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.

The research carried in my group is highly translational focussing on the application of basic science concepts and innovative technologies to advance the knowledge, understanding and diagnostics of human health and diseases, including those associated with oral health.

We are interested in studying the molecular pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM) and identifying prognostic and predictive biomarkers in MM. We are also interested in pre-clinical evaluation of small molecules targeting various oncogenic signaling pathways as novel therapeutic strategies in MM.      

Our research focuses on initiation of atherosclerosis, specifically regional differences in the normal arterial intima that predispose it to atherogenesis, intimal dendritic cells and monocyte recruitment and myeloid cell proliferation in early lesions.  Another focus is functions of alpha-4 integrins in leukocyte recruitment to sites of inflammation.

Lymphoma research interests
1. diagnostics, biology and immunology of lymphoma.
2. pathology review for trials 

The Fish lab investigates the molecular mechanisms that control endothelial cell biology. We are seeking to decipher the signaling pathways and downstream transcriptional mediators that control responses to differentiation signals (e.g. artery/vein specification and angiogenesis) as well as pro-inflammatory factors. We have identified key roles for noncoding RNAs such as microRNAs in modulating signaling pathways in endothelial cells.

Using a range of molecular, cell biology, animal and clinical approaches my laboratory conducts research into the pathogenesis of diabetes complications with the overriding aim of developing new therapies to prevent and treat them. 

I am a cardiovascular pathologist with expertise in the study of cardiac valve disease and atherosclerosis.  I am interested in understanding the pathogenesis of these human diseases in order to propose therapeutic targets that prevent, detect and/or treat these conditions.

We are interested in the structural aspects of components of the Hedgehog pathway that generate the diversity of cellular responses to the Hedgehog ligands in normal cells, during mammary gland development and in transformed (cancer) cells.

Molecular mechanisms underlying long term effects of brain trauma, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Seizure disorder.

Research interests include: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) receptor discovery and drug targeting; determinants of asthma and allergy in children; lung pathology; respiratory virus-host interactions.

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 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.

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.

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

Human lung development is largely unknown and what is known has been interpreted from loss-of-function mouse models.  my research program goal is to advance our understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that drive human lung development and disease, leading to improved derivation of lung tissue from pluripotent stem cells, and translating into novel stem cell-derived therapies for lung diseases.

Research revolves around studying the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens in the cystic fibrosis population, as well as optimizing the diagnosis of paediatric infectious diseases.