About Us
Crystal Schatz
Crystal Schatz
Crystal Schatz
Crystal Schatz is the Program Coordinator at Chinook Contract Research. Crystal was previously a researcher with Bow Valley Research before joining Chinook in 2017. She organizes the execution of the varied in vivo and in vitro studies CCR pursues in Human and Animal Health. Behind the scenes and on the ground, Crystal has supported the
Crystal Schatz is the Program Coordinator at Chinook Contract Research. Crystal was previously a researcher with Bow Valley Research before joining Chinook in 2017. She organizes the execution of the varied in vivo and in vitro studies CCR pursues in Human and Animal Health. Behind the scenes and on the ground, Crystal has supported the completion of over 20 in vivo studies, managing deliverables for clients, granting agencies and regulatory agencies. Crystal has a Bachelors in Ecology from the University of Calgary.
Ann Hammad
Crystal Schatz
Crystal Schatz
Ann is an environmental microbiologist/microbial ecologist with more than 8 years of scientific research experience and 3 years of experience in GMP and regulatory environments. She holds a BSc in Biopharmaceutical Sciences with a focus on genomics from the University of Ottawa. Ann enjoyed working on numerous joint projects with Enviro
Ann is an environmental microbiologist/microbial ecologist with more than 8 years of scientific research experience and 3 years of experience in GMP and regulatory environments. She holds a BSc in Biopharmaceutical Sciences with a focus on genomics from the University of Ottawa. Ann enjoyed working on numerous joint projects with Environment Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency after graduating which fueled her love for microbiology and lead to her completion of a MSc in Microbiology & Molecular Biology from the University of Alberta.
Nick Allan
Merle Olson, A.O.E.
Nick Allan
Nick has over 20 years’ regulatory and product development experience in the field of microbiology. Over his career, Nick has provided innovative solutions to client issues ranging from proof-of-concept studies for anti-infective candidates, to full scale regulatory submission studies. Nick was a key contributor to ASTM E2799-11 (the fi
Nick has over 20 years’ regulatory and product development experience in the field of microbiology. Over his career, Nick has provided innovative solutions to client issues ranging from proof-of-concept studies for anti-infective candidates, to full scale regulatory submission studies. Nick was a key contributor to ASTM E2799-11 (the first protocol approved by ASTM that is both a biofilm growth and disinfectant protocol substantiated by a multi-laboratory collaborative study). Nick is the President and Founder of Chinook Contract Research Inc. Nick also serves as the Bio Services functional manager at StarFish Medical (Canada’s largest medical device engineering consultancy).
Joe Ross
Merle Olson, A.O.E.
Nick Allan
Dr. Joe Ross holds a B.M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario. He has over 17 peer reviewed publications and has held post doctoral fellowships at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the University of Southern Denmark, and the University of Lethbridge. His major areas of expertise include microbiology, bioc
Dr. Joe Ross holds a B.M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario. He has over 17 peer reviewed publications and has held post doctoral fellowships at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the University of Southern Denmark, and the University of Lethbridge. His major areas of expertise include microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and mammalian cell biology. As a Senior Scientist at Chinook Contract Research, Joe has designed and executed studies for product registration to Health Canada, antimicrobial and antiviral efficacy studies, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance studies in southern Alberta.
Merle Olson, A.O.E.
Merle Olson, A.O.E.
Merle Olson, A.O.E.
Dr. Merle Olson is a co-founder of CCR and our research director. Additionally, he is the founder and the Director of Research & Technical Services of Alberta Veterinary laboratories Inc. AVL operates the only GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Western Canada and one of the few in Canada.
Dr. Merle Olson is a co-founder of CCR and our research director. Additionally, he is the founder and the Director of Research & Technical Services of Alberta Veterinary laboratories Inc. AVL operates the only GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Western Canada and one of the few in Canada. AVL was incorporated Feb 8, 2006 and in July, 2009 AVL received approval from Health Canada to manufacture and sell a drug which is used on most cattle in Canada, “Ivermectin Pour-on for Cattle”.
Dr. Olson has 27 years of experience in the field of microbiology. He has 200 peer reviewed publications and currently holds 30 patents in the fields of veterinary pharmaceuticals, medical devices and Biofilm testing methods.
Dr. Olson holds a D.V.M. and M.Sc. in Chemistry. Merle was inducted to the Alberta Order of Excellence for his work.
Malia Allan
Barbara Olson, A.O.E.
Barbara Olson, A.O.E.
Malia is a cofounder of CCR and serves as our operations manager. Malia has a background in healthcare management and recreation therapy.
Barbara Olson, A.O.E.
Barbara Olson, A.O.E.
Barbara Olson, A.O.E.
Dr. Barbara Olson is a co-founder of CCR and serves as our director of Quality Assurance. Additionally, she is the founder and the Director of QA and RA for Alberta Veterinary laboratories Inc. AVL operates the only GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Western Canada and one of the few in Ca
Dr. Barbara Olson is a co-founder of CCR and serves as our director of Quality Assurance. Additionally, she is the founder and the Director of QA and RA for Alberta Veterinary laboratories Inc. AVL operates the only GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Western Canada and one of the few in Canada. AVL was incorporated Feb 8, 2006 and in July, 2009 AVL received approval from Health Canada to manufacture and sell a drug which is used on most cattle in Canada, “Ivermectin Pour-on for Cattle”. Dr. Olson holds a M.Sc. in toxicology and nutritional biochemistry and a Ph.D. in veterinary Physiological Sciences. Barbara was inducted to the Alberta Order of Excellence for her work.
Amritha Jaya Prasad
Barbara Olson, A.O.E.
Kouadio Gerard Bedie
Dr. Amritha Prasad holds a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degree in Biotechnology from VIT University, India. To combine her newfound interest in microbiology with her passion for food, she decided to pursue her graduate studies at the University of Alberta. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology in 2022, which resu
Dr. Amritha Prasad holds a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degree in Biotechnology from VIT University, India. To combine her newfound interest in microbiology with her passion for food, she decided to pursue her graduate studies at the University of Alberta. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology in 2022, which resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Her dissertation focused on antimicrobial applications of treatments using light pulses emitted from light emitting diodes (LED) in food systems and biofilms. After a brief stint as a researcher in the Food safety engineering laboratory at the University, she joined Chinook Contract Research as a Scientist.
Kouadio Gerard Bedie
Kouadio Gerard Bedie
Kouadio Gerard Bedie
Dr. Kouadio Gerard Bedie completed his Ph.D. and a BSc degree at Université Laval, Quebec, QC in Food Sciences and Technology. He also holds an MSc degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Victoria, BC, on underground water analysis and at the University of Alb
Dr. Kouadio Gerard Bedie completed his Ph.D. and a BSc degree at Université Laval, Quebec, QC in Food Sciences and Technology. He also holds an MSc degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Victoria, BC, on underground water analysis and at the University of Alberta on the detection of heat resistance in a strain of E. coli collected in Alberta meat industry. His academic pedigree includes several scientific papers and participation in numerous international conferences. He has experience working at the AAFC and for the CFIA. In the private sector, Dr. Bedie has worked in the food industry as R&D Coordinator, Food Safety System Specialist at Sofina Foods and earlier as Food Safety Technician at CONAGRA Foods, Colorado, USA. Since 2014, he has been consulting in the Food Safety sector, principally providing food safety courses and certificates. Dr. Bedie’s expertise includes food microbiology, molecular microbiology, food science, biochemistry, food safety, and meet inspection.
Brian Lowrance
Kouadio Gerard Bedie
Brian Lowrance
Brian is a molecular and microbiologist who holds an MSc in Integrative Biology from Wilfrid Laurier University where he researched the enzymes involved in biofilm biosynthesis in the Gram-positive pathogen C. difficile. Before his Master’s, Brian received his BSc in Honours Biology from Laurier, specializing in the cell, molecular,
Brian is a molecular and microbiologist who holds an MSc in Integrative Biology from Wilfrid Laurier University where he researched the enzymes involved in biofilm biosynthesis in the Gram-positive pathogen C. difficile. Before his Master’s, Brian received his BSc in Honours Biology from Laurier, specializing in the cell, molecular, and genetics stream and completing multiple research projects relating to antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation. Prior to joining CCR as a laboratory technologist, Brian also spent two years at Epitome Genetics performing COVID-19 qPCR testing and worked as a lab technician at Wilfrid Laurier University.