher and global health advocate who is honoured to join Dr. Indra Narang's esteemed research team at SickKids. Sumen's passion for health advocacy began during her career as a personal support worker and child and youth counsellor. Being a part of the patient care cycle gave her a glimpse into the everyday reality of children in complex care systems constantly pushing barriers to accessibility and equitable care. This experience deepened her understanding of various levels of community care and the importance of strong healthcare teams.

In 2021, Sumen graduated from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Science. During her studies, she developed and implemented an integrated comprehensive care study focused on integrated care systems on a global scale. While pursuing her Master's in Global Health at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, Sumen participated in various clinical research projects. Her experiences include involvement in international research initiatives in East Africa and a research internship at the Joint Clinical Research Centre in Uganda. Drawing on her background as a personal support worker, she adopted a trauma-informed and non-judgmental approach in her interactions with clinic patients and actively contributed to discussions among diverse healthcare teams.

Since graduating in 2022, Sumenjit has engaged in multiple research projects, furthering her commitment to advancing public health. With a keen interest in paediatric medicine, she is excited to explore the prevalence of sleep disorders in children and contribute to the science surrounding diagnostic models for sleep apnea.

Email: sumenjit.waraich@sickkids.ca

Sanjana Raja Rao Nagaraj

Clinical Research Project Assistant

Sanjana is a passionate clinical researcher whose work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and mental health interventions. She joins Dr. Narang's sleep medicine research team at SickKids with a background in both laboratory and clinical research environments. After completing her Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University, Sanjana cultivated diverse research experiences across prestigious institutions, including CAMH, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto, and Dartmouth College. Her research journey spans multiple domains, including mindfulness interventions, stress physiology, psilocybin microdosing clinical trials for depression, and research on trauma-informed therapies. Through these experiences, she developed skills in patient assessment and clinical documentation while gaining insight into various therapeutic approaches.

Sanjana is fascinated by the intersection of developmental and biological psychology, specifically how physiological processes shape psychological outcomes throughout development. She's super excited to work with pediatric populations and dive into understanding sleep disorders in children! Her goal is to help advance diagnostic and treatment approaches for pediatric sleep apnea that integrate both biological mechanisms and psychological factors. Looking ahead, Sanjana hopes to dedicate her career to advancing pediatric research and making meaningful contributions to children's health outcomes.

In her free time, Sanjana volunteers as a Certified Crisis Responder with Kids Help Phone, providing support to young people experiencing mental health challenges. This work reflects her commitment to mental wellness and her belief in accessible support services for youth.

Email: sanjana.rajaraonagaraj@sickkids.ca

Mystica Terrance

MSc. Candidate - University of Toronto

HBSc. Health and Disease - University of Toronto

Mystica graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Health and Disease from the University of Toronto in 2021. Her interest in sleep medicine began during her final year, when she conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on sleep duration and its impact on chronic medical conditions in children. This sparked her passion for sleep medicine research, particularly in the context of chronic condition interventions.

Mystica is currently pursuing a Master of Science at the University of Toronto. Her current thesis project investigates the efficacy of oral dexamethasone as a treatment for moderate to severe OSA in children. This study bridges clinical research with basic science, as Mystica also works with nasal epithelial cell culture to explore the cellular characteristics underlying sleep disorders. She aspires to pursue a career in clinical research management.

E-mail: mystica.terrance@sickkids.ca

Rianna Sarbajna

MSc. Candidate - University of Toronto

HBSc. - University of Toronto

Rianna Sarbajna holds an Honour's Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto and is currently pursuing her Master of Science from the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto.
Rianna joined the Narang Lab in 2022 as an undergraduate research student, where her work primarily focused on studying the association between insomnia and PAP adherence in children and the utilization of mindfulness-based strategies to increase PAP adherence in adolescents. Transitioning to a graduate researcher, her current work focuses on pediatric health equity. Rianna's current thesis investigates the association between the social determinants of health and asthma outcomes in children. She is also involved in additional projects at the Office of Health Equity and Inclusion, that are focused on improving equitable access to care here at the Hospital for Sick Children. Rianna has also spent time as an undergraduate student researcher at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health where she with worked on projects focused on improving access to mental health resources for autistic youth.
Moving forward, under the supervision of Dr. Indra Narang, Rianna is committed to advancing equity-informed research aimed at improving health outcomes for the marginalized populations SickKids strives to serve.

E-mail: rianna.sarbajna@sickkids.ca

Natalia Escobar

Clinical Fellow

Dr. Natalia Escobar obtained her MD from the National University of Rosario, Argentina, and completed her training in Pediatrics, Pediatric Respirology, and Sleep Medicine in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2017.

In 2023, Dr. Escobar joined SickKids as a Clinical Fellow in Respiratory Medicine. She is now in her second year of fellowship and currently the Chief Fellow.

In 2024, she joined Dr. Narang's research lab, where her ongoing projects focus on narcolepsy.

E-mail: natalia.escobar@sickkids.ca

David Benzon, RN 

Clinical Research Project Assistant

B.Sc.(H) Kinesiology - McMaster University

BScN - University of Toronto 

David is a co-author on several publications. His project, Evaluation of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Pediatric Patients with Probable Rapid-Onset Obesity with Hypothalamic Dysfunction, Hypoventilation and Autonomic Dysregulation (ROHHAD) Syndrome was featured at the World Sleep Congress 2019 in Vancouver. 

E-mail: david.benzon@sickkids.ca

Marilou Alforque

Administrative Assistant

Marilou joined The Hospital for Sick Children's Respiratory Medicine Department as an Administrative Assistant in 2024. She has experience from a healthcare communications agency in project coordination of online courses, webinars, conferences, as well various marketing campaigns. She handled reconciling and managing budgets, reviewing proposals, and managing reporting tools. Marilou coordinated accreditation and updates to content for a Certified Respiratory Educator (CRE) certificate preparation course and a curriculum alignment project for mathematics and science between high school and colleges.

She graduated in engineering from Concordia University. She also had a role as a Research Assistant which included literature searches, interviews for participants in a research study, administering and data collection of surveys.

E-mail: marilou.alforque@sickkids.ca

Dr. Lena Xiao, MD, MSc, FRCPC

Dr. Lena Xiao is a Pediatric Respirologist and Sleep Physician at British Columbia Children's Hospital (BCCH). She received her Canadian Royal College certification in Pediatric Respiratory Medicine in 2021 and completed clinical fellowships in Pediatric Sleep Medicine and Long-Term Ventilation at The Hospital for Sick Children in June 2023. Dr. Xiao also completed a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research at the University of Toronto in March 2024 under the supervision of Dr. Indra Narang. She was recently awarded the 2024 American Thoracic Society Carole L. Marcus Outstanding Achievement Award which recognizes a new investigator for their accomplishments in pediatric sleep and respiratory neurobiology.

Dr. Xiao joined Dr. Narang's research lab in 2019 and they continue to closely collaborate on research that focuses on phenotyping obstructive sleep apnea as well as evaluating alternative therapies for its treatment using a broad range of methodologies including clinical trials, qualitative studies, and observational designs.

Dr. Evan Jon Propst, MD, MSc, FRCSC 

Dr. Propst is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist - Head and Neck Surgeon at The Hospital for Sick Children and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. He has authored over 120 peer-reviewed publications, numerous book chapters and books (https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publications/airway-reconstruction-surgical-dissection-manual), lectures internationally, and is on the executive board of several international medical societies. 

Dr. Propst co-created the Disorders RElating to the Airway and Mouth in Sleep (DREAMS) clinic to treat complex sleep disordered breathing in children with persistent severe obstructive sleep apnea following tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy and positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. He has a vast experience creating educational material and programs, having served as the Residency Site Director and Fellowship Director at The Hospital for Sick Children, organizing annual Continuing Medical Education Airway courses (ORLPed.com), and developing synthetic models for surgical training (www.AweSimMedical.com). Dr. Propst is also a Physician Builder (Programmer) for the electronic medical record system EPIC.  

Dr. Nikolaus Wolter MD, MSc, FRCSC

Dr. Wolter is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist - Head and Neck Surgeon at The Hospital for Sick Children and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. He completed a Fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard University. His clinical practice and laboratory research are focused on surgery of the head and neck, airway reconstruction, and diseases of the sinuses and skull base. Dr Wolter established the Head and Neck Basic Science laboratory at Sick Kids. He has authored numerous academic publications and book chapters in the field of pediatric Otolaryngology. He currently serves as the residency site director at Sick Kids.

Dr. Sara Ahola Kohut, Ph.D., C.Psych.

Chaaya Nakra

Research Student

Chaaya Nakra is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences at Queen's University, alongside a Certificate in Business at the Smith School of Business. Chaaya joined the Narang Lab in the summer of 2025 as a Research Student. Her work supports the study examining factors that influence insomnia and positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy adherence in children. Chaaya's strong interest in pediatric health has driven her involvement in several child-centered research and community initiatives. She gained research experience through the ASPIRE Research Program and has worked with children in clinical, recreational, and therapeutic settings at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Her leadership on Kids4Kids, a club at Queen's University supporting the Child Life department at Kingston General Hospital, further reflects her commitment to supporting wellbeing and improving care experiences. Chaaya is motivated by the goal of contributing to meaningful, evidence-based research and hopes to continue building a broad and adaptable research skill set as she moves forward in her academic career.

