Introducing the 2024 Backlund Fellows
In collaboration with the ALS Society for Alberta, this fellowship was created by Frida and Mikael Backlund in memory of Ann Backlund, whose strength and hope continue to inspire us all.
Meet the Fellows
Dr. Parastoo Razmara, PhD.
Dr. Parastoo Razmara is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta, specializing in neurophysiology and ecotoxicology. Her current research investigates how compounds in cannabis alter synaptic activities at the neuromuscular junction and impact fish locomotion in developing zebrafish. Starting in January 2025, she has been recruited to lead an exciting new research program focusing on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), integrating electrophysiology and preclinical zebrafish disease models to advance drug discovery. Parastoo is honored to receive the Achievements for Ann – Backlund Fellowship, recognizing her commitment to innovative research that bridges scientific discovery and real-world impact.
Dr. Evandro Beraldi, Ph.D.
Evandro Beraldi is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Labs of Minh Dang Nguyen and Keith Sharkey at the University of Calgary. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology and his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the State University of Maringá, Brazil, where his work focused on investigating the influence of high-fat diets and obesity in the enteric nervous system, gut motility, and the gut microbiota. Since starting at the University of Calgary, he has studied the role of cannabinoid 1 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract after microbiota depletion and natural recolonization of the gut. More recently, he has been exploring the relationship between sexual dimorphism and the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.