Faculty Research

Our scientists perform high-quality, collaborative research to advance scientific discoveries in cancer biology, vascular biology, neurobiology, stem cells, maternal and fetal health, aging, infection, and development. Our outstanding research environment serves as an excellent training milieu for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as post-doctoral researchers.

See below to explore our research by i) Research Areas or ii) Alphabetical List of Faculty and Their Research.

i) Research Areas

Genome Dynamics, Epigenetics, and Gene Expression

DNA Replication and Repair; Transcription; Mobile DNA

This group focuses on understanding the underlying cellular mechanisms that regulate chromosome structure and function, as well as gene expression, in normal and diseased states. Techniques used include bioinformatics, proteomics, genomics, molecular biology, structural biology, epigenetics, and genetics of model organisms.

Faculty Researcher Research Area
Gabriel DiMattia Growth factor signalling in ovarian cancer
David Edgell Mobile genetic elements
Gregory Gloor Protein coevolution
Victor Han Fetal, placental, newborn growth/development
Ilka Heinemann RNA turnover and polymerases
Murray Junop DNA repair
Bogumil Karas Synthetic biology, designer microbes, DNA replacement strategies
Hong Ling DNA damage response and regulation
Geoffrey Pickering Smooth muscle cells in vascular disease
Caroline Schild-Poulter Cellular response to DNA damage

Human Genetics and Clinical Biochemistry

Disease-Based Research; Clinical Studies

Scientists in the Human Genetics and Clinical Biochemistry group perform basic research of the molecular causes behind specific human diseases and/or clinical studies involving specific human diseases. This research integrates state-of-the-art molecular technologies and bioinformatics with clinical work, so that basic research discoveries can be translated into effective treatments and cures for patients.

Faculty Researcher Research Area
Gabriel DiMattia Growth factor signalling in ovarian cancer
Victor Han Fetal, placental, newborn growth/development
Robert Hegele Genetic basis of specific human diseases
Pingzhao Hu Statistical genetics
Geoffrey Pickering Smooth muscle cells in vascular disease
Anthony Rupar Therapies for metachromatic leukodystrophy
Caroline Schild-Poulter Cellular response to DNA damage
Eva Turley Signalling paths of cell motility and tumour invasion

Signal Transduction and Intracellular Communication

Signalling Pathways

Researchers in the field of Signal Transduction and Intracellular Communication investigate the mechanisms and role of cellular signalling pathways in the regulation of fundamental biological processes. These events include cell proliferation, cell survival, differentiation, and development. This research exploits such techniques as bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, cellular and molecular biology, structural biology, and transgenic and knockout technologies.

Faculty Researcher Research Area
Harvey Goldberg Bone proteins
Teklab Gebregiworgis Small GTPases; NMR metabolomics in disease
Marlys Koschinsky Lipoprotein(a) structure and regulation
Shawn Li Structure, function, connectivity of cellular proteins
Hong Ling DNA damage response and regulation
David Litchfield Signalling events in cell proliferation and survival
Kun Ping Lu Pin1 in cancer, neurodegeneration, and sepsis
Patrick O'Donoghue Genetic code evolution and engineering
Geoffrey Pickering Smooth muscle cells in vascular disease
Gary Shaw Calcium signalling proteins; protein degradation
Eva Turley Signalling paths of cell motility and tumour invasion

Macromolecular Structure and Dynamics

Protein Biochemistry; Structural Biology

Members of the Macromolecular Structure and Dynamics Group study the role that specific proteins and protein systems play in certain diseases, with a focus on understanding protein function at the atomic and molecular levels. This group frequently uses biophysical techniques and conventional molecular biology to determine the 3-D structure, dynamics, and interactions of biomolecules. Methods include NMR spectroscopy, crystallography, proteomics, and mass spectrometry.

Faculty Researcher Research Area
Michael Boffa  Proteolysis in fibrinolysis and cancer
James Choy Intrinsically disordered proteins
Martin Duennwald protein misfolding and quality control in neurodegenerative diseases
Christopher Garnham management of agricultural crop pests
Teklab Gebregiworgis Small GTPases; NMR metabolomics in disease
Harvey Goldberg Bone proteins
Pingzhao Hu Deep learning representation of molecular structure for drug discovery
Robert Hudson Bioorganic chemistry of nucleic acids and peptides
Murray Junop DNA repair
Lars Konermann Protein folding, dynamics, function; biocomputing
Marlys Koschinsky Lipoprotein(a) structure and regulation
Gilles Lajoie Mass spectrometry/proteomics: biomolecules
Shawn Li Structure, function, connectivity of cellular proteins
Hong Ling DNA damage response and regulation
David Litchfield Signalling events in cell proliferation and survival
Patrick O'Donoghue Genetic code evolution and engineering
Gary Shaw Calcium signalling proteins; protein degradation
Brian Shilton Enzyme structure, mechanism, and biological function
Ken Yeung Tissue imaging by mass spectrometry

