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The Canada Research Chairs Program was launched by the federal government in 2000 to help Canadian universities attract and retain the world’s best researchers.
McMaster University’s Faculty of Health Sciences currently boasts 28 Canada Research Chairs, as follows:
Airway Inflammometry
Parameswaran Nair
Dr. Nair's research involves measuring inflammation by non-invasive methods, such as in sputum, to improve treatment during exacerbations and to modify smooth muscle biology to limit chronic changes associated with airway diseases such as asthma and COPD. He is advancing the development and clinical application of such non-invasive measurements, particularly in patients with difficult-to-control asthma and prednisone-dependent asthma.
Allergy and Immune Tolerance
Mark Larché
Dr. Larché's research involves studying the development of peptide immunotherapy leading to the development of new treatments for immunological diseases. He uses synthetic fragments (peptides) of the proteins that cause the disease (pollen, dust mites) to "switch on" the immune responses. Because the peptides lack the structure of the whole proteins, they don’t stimulate an allergic reaction themselves — but they do trigger the immune system to begin to defend the body. This helps to minimize that body’s subsequent allergic reactions.
Antimicrobial Research
Eric Brown
Dr. Brown and his research team have taken up the challenge of identifying and characterizing new bacterial targets for antibacterial drug development. His research projects involve the identification of genes encoding critical enzymes in bacteria. The ultimate goal is the discovery of potent drug-like inhibitors of these target enzymes. For example, they are searching for unknown proteins essential to the growth of E. coli and are developing approaches for understanding their activities. To date, they have applied pioneering bioinformatics in genomics comparison to some 1500 E.coli unknowns to yield a short list of 25 candidates for further study.
Cardiovascular Medicine
John Eikelboom
Dr. Eikelboom's research involves studying the mechanisms and genetic determinants of antiplatelet drug resistance and improving its diagnosis and treatment. In a landmark study involving almost 1,000 patients at high risk of cardiovascular events treated with aspirin, Dr. Eikelboom and his colleagues demonstrated that at least 20 percent of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths that occur during aspirin treatment are caused by a "resistance" to its antiplatelet effects. What’s more, evidence suggests that patients who are resistant to aspirin may be identified by a simple urine test.
Childhood Disability Research, Dissