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Melanie Spears
Assistant Professor
Melanie Spears
Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology
PhD
melanie.spears@oicr.on.ca
(647)
259-4259
(416) 977-7446
Publications
Location
Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
Address
661 University Ave., Suite 510, Toronto, Ontario Canada M8Z 3V5
Graduate Faculty
Yes
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Research
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Artificial Intelligence in healthcare
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Undergraduate
Prospective undergraduate students
About the Specialist Program in Pathobiology
Message from the Undergraduate Coordinator
Why join the Specialist Program
What you will study
Eligibility and how to apply
Who we are: Specialist Program
Current undergraduate students
Program requirements for the Specialist Program
Undergraduate courses
LMP200H1 – Pathobiology of the Cell
LMP299Y1 - Research Opportunity Program (ROP)
LMP301H1 - Introduction to the Biochemistry of Human Disease
LMP305Y1 – Pathobiology Research Analysis and Project
LMP310H1 – Fundamentals of Pathobiology
LMP320H1 – Pathobiology of Stem Cells
LMP330H1 – Genetic and Computational Modeling in Human Development and Disease
LMP399Y1 - Research Opportunity Program (ROP)
LMP405Y1 - Project in Pathobiology 154P
LMP410H1 - Pathobiology of Neurodegenerative Disease 24L
LMP415H1 - Forensic Pathobiology 24L
LMP420H1 – Cancer Pathogenesis
LMP430H1 – Metabolic disorders
LMP440H1 – Mechanisms of Host-Microbe Interactions
LMP450H1 – Organogenesis in Health and Disease
LMP460H1 – Pathobiology of the Cardiovascular System
Scholarships and awards
Sessional dates
The Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP)
Undergraduate research opportunities
LMP Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program (SURE)
Research Day (SURE)
The LMP SURE Lunch & Learn
Student life
Student support and services
LMP Student Union (LMPSU)
The LMPSU team
Medical students
LMIG: Special Interest Group in Lab Medicine
LMP Summit for MD students
Shadowing experiences for U of T medical students
Virtual Gross Anatomy Rounds
Case of the Month
Funding, mentoring & other opportunities
Graduate
Research stream programs: prospective students
Why choose LMP for your research program?
Examples of graduate research: videos
What is possible after your studies: our LMP alumni
What to expect as an LMP research stream student
Master of Science (MSc) Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program
Funding your MSc or PhD
MSc and PhD application process and deadlines
Finding a supervisor for your MSc or PhD
Research stream programs: current students
Course requirements and performance expectations
Thesis Advisory Committee
Graduate course list
LMP1001/1002/1003: Graduate Seminars in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology
LMP1005H: Fundamentals of Research Practice
LMP1100H: Cellular imaging in pathobiology
LMP1101H: Basic concepts in inflammatory/autoimmune arthritis
LMP1102H: Clinical concepts in inflammatory/autoimmune arthritis
LMP1103H: Tissue injury, repair and regeneration
LMP1105: Current understanding of Atherosclerosis
LMP1106H: Molecular Biology Techniques
LMP1107H: Bioinformatics in LMP
LMP1108H: Genome analysis in medicine
LMP1110H: Neural Stem Cells - brain development and maintenance
LMP1111: Introduction to R and the Analysis of Single Cell Data
LMP1200H: Neoplasia
LMP1203H: Basic principles of analytical clinical biochemistry
LMP1206H: Next generation genomics in clinical medicine
LMP1207H: Mass spectrometry, proteomics and their clinical applications
LMP1208H: Molecular clinical microbiology and infectious diseases
LMP1210H - Basic Principles of Machine Learning in Biomedical Research
LMP1211H: Foundations in Musculoskeletal Science
LMP1212H: Neuropathology and AI
LMP2004H: Introduction to Biostatistics
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Program transfers
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Time off, leave and withdrawals
Academic appeals
Program completion for MSc and PhD
Graduate forms
Student services and support
Room bookings
Communicate your research: the 3MT in LMP
LMP 3MT resources
Mentoring & professional development for graduate students
LMP mentoring program
Mentoring resources for LMP students
Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Laboratory Medicine
Why study with us?
