Molecular & Cell Biology

Our lab focuses on skin stem cells and using them for skin regeneration studies.  We employ in vitro and in vivo approaches to enlighten the process of wound healing post injury, identify and track the fate of cell(s) that contribute to the healing.  In collaboration with burn surgeon-scientists and chemical engineering scientists, we aim to create a “skin substitute” that can be used for burn patients.

My research program is aimed at understanding myelinogenesis by oligodendrocytes. We are currently focusing on the structure and roles of myelin basic protein in interactions with the cytoskeleton and SH3-domain proteins and the role of glycosphingolipids in cell-surface phenomena. We are also studying the effect of estrogens on oligodendrocytes and myelin.

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.

Research in my laboratory has been focused on the development of genetic strategies for HIV prevention and treatment. To treat HIV-infected individuals, we are developing gene therapy whereby patients own blood cells will be genetically modified to secrete antiviral proteins that would inhibit HIV infection of target cells for life.

My research aims to understand the key molecular pathways responsible for neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease and to develop novel therapies by targetting these pathways.

Dr. Kapoor's research program is directed towards understanding the complex pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) and identifying new therapeutic strategies to counteract the destruction of the articular cartilage during OA.

Role of sequence and domain arrangement of tropoelastin in assembly of the elastic matrix.  Self-alignment and polymeric assembly of recombinant human elastin and other elastin-like proteins. Sequence/structure/function and evolutionary relationships between elastins and elastin-like proteins in cartilage and other matrix proteins of lower vertebrates and invertebrates.

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).

Ren-Ke Li’s research focuses on translational research to apply new insights discovered through basic science research to clinical applications for heart regeneration and repair after myocardial infarction. Research areas are: 1) Cell transplantation into damaged tissue to regenerate myocardium and restore heart function. 2) Tissue engineering to create a muscle graft using stem cells and biomaterials for repair of cardiac defects.

The Cancer Invasion and Metastasis laboratory (CIMlab) uses a combination of cell biology, leading edge imaging techniques and clinical studies to investigate the mechanisms of early cancer invasion.    

My research is focused on using high throughput genomic technologies, including microarrays and sequencing, for gene discovery and diagnostics in neurodevelopmental disorders.

My research interests include clinical development, evaluation, and utility of viral diagnostic testing as well as rapid diagnostic testing.  I am also involved in research related to the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance in the community particularly as it relates to organisms associated with infections of the respiratory tract and urinary tract.         

The ultimate goal of our research group is to chart molecular networks dictating the non-random distribution of DNA in the nucleus and understand how this order maintains genome stability and human health.

The overall research goal of the lab is to reduce the burden of disease caused by viral inflammation in the lung with a focus on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).   The lab has expertise in airway epithelial cell biology and uses airway cell model systems to study a few lung diseases, most notably Cystic Fibrosis.    

My lab focuses on colorectal cancer research and specifically colorectal cancer-initiating cells. We are interested in studying clonal cooperation and novel therapeutic strategies. We are also interested in studying the role of the microbiome and how it influences primary tumour growth, as well as, metastases. 

We study the role of calreticulin, a ubiquitous calcium-binding chaperone of the ER/SR, which affects calcium homeostasis and gene expression, in ES cell choice of fate.  We discovered that calreticulin acts as a switch either promoting (bone) or suppressing (fat) stem cell differentiation, while it seems to deregulate cardiogenesis. 

My research involves the study of women's health pathology. It focuses on the discovery and application of novel tools (molecular, immunohistochemical, morphometric) in the histopathologic diagnosis of diseases of the breast and female reproductive system. It also focuses on the development of practical diagnostic algorithms in gynecologic pathology.

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.

Metallic elements play essential roles in normal cell function as enzyme cofactors, redox sensors, and structural elements.  They also include some of the most potent toxic substances in our environment.  We study the cell biology and toxicology of metals, with a current focus on iron and cadmium.

My primary research interest is in understanding better the genomic and molecular abnormalities in lung and pancreatic cancer, such that we can improve the accuracy of our diagnosis and treatment of these deadly cancers. Comprehensive analysis of these tumors at gene sequence, gene copy number and proteomics levels may provide new “integrated” understanding of the molecular pathology of these tumors.

Our research focuses on utilizing and developing tissue engineering approaches to address cardiovascular problems

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.