E-mail: chaaya.nakra@sickkids.ca

Taylor Stoat

Graduate Research Student

B.Sc. Neuroscience- University of Western Ontario

Taylor graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2022 with a B.Sc. in Neuroscience. Her passion for the field of clinical research is evident through her undergraduate thesis work and her previous role as a Clinical Research Coordinator at SickKids. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's in Medical Science at the University of Toronto, under the co-supervision of Dr. Narang and Dr. Dlamini. Her research focuses on unraveling the mechanistic link between sleep and neurocognition in children who have had a stroke. Specifically, she is investigating the role of vascular health—the glymphatic system and cerebrovascular reactivity—in this pediatric population. Taylor is driven by the goal of translating her findings into improved care and quality of life for children affected by stroke.

Kris Sanchez

Undergraduate Research Student 

MD - University of Toronto

BHSc - Queen's University

Kris Sanchez joined Dr. Narang's research lab in 2024. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) at Queen's University and is now studying medicine at the University of Toronto. Kris's current research at Dr. Narang's lab investigates what factors affect positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy adherence in children with sleep apnea and the perspectives and preferences of children and their caregivers for existing sleep apnea treatments. Kris also has a deep interest in EDI. This is evident in her previous role as an EDI Student Coordinator at Queen's University where she created resources to support the wellbeing and professional goals of equity-deserving students. In addition, her undergraduate research project aimed to collect stories of belonging from students, staff, and faculty at Queen's to inform more inclusive policies and initiatives at the university.

Shania Sheth

Undergraduate Research Student 

BHSc Candidate - Queen's University

Shania Sheth is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences at Queen's University. Shania joined the Narang Lab in the summer of 2024 as a SSuRe Research Student in the Department of Translational Medicine. Shania's clinical interest in sleep medicine and respiratory medicine has driven her to participate in a variety of projects related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Shania is currently leading a study examining PAP adherence in paediatric populations with OSA. In addition, Shania is actively engaged in a variety of equity, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) related projects focused on improving health equity for children and their families at SickKids. Her ongoing work involves the creation of health equity-focused tools for healthcare providers to improve quality of care and ensure important social determinants of health are addressed at point of care. Shania hopes to continue contributing to the field of paediatric sleep and respiratory medicine while striving to improve health equity in clinical care.

Adele Baker

BSc(H), PGCE, RRT

Adele is a staff Respiratory Therapist at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, specializing in the area of Sleep and Respiratory Medicine. She completed her undergraduate degree at Western U, her teaching degree at Lancaster U, and her diploma in Respiratory Therapy at the Michener Institute. She has worked at SickKids for over 20 years. Her practice involves clinical education and adherence support to children prescribed respiratory therapies to treat sleep disordered breathing. She is involved in the development of ongoing clinical educational resources on this topic, has founded a Canadian Sleep RT Network for resource collaboration, and has been an invited speaker at various conferences and symposia on the topics of barriers and adherence to PAP therapy treatment. Adele has co-authored publications with the Dr. Narang Lab team looking at various respiratory therapies to treat obstructive sleep apnea, and has presented her research findings at Canadian and World Sleep conferences.

Colin Massicote

Team Lead, Registered Polysomnographic Technologist

Colin completed his Honours thesis project on sleep mentation and EEG at Brock University under Dr. Robert Ogilvie, and completed his clinical training at Niagara Snoring and Sleep Centre. 

He has been a sleep technologist for almost 25 years and is Team Lead of the Sleep Lab at Sickkids hospital. He has a passion for technology and improving processes with positive change, and in his spare time he enjoys running marathons and ultramarathons. His research interests are sleep disorders, EEG and cognition and sleep technology. 

Allison Zweerink

Nurse Practitioner

MN, NP

Allison is a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the Sleep Medicine Program at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph before receiving her Nursing Degree at the University of Toronto, followed by her Master of Nursing - Nurse Practitioner (Pediatrics) at the same university. She has been working at SickKids for almost 20 years and has been the NP in the Sleep Medicine Program for 14 years. Allison's clinical practice includes diagnosing and managing children with sleep disordered breathing and narcolepsy. She also has an interest in pediatric behavioral sleep medicine.