Raise Awareness and Support
Join us in our mission to raise lupus awareness and support the community through education and involvement initiatives.
Get Involved Today
Participate in our events and activities that aim to inform and assist those affected by lupus.
Mission
The University of Ottawa Lupus Organization (UOLO) is dedicated to increasing awareness about lupus within the university and the broader community. In partnership with Lupus Canada and Lupus Ontario, we aim to provide resources, support, and educational opportunities that empower those affected by this chronic condition. By encouraging volunteer participation and membership, we foster a caring and informed community focused on improving the quality of life for lupus patients.
Upcoming Events
- Hoops For HealingSat, Mar 28Location is TBD
- Poker FundraiserDate and time is TBDLocation is TBD
- Lupus Education TourDate and time is TBDLocation is TBD
About Us
Siya Duggal
President & Founder
If you’re living with lupus at the University of Ottawa, I understand how challenging it can be to balance your health and your academics. I’ve experienced it myself, and that’s exactly why I founded the University of Ottawa Lupus Organization.
As a fourth-year student double majoring in Biomedical Science and Psychology, I see lupus through both a scientific and personal lens. Studying biomedical science has helped me understand the complexity of autoimmune disease, inflammation, and how unpredictable flares can be. Studying psychology has deepened my understanding of the mental and emotional impact of chronic illness, including stress, anxiety, and the isolation that can come with trying to keep up academically while managing your health.
UOLO was created to raise awareness about lupus, promote accurate and evidence based education, advocate for students affected by autoimmune diseases, and foster research and meaningful community engagement. Our mission reflects a commitment to awareness, advocacy, inclusion, and academic engagement .
This organization is personal to me, but it is built for our entire community.
We are here to increase understanding, create space for support, encourage research involvement, and make sure no student feels alone navigating lupus while pursuing their education.
Meet The Executive Members
Admin Team
Joylen Laxamana
Co-Vice President
Joylen Laxamana is a third-year Biomedical Science student with a strong academic interest in genetics and data science. She is passionate about understanding how scientific research and data can be used to improve health outcomes and advance medical knowledge. Outside of her studies, she enjoys solving puzzles and playing volleyball and badminton as a way to stay active and challenge herself. She values teamwork and enjoys working with others in both academic and extracurricular settings. Joylen is always curious and enjoys learning new things, whether in the lab or through everyday experiences. Fun fact: her favourite show is Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Harmilap Pannu
Co-Vice President
Harmilap Pannu is a third-year Honours BSc Biology Science student at the University of Ottawa who is passionate about bringing communities together and creating meaningful impact through student leadership across various clubs. He is driven by a desire to bring people together, make everyone’s voice heard, raise awareness, and support initiatives that make a difference both on campus and beyond. As Co-Vice President of the UOLO Executive Team, Harmilap is excited to contribute thoughtful ideas, strong organization, and a team-oriented mindset to make this year both engaging and meaningful.
Aiden Cole
VP Internal
Aiden Cole is a fourth-year Health Sciences student with plans for further post-graduate education. Dedicated to community building, he spends much of his time volunteering across both uOttawa and external organizations. In his free time, he enjoys pursuing his interests, often playing chess or training in MMA. As VP Internal, Aiden looks forward to strengthening UOLO’s presence on campus and contributing to future initiatives.
Events Team
Joey Li
VP Events
Joey is a third-year student in the Translational and Molecular Medicine program with a strong passion for immunology. He currently volunteers at both CHEO and The Ottawa Hospital and works as a lifeguard and swim instructor, where he enjoys supporting and teaching children of all ages. Joey also enjoys making music, as he plays the piano, violin, and flute. He hopes to pursue a career as a pediatric rheumatologist, and is excited to bring his enthusiasm, organization, and creativity to his role as VP Events.
Daniel Kayeye
VP Events
Daniel Kayeye is the VP Events for the Lupus Organization at the University of Ottawa. He’s a uOttawa student with a strong interest in psychology and community involvement, and he loves bringing people together through fun, engaging, and meaningful events. Daniel is passionate about health awareness, advocacy, and making a positive impact on campus, and he’s excited to help create events that support and uplift the lupus community.
Kiana Gholizadeh Vazvani
VP Events
Kiana Gholizadeh Vazvani is a second-year Honours BSc Biomedical Science student at the University of Ottawa with a strong interest in dentistry and community health. She runs the educational account @kianadental, where she shares dental-related content as well as science course tips and resources to support other students in their academic journey. Alongside her academic interests, Kiana is passionate about lupus advocacy and is committed to helping increase visibility and understanding for those affected. She looks forward to bringing creativity, strong organization, and well-organized events to her role as VP Events.
Fatima Arabi
VP Events
Fatima is a student with a strong interest in neuroscience and love for community engagement and inclusivity. She works at the Science and Technology and the Aviation and Space Museums, where she enjoys helping make science accessible and engaging for the public. She joined the club to help spread awareness about lupus, a condition that is often misunderstood, and hopes to contribute to meaningful conversations that create real change. Outside of her school, Fatima enjoys crafts, music, spending time with family/friends, and volunteering in the community.
Marketing Team
Raina Sharma
VP Marketing
Raina is a fourth year B.A. Psychology student at the University of Ottawa with a passion for counselling psychology. As a Research Assistant at uOttawa’s MCRLab, Raina contributes to projects exploring the safe and evidence-based integration of AI as a tool to assist therapists. She also volunteers at The Royal’s Neuromodulation Lab, where she helps administer rTMS treatments for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Recently, Raina joined the CADRE Lab at uOttawa, investigating how individuals’ emotion-regulation self-efficacy influences anxiety related outcomes. Through her involvement with the university's Lupus Organization, Raina values the opportunity to connect with and support individuals navigating the challenges of chronic illness.
Abena Kwarteng
VP Marketing
Abena is a thoughtful and kind individual who uses her creativity to help and inspire others. She enjoys collaborating on meaningful projects that raise awareness and bring people together around important causes. Her creativity allows her to communicate ideas in ways that are engaging and impactful. Abena values teamwork and believes that strong collaboration leads to meaningful change. She is passionate about supporting initiatives that promote education, advocacy, and community connection. Through her work, she aims to uplift, support, and positively impact the people around her.
Anika Abedin
Director of Marketing
Anika Abedin is a second-year student in the Honours Bachelor of Human Kinetics program at the University of Ottawa. She has a strong passion for paediatric medicine and is dedicated to improving the lives of children through compassionate care and advocacy. Anika currently volunteers at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), where she works with children with autism, gaining valuable experience in child development and clinical support. Following her undergraduate studies, she hopes to pursue a career in paediatric oncology, working with children affected by cancer to make a meaningful difference in their care and recovery.
Umaymah Khandker
Director of Marketing
Umaymah is a second-year Biomedical Sciences student at the University of Ottawa. With a strong interest in health care, she plans to pursue a career in either medicine or dentistry. Currently volunteering at a local dental clinic, she is gaining valuable experience in patient care and community health. Regardless of which path she follows, Umaymah’s goal is to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives through compassion and dedication. As part of the University of Ottawa’s Lupus Organization, she looks forward to helping raise awareness and drive meaningful advocacy for those affected by lupus.
Romaisa Zaheen
Director of Marketing
Romaisa is a first year Honours BSoSc student at the University of Ottawa specializing in International Development & Globalization, with strong interests in policy, human rights, and gender equality. Diagnosed with lupus at 17, her lived experience strongly motivates her commitment to advocacy, awareness, and community care. She enjoys volunteering within the community and brings strong communication and organizational skills to her role, while also expressing creativity through playing the piano and creating art. As Director of Marketing for the Lupus Club, Romaisa is passionate about amplifying voices, reducing stigma, and creating accessible, inclusive messaging that helps students feel informed, supported, and connected.
External Team
Asher Theresias
VP External
Asher is finance student who enjoys an active and social lifestyle, he balances his academic pursuits with a passion for sports and spending time with friends. Dedicated to his studies, he is developing strong analytical and problem-solving skills while preparing for a future career in the financial industry. Outside the classroom, he enjoys staying active through various sports and exploring new places with others, reflecting his energetic and outgoing personality.
Rojvan Abdullah
VP External
Rojvan Abdullah is a second-year Health Sciences student at the University of Ottawa with a growing passion for dentistry and marketing. He enjoys editing, content creation, and collecting, bringing a sharp creative eye to every project he takes on. As VP External, Rojvan is excited to advocate for lupus awareness, build meaningful partnerships, and help amplify the team’s voice within the community. He hopes to channel his creativity and outreach skills into opening new doors for awareness, connection, and meaningful community impact for Lupus.
Mohamed Hassan
VP External
Mo is a Third-year honor's BSc Biology student at the university of Ottawa with a strong interest in health sciences and medical research. He is passionate about science communication, advocacy, and increasing awareness of important health issues within the community. Through his role as VP of External, Mo hopes to build meaningful partnerships and help expand the organization’s outreach to make a greater impact in raising awareness about lupus.
Finance Team
Arnav Nair
VP Finance
Arnav has a passion for medical research and advocacy, specifically in "invisible" illnesses such as lupus. He hopes to play a role in bringing awareness for lupus and all those affected by it, as well as contributing towards a lasting change in treatments and cures for the illness. In his spare time, he enjoys keeping active, especially playing soccer and going to the gym.
Noah Tsala
VP Finance
Noah Tsala is a first-year Finance student at Carleton University who is deeply passionate about using financial strategy to drive meaningful impact. As the 2025-2026 VP of Finance, he is ambitious, detail-oriented, and thrilled to support the organization's mission by ensuring sustainable growth and responsible stewardship of resources that helps lupus awareness and advocacy.
Research Team
Malous Fattahi-Ghazi
VP Research
Malous is a 4th year Biomedical Sciences student at uOttawa. She has lived in Ottawa her whole life. She enjoys playing video games and drawing, but above all, she loves learning. She hopes to make a positive impact in the UOLO by helping educate and spread awareness about lupus!
Bilingual Team
Nabihah Alshaddadi
VP Research
Nabihah is a second year Health sciences student with a strong interest in community, advocacy, health, and social impact. She enjoys working with others, trying new things, and being involved in initiatives that make a positive difference. In her free time, she loves reading books and doing random side quests. "
Alex Krnel
VP Bilingual
Alex (they/them) is committed to promoting meaningful bilingual communication and ensuring that every member feels represented and included. With a strong background in leadership and volunteer work, Alex brings insight, empathy, and drive to their role as VP Bilingualism. As someone living with lupus, they are deeply motivated to help raise awareness and foster understanding within the campus community.
Ketsia Musungu
VP Bilingual
Ketsia Musungu is a third-year Biopharmaceutical Sciences student specializing in Genomics at the University of Ottawa. She is passionate about science, health equity, and community advocacy, using bilingual communication to make lupus awareness more accessible. With experience in fundraising, leadership, and community engagement, she brings a thoughtful, driven, and people-focused approach to strengthening outreach and inclusivity.
Contact
Get in Touch
For inquiries or to learn more about our initiatives, please reach out via email or phone. We look forward to connecting with you!
