Members
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The human interferon response is a protective defense of the innate immune system that, in the absence of counteracting measures, targets pathogens and tumors for eradication. The Barr laboratory is currently studying two key players of the interferon response: TRIM22 and Herc5. The expression of these interferon-induced genes in the absence of an interferon response are capable of potently restricting HIV infection by multiple novel mechanisms. The expression of these genes in transformed cell lines also has the ability to arrest cell division. We are characterizing the mechanisms underlying these activities to better understand the complex host-pathogen interactions and host defenses against cancer. |
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Professor Jack Bend is studying the potential contribution of chemicals that occur as common environmental contaminants and can act as oxidative or nitrosative stressors to the epidemic of type 2 diabetes, especially in Canadian First Nations communities. In collaborative work with Dr. Michael Rieder, who runs a clinic for individuals with adverse drug reactions, Dr. Bend is also evaluating the ability of pure compounds that occur as important constituents of Traditional Chinese medicine to attenuate idiosyncratic drug reactions with an immunotoxicological component. |
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Our current research focuses on the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). We are studying the role of MHC class II molecules as well as auto-antigens (e.g.citrullinated proteins) in the development of this disease. Our research is performed using human RA clinical specimens and humanized (MHC class II) tg mice as animal model for RA. |
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Subrata Chakrabarti is a professor in the Dept. of Pathology at UWO. He also works as an anatomic pathologist the London HSC and is involved in liver transplant pathology. His research focuses on complications of diabetes. He investigates mechanisms of chronic diabetic complications and studies diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy and diabetic heart disease. |
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Our laboratory studies transcription factors that regulate gene expression in the immune system. There are currently two areas of investigation in our laboratory. First, we are investigating how E26-transformation specific (Ets) family proteins regulate genes involved in B cell receptor (BCR) expression and signal transduction. Misinterpreted BCR signaling can lead to a failure of central tolerance and cause autoimmune disease. Second, we are investigating how the Ets protein PU.1 regulates gene expression in myeloid cells. Reduced PU.1 levels can cause Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). |
 Terry Delovitch |
Research in my laboratory aims to elucidate the mechanisms of inflammation that elicit autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) experimental mouse model, and to translate our findings into novel preventive immunotherapies of T1D in the clinic. |
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Dr. Fisher’s research involves conceptualizing and testing basic models of the psychological determinants of human sexual and reproductive health behavior. Recent work focuses on determinants of HIV preventive behaviour, interventions to promote safer sex and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV+ persons, contraceptive utilization, male sexual function, and the impact of pornography on behavior. |
 Amit Garg |
Dr. Garg conducts research to improve the health and care of patients with kidney disease, including those who receive dialysis or a transplant. He has published in high impact journals using various methods and research disciplines: population surveys, quality of care and health services, health policies, patient orientated research, randomized trials, health informatics and information synthesis, studies using administrative data, and physician education. |
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The laboratory of Dr. Gunaratnam is studying the potential role of kidney injury molecule-1, a protein that is expressed by the kidney tubular epithelial cells soon after injury, in regulating the innate immune response and in preventing rejection. By uncovering the detailed mechanisms that enable kidney epithelial cells to control early inflammation following transplant surgery, we hope to identify specific therapeutic strategies to increase the lifespan of transplanted kidneys. |
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(1) Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) development in response to viral pathogens and tumor antigens; (2) Immunodominance hierarchies of CD8+ T cells; (3) Direct priming and cross-priming in CD8+ T cell responses; (4) Immunobiology of dendritic cells and other antigen-presenting cells in immunity and tolerance 5) Modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses by regulatory/suppressor lymphocytes such as naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (nTreg ) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, etc. (6) Non-classical pathways of T cell activation and costimulation. |
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As an established major source of life threatening hospital infections, the Staphylococcus aureus superbug is also causing serious infections in the community. The primary focus of my laboratory is on the study of S. aureus proteins that are essential for the acquisition of iron, a critical nutrient. Bacterial proteins involved in the acquisition of host iron sources are considered virulence factors, and studying how these proteins operate will allow us to design rationale approaches to inhibit their function and thus attenuate S. aureus infections. |
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Phagocytes (macrophage and dendritic cells) play a central role in our bodies immune defences. The Heit lab is interested in the mechanisms by which these cells take up pathogens (phagocytosis) and dead/dying cells (efferocytosis), and how these very different targets are processed by phagocytes. We are also interested in how these processes impact the development of pathological conditions such as athlersclerosis, autoimmunity and cancer. |
Carol Herbert |
Dr. Herbert is the former Dean of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario. Her research interests include shared decision-making between physicians and patients; physician behaviour change; and clinical health promotion. |
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For most of the past 15 years, Dr. Holdsworth has been involved in the development of vascular imaging systems, for use in stroke diagnosis and therapy. In 2007 Dr. Holdsworth became the Dr. Sandy Kirkley Chair in Musculoskeletal Research and has shifted the focus of his research to musculoskeletal disease, with projects ranging from basic skeletal research to clinical therapy. |
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The Jevnikar laboratory has primary interests in the study of autoimmune diseases, including diabetes and lupus kidney disease, and the prevention of kidney transplant rejection. Type I diabetes is caused by overactivity of the immune system which leads to damage of insulin producing cells within the pancreas. |
