Molecular & Cell Biology

My research focuses on the use of current molecular genetics techniques to aid in the diagnosis of both rare and common genetic disorders.  Additionally, one of my goals is the implementation of new and improved methods to better the diagnostic yield, including the earlier diagnosis of very young (i.e. NICU) complex cases that are likely to have a genetic etiology.

I run a cardiovascular biology lab investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms of atherosclerosis and fibrotic heart disease.

My laboratory investigates the basic cellular pathways and processes that maintain proper growth and differentiation in tissues under the control of sex hormones.  We develop vitro models originating from normal primary human cells derived from patient biopsies to address basic questions in both breast and ovarian carcinogenesis.

My lab studies the human fastidious enteric adenoviruses (HAdV-40 and 41), with a primary focus on their unique structural features and the role of these features as determinants of gut tropism. Related projects include the development of HAdV-40/41 as vaccine vectors and the study of antiviral agents for treatment of adenovirus infection.    

In the basic science sphere our studies focus on the role and function of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells particularly their cellular and molecular mechanisms of O2 /CO2 sensing ; in the clinical research our studies focus on molecular mechanisms of congenital enteropathies,disorders of surfactant metabolism and  novel forms of cardiomyopathies

My research program focuses on discovering and elucidating the molecular signaling pathways involved in the development of the mammalian inner ear. The goal of the laboratory is to connect developmental biology to inner ear diseases and ultimately to regenerative medicine for the amelioration of hearing and balance disorders.

Dr. Dennis has been studying metastasis for decades. One of his current projects focuses on cancer cell metabolism, and how cancer cells consume more energy, grow aberrantly, and spread throughout the body.

My laboratory focuses on developing integrated systems biology and functional genomics approaches to: (1) understanding molecular mechanisms of acute multiple organ failure (HEART and LUNG) in the critically ill (sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS), and (2) developing an “informed” approach to the discovery of novel molecular targets for therapy including stem cell and gene therapy.

Kidney and prostate cancer.   Molecular pathogenesis, biomarkers for predicting disease progression, clinical behaviour in relation to histopathological and molecular characteristics of kidney and prosatte cancers, pathologic evaluation of tumour tissue following new innovations in treatment (ablative and targeted molecular therapies).

To understand how changes in structure and organization of chromosomes and the genome contribute to genomic disease. To gain insight into genomic alterations and their predisposing underlying mechanisms using both classical and more advanced cytogenomic technologies as investigative tools.

The Girardin lab studies multiple aspects of innate immunity and cellular stress responses. We have a specific interest in host response to bacterial infection, the role played by intracellular sensors such as Nod-like receptors (NLR), and the interplay between the evolutionary conserved integrated stress response (ISR) and innate immunity.

Our research program is aimed at the determination of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cancer. A major focus is on the genetic and the cell signaling factors that promote the risks for human cancer.

Our lab studies the cytoskeleton inside of cells and how these molecular highways move key components in and out of the cell. We study both immune cells and bone cells and focus on both basic cellular machinery allowing their specialized functions, as well as the intracellular changes when these cells are impacted by infection or disease. 

Main focus is on pancreatic cancer biology and experimental treatment, using patient-derived primary xenografts. Expertise in analytical methods for studying complex biological processes in the near-clinical setting.

My research evolved around genetic diseases of connective tissues and pathology of extracellular matrix.  I have pioneered bioengineering of human articular and ear cartilages and addressed pathomorphology and therapy of cardiac and vascular diseases. I also aim at induction of new elastic fibers formation and aleviation of collagenous fibroses.

Dr. Jim Hu's major research goal is to develop novel gene delivery strategies in order to translate the genetic discoveries into clinical applications. His team developed novel viral vectors that can protect CF mice from acute lung bacterial infection and established methods for efficient airway gene delivery to large animals. His current endeavour is to achieve permanent airway gene correction by targeting the airway stem cells.

1.  The functions of resident CD11c+ myeloid cells in healthy mouse aorta and in the initiation of atherosclerosis. 
2.  The role of oxidized lipid loading on TLR-induced inflammatory gene expression in primary macrophages and dendritic cells.
3.  Mechanisms regulating basal NF-kappaB homeostasis in endothelial cells.             

Our research laboratory is interested in exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tumor cell adhesion and migration, in an effort to develop biomarkers relevant to the invasion of cancer cells in vivo, and to generate inhibitors of  these processes.

To develop a translational research program that characterizes host-parasite interactions responsible for major global health threats such as malaria and HIV. To determine the molecular basis for adverse clinical outcomes in life-threatening inefctions and to translate this knowledge into novel therapeutic interventions.

My laboratory focuses on understanding how chaperone molecules fail to maintain protein homeostasis in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders with the goal of developing novel molecular therapeutics for the treatment of these disorders.

Dr. Katz’s research interests span across all areas of Infection Prevention and Control. Areas of special interest include: Infection prevention and control in a community hospital setting, Community-associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Influenza and febrile respiratory illness.