Proteomics

Biomolecular Characterization; Disease-Based Research

This group uses proteomic techniques to understand normal cellular processes and alterations in these processes in diseases such as cancer, fetal disorders, and oral diseases. Through biomolecular identification and characterization, this group aims to develop prognostics, diagnostics, and therapeutics for these diseases.

Faculty Researcher Research Area
Victor Han Fetal, placental, newborn growth/development
Pingzhao Hu Protein interaction network generation and integration
Lars Konermann Protein folding, dynamics, function; biocomputing
Gilles Lajoie Mass spectrometry/proteomics: biomolecules
Shawn Li Structure, function, connectivity of cellular proteins
David Litchfield Signalling events in cell proliferation and survival
Ken Yeung Tissue imaging by mass spectrometry

Bioinformatics

Disease Prediction; Protein Coevolution; Biocomputing

This group applies bioinformatic approaches to further understanding of biological processes. In addition to computational and information technologies, this group uses genomics, molecular biology, and high-throughput sequencing.

Faculty Researcher Research Area
Tallulah Andrews Analysis of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data
James Choy Intrinsically disordered proteins
Vanessa Dumeaux Immune response, gut microbiome, bioinformatics
David Edgell Mobile genetic elements
Mike Hallett Single-cell profiling technologies; computational models for cellular causal and correlative relationships; breast-cancer informatics
Pingzhao Hu Health data science, bioinformatics, statistical genetics
Gregory Gloor Protein coevolution
Bogumil Karas Synthetic biology, designer microbes, DNA replacement strategies
Gilles Lajoie Mass spectrometry/proteomics: biomolecules
Shawn Li Structure, function, connectivity of cellular proteins
Patrick O'Donoghue Genetic code evolution and engineering

ii) Alphabetical List of Faculty and Their Research

Tallulah Andrews
   - analysis of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data
Michael Boffa
  - proteolysis in fibrinolysis and cancer
James Choy
   - intrinsically disordered proteins
Gabriel DiMattia
   - growth factor signalling in ovarian cancer
Martin Duennwald
   - protein misfolding and quality control in neurodegenerative diseases
Vanessa Dumeaux
   - immune response, gut microbiome, bioinformatics
David Edgell
   - mobile genetic elements
Christopher Garnham
   - management of agricultural crop pests
Teklab Gebregiworgis
   - small GTPases; NMR metabolomics in disease
Gregory Gloor
   - protein coevolution
Mike Hallett
   -
single-cell profiling technologies; computational models for cellular causal and correlative relationships; breast-cancer informatics
Harvey Goldberg
   - bone proteins
Victor Han
   - fetal, placental, newborn growth/development
Robert Hegele
   - genetic basis of specific human diseases
Ilka Heinemann
   - RNA turnover and polymerases
Pingzhao Hu
   - Health data science, bioinformatics, statistical genetics
Robert Hudson
   - bioorganic chemistry of nucleic acids & peptides

Murray Junop
   - DNA repair
Bogumil Karas
   - synthetic biology, designer microbes, DNA replacement strategies
Lars Konermann
   - protein folding, dynamics, function; biocomputing
Marlys Koschinsky 
   -
Lipoprotein(a) structure and regulation
Gilles Lajoie
   - mass spectrometry/proteomics: biomolecules
Shawn Li
   - structure, function, connectivity of cellular proteins
Hong Ling
   - DNA damage response and regulation 
David Litchfield
   - signalling events in cell proliferation and survival
Kun Ping Lu
   - Pin1 in cancer, neurodegeneration, and sepsis
Patrick O'Donoghue
   - genetic code evolution and engineering
Geoffrey Pickering
   - smooth muscle cells in vascular disease 
Anthony Rupar
   - therapies for metachromatic leukodystrophy
Caroline Schild-Poulter
   - cellular response to DNA damage
Gary Shaw
   - calcium signalling proteins; protein degradation
Brian Shilton
   - enzyme structure, mechanism, biological function 
Eva Turley
   - signalling paths of cell motility and tumour invasion
Ken Yeung
   - tissue imaging by mass spectrometry