Eligibility and how to apply
Fees and financial support
Meet the team
Pathologists' Assistant field
Clinical Embryologist field
Current students
Program overview and courses
LMP2000: Cell and Molecular Biology
LMP2001H: Biomedical Research Methods
LMP2002H: Clinical Laboratory Management
LMP2003H: Biomedical Ethics
LMP2005Y: Capstone Research Project
LMP2006H: Research/Reading Course for PA Students
LMP2200H: Basic Principles in Human Pathobiology and Pathophysiology
LMP2201H: Anatomy and Pathology of Organ Systems
LMP 2202H: Practicum in Surgical Pathology l
LMP2203H: Practicum in Surgical Pathology II
LMP2203H: Practicum in Surgical Pathology III
LMP2204H: Practicum in Surgical Pathology IV
LMP2205H: Practicum in Surgical Pathology IV
LMP2206H: Practicum in Adult Medical / Hospital Autopsy
LMP2207H: Practicum in Forensic Pathology
LMP2208H: The Science of Biobanking
LMP2209H: Practicum in Surgical Pathology V
LMP2210H: Practicum in Surgical Pathology Vl
LMP2211H: Advanced Anatomy Dissection
Awards and bursaries
Conferences
Current Pathologists' Assistant students
Job search resources for Pathologists' Assistant students
Program objectives
Policies
Roles and responsibilities
Advisory meetings
Program completion
Master of Science in Applied Computing (MScAC) Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Sciences (CSMS)
CSMS foundation course
CSMS seminar course
CSMS completion requirements
Meet the CSMS team
Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Translational Research
Student Union: CLAMPS
The CLAMPS team
The Peer Communication Team
The Crowdsourced Cookbook
Postgraduate
Residency Training Programs
Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology
Hematological Pathology
Medical Microbiology
Neuropathology
Forensic Pathology
Research in our residency programs
Postdoctoral Diploma Programs
Clinical Chemistry
Clinical Microbiology
Fellowship Training Programs
Forensic Pathology Fellowship (G. Raymond Chang)
Fellowship application guidelines
Areas of Focused Competence
Cytopathology
Transfusion Medicine
Clinician Scientist Training Program
Visiting Electives and Observerships
Postgraduate training sites
Awards and bursaries
Our Faculty
Faculty Directory
Professors Emeriti
Academic Appointments
Clinical Appointments
Non-clinical Appointments
Clinical academic position descriptions
Current faculty members
Faculty development
Faculty Development Day
2025 Faculty Development Day
2024 Faculty Development day
Professional values
Annual Review
Continuing Appointment Review and Three-Year Review
Promotion and reclassification guidelines: to Assistant Professor
Promotion guidelines: to Associate Professor and Professor
Criteria for promotion
Reference documents
Promotions Workshop
Previous promotions & advice
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Academic Certification Program
Digital Laboratory Medicine Library
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
AI in digital pathology COI
Breast Pathology COI
Genitourinary Pathology COI
Gynecological Pathology COI
Head & Neck Pathology COI
Hematopathology COI
Molecular Pathology COI
Optical Genome Mapping COI
Quality & Patient Safety COI
Other professional development from LMP faculty
COVID-19: the effects on practice and wellness
Modifications to Pathology practice during COVID-19
Equity & Wellness
Our committee: WIDE
How to get help
Learner assistance
Undergraduate & Graduate student mistreatment guidelines
MD students & PGME trainees mistreatment guidelines
Faculty and staff assistance
How to raise a concern or complaint
Wellness
Wellness resources
Anti-Black racism
Unconscious Bias
How to be an ally
Educational resources
Your voice: surveys
Voice of the Faculty
Humans of LMP
Clinical Laboratory Services
Clinical laboratory services: Greater Toronto
Resources and recommendations
Projects to improve patient care
Clinical Laboratory Quality Indicators and harmonization
Improving the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency and anemia
Harmonization of critical values
Reference Interval harmonization
About the LMP Quality Council
How to get involved
What do clinical laboratories do?
About
Contact us
Message from the Chair
Who we are
Our partners and affiliates
25 years of LMP
Alumni
Support a graduate student: alumni mentoring
Careers
Strategic Plan 2023-2028
Pillar 1: Inclusive Community
Pillar 2: Dynamic Collaboration
Pillar 3: Impactful Research
Pillar 4: Disruptive Innovation
Pillar 5: Agile Education
The 2021 Self-Study report
External Review 2008–2012
News
The LMP newsletter
Events
Career events with our alumni
LMP awards in teaching, research and service
Celebration of Excellence 2025
Retirees and Long Term Service 2025
LMP Art Competition
2025 submissions & winners
