Danay joined the APEL team in 2015 and since then she assumed the leading role in the Phthalate-Allergen Immune Response (PAIR) clinical study. Her goal is to understand how inhaled environmental pollutants, like phthalates, may alter the immune response to an allergen in the human airway and at a systemic level. Surrounded by a multidisciplinary team with vast expertise in the field of airway immunology, she aims to improve the lives of Canadians, specifically vulnerable groups who suffer from chronic inflammatory airway diseases like asthma.

Danay received her B.Sc. (Hons) in Biochemistry at the University of Havana, Cuba and has a strong background working in the Canadian biotechnology industry. As a current part-time employee at Stemcell Technologies (RND) and DeNovo Software (consultant), while conducting successfully her PhD project, she is continuously expanding her skill-set in both academic and industry settings. In her spare time, she likes to hike, run, dance salsa and unwind watching classic movies and documentaries about politics, religion, science and technology. Her passion is to travel and learn about different cultures around the world.