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T cells and B cells are tasked with targeting and regulating immune responses. When this goes wrong, autoimmune disease can result. Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that targets the central nervous system. We study the mechanisms by which B and T cells drive chronic inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. These cells move and interact with each other within lymphoid tissue, where immune responses originate, as well as within the inflamed tissue. We visualize these interactions to understand their consequences and how they contribute to disease. |
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Our laboratory investigates the molecular and signalling mechanisms by which macrophages interact and response to different microbes, including Bacillus anthracis, commensals and probiotics. Our researches will provide new tools and therapeutic strategies for treating inflammatory and infectious diseases. |
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The focus of interest in the Madrenas laboratory is regulation of the activation of T lymphocytes through their antigen receptor. These cells are the "brains" of the adaptive immune response, so their activation is a key step for proper development of immunity. The laboratory uses many different approaches to study this issue: from fundamental protein biochemistry to cell biology and to clinical assessment, using models that expand from recombinant molecules, to cellular systems to mouse and human diseases. |
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Research in our laboratory uses multidisciplinary techniques including bacterial genetics, protein biochemistry, immunology and functional genomic approaches to study medically relevant Gram-positive bacteria. We have two main research interests including 1) structure-function and molecular biology of bacterial superantigens from Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. 2) Genetics and biotechnology of probiotic lactobacilli. |
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My research is aimed at understanding how secreted virulence factors, including serine- cysteine- and metalloproteases promote a rapid transition between the colonization and invasion phases of infection, and modify the host inflammatory response. From a population biology perspective, we are also identifying strains of S. aureus that specialize in chronic persistent infection, as compared to severe acute infections. This will allow us to better understand how S. aureus can control or evade the host inflammatory response, and possibly to understand how it may adapt and evolve in response to our efforts to control it with antibiotics. |
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Thousands of lives have been saved by the use of immunosuppressive regimens but serious complications, including malignancy and opportunistic infections, still occur as a result of these treatment regimens. Induction of transplantation tolerance, defined as donor-specific unresponsiveness sustained in absence of immunosuppression, would avoid these serious complications. My laboratory is interested in further understanding the role of T regulatory cells in transplantation tolerance. |
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Dr. Janet Pope is a rheumatologist; epidemiologist and professor of medicine. Her interests include epidemiologic studies and randomized trials in scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), SLE (lupus, systemic lupus erythematosus), rheumatoid arthritis (RA; including early rheumatoid arthritis). She supervises masters students and is involved in many multi-site databases with stored serum, antibodies and well defined patient characteristics (including early RA, SLE, scleroderma, RA treated with biologics). |
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My laboratory is interested in establishing novel strategies of minimizing post-transplant graft rejection and in promoting improved early and late renal allograft survival using both in vitro and in vivo models for donor tissue and cell modification, as this represents a complementary approach to T cell mediated tolerance in promoting both short and long-term graft survival. |
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His laboratory has done seminal work in the immunology of peptides. Well before the crystal structure of MHC molecules was elucidated his laboratory identified that peptides of 9-12 amino acids were required for priming and triggering of humoral and helper T cell-mediated immune responses. His laboratory first described that immunomodulation induced by microbial adjuvants such as CFA or BCG prevented autoimmune type 1 diabetes and its recurrence and regulatory CD4 T cells played an important role in this process. This work had a major impact in our understanding of the role of microbial agents and in the formulation of the Hygiene hypothesis for protective immunity. |
| Nicholas Spence | |
Cal Stiller |
Dr. Stiller founded the Multi-Organ Transplant Service in London, Ontario and, during his leadership of the unit, helped established the worldwide use of cyclosporine to fight transplant rejection. He was also the first to demonstrate that Type 1 Diabetes is an immune disorder. Dr. Stiller is the co-founder of two healthcare funds, and has served on the Council and Executive Committee of the Medical Research Council of Canada. He was the Founding Chair of the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund, and is Chair (and co-founder) of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and of the Ontario Innovation Trust. |
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Our lab is both a Research & Development lab and a Service lab that is focused on evaluating cellular immune responses in various clinical settings including autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders/conditions, plus drug efficacy and mechanisms. This includes using and developing innovative, multiplex bead-based assays to quantify multiple protein immune regulators (up to 40) simultaneously in small sample volumes (< 50 uL) of most biological fluids. Our goal is to identify new target biomarkers with diagnostic and/or therapeutic significance in clinical settings. We have several collaborative research projects with local Clinicians, Scientists, and private companies and gladly welcome new collaborations! |
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Our research involves an interdisciplinary approach using molecular genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, and structural biology to understand the pathogenesis of Gram-negative bacteria at the molecular level. Burkholderia cenocepacia, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Shigella flexneri are the model organisms we use in different aspects of our research program. |
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My research program continues to explore philosophical questions related to the design and conduct of clinical research. |
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His research interests include the functioning of top management teams, questions of business strategy-organization and the strategic management of foreign-owned subsidiaries. |
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