My research is focussed on basic, translational and clinical aspects of the placental complications of pregnancy, with a focus on severe pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Using specialized microscopy and morphometric methods together with biochemical and genetic evaluations of human brain tissue samples our aim is to evaluate selective cellular and protein vulnerability patterns in human neurodegenerative conditions with movement disorders and cognitive decline and brain aging.

Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms at play in the tug-of-war between viruses and the host. We want to understand how certain retroviruses enter cells and are then antagonized by innate immune molecules. Immunological recognition and restriction of viral pathogens is fundamental for fighting infectious disease.

We have identified the molecules tissue factor and fgl2/fibroleukin, which are membrane associated serine proteases. These molecules play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis (fgl2/fibroleukin), allo- and xenograft rejection (tissue factor and fgl2).

Complement-based kidney diseases and the translational aspects involved through clinical and basic reseach    

I have a research program in the field of cellular and molecular regulation of endothelial gene expression. The lab is focused on understanding the contribution of endothelial cells to human health and disease. We are especially motivated towards understanding the contribution of important endothelial genes to disease processes and novel aspects of how endothelial genes are regulated.

Dr. McCulloch has defined critical signaling systems that regulate periodontal and cardiac connective tissues. The ultimate goal of his research is to define new therapies for periodontal and cardiovascular disorders. Since 2006, Dr. McCulloch has trained >50 undergraduate and graduate students, and generated over 70 peer-reviewed publications, has two patent applications and has won several major scientific awards.

We study how the NLRP1 inflammasome detects the metabolic stress that is caused by infections.  We are also investigating the entry mechanism of anthrax toxin.

My current research interest is in molecular biology of breast and gynaecologic malignancies and in the discovery and implementation of predictive and prognostic biomarkers.

My research focuses on identification of genomic copy number variants associated with developmental disorders and development of new tests to improve diagnosis of the genetic disorders. I am also interested in implementing new genomic technologies in the clinical setting. In our laboratory, we use high density microarray and other cytogenomic and molecular tests for prenatal and perinatal diagnosis.

Molecular mechanisms of cancer: understanding the role of tumour suppressors and oncoproteins in cancer biology

His interests include studies on T cell immunoregulation in HIV and HCV infection, molecular adjuvants for vaccination, pDC-virus interactions, and the role of endogenous retroviruses in HIV infection. 

Physician practice patterns in transfusion medicine, transfusion support of hemoglobinopathies, safety and efficacy of blood components and fractionated plasma products, transfusion practice in rural and underserviced communities. 

Dr. Poutanen is a clinician-investigator interested in applied research as it relates to the contemporary field of medical microbiology and infectious diseases.

The focus of our research is to study the cause(s) and cure(s ) of  Amyotrophic Lateral Scelrosis.

We study Alzheimer’s disease and prion disorders, pursuing the hypothesis that early diagnostics and disease intervention strategies will emerge from an in-depth understanding of etiologies. To this end, we focus on (1) molecular events that promote the formation of toxic Aβ assemblies, (2) how the presence of Aβ causes perturbations in the biology of Tau, and (3) how disease-associated conformers of Tau or PrP cause cells to die.

Our laboratory characterizes breast and prostate cancer biomarkers that have diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Functional testing of these biomarkers is done to understand molecular mechanisms of human tumorigenesis. New molecular therapies arising from our mechanistic understanding of cancer development are tested in a clinically relevant patient-derived tumor xenografted mouse model.

Our research activities focus on discovering novel methods to prevent and treat intestinal injury in humans and enhance the quality-of-life and health of Canadians.

Dr Somers has an ongoing interest in the improvement of pediatric pathology diagnostics, including the detection of genetic changes in pediatric sarcomas and their clinical applications. As part of this interest, he is currently focused on the application and implementation of cutting edge diagnostic techniques to pediatric sarcomas, including array-based assays, nanotechnology and sequence-based technologies.

Pediatric pathology, pediatric renal disease, pediatric tumours 

My research interests include neoplastic and preneoplastic gynecologic diseases and breast cancer. The goal of my research is to better understand the biology of rare special subtypes of breast cancer as well as precursor lesions and malignant neoplasms of the uterine cervix and endometrium, and generate insights to inform the practice of Gynecologic and Breast Pathology.

Three approaches are taken to study miRNA function in transgenic mice expressing miR-17, versican 3’UTR, which can bind endogenous miRNAs and relieve mRNAs for translation, and anti-miR-378 construct.     

The research conducted by Dr Yeger encompasses the physiological functions and development of the pulmonary neuroendocrine cell system and role in lung biology. Extensions from these studies have been made into the pathobiology of Cystic Fibrosis lung disease and neuroendocrine cancers.  

We are using mouse models, cell and molecular biology and bioinformatics to identify mechanisms of cancer initiation, progression and metastasis, that can be exploited for novel therapy.  We focus on breast and brain cancers, the tumor suppressors Rb, Pten and p53 as well as the HER2 oncogene. We are also studying the effect of the Rb pathway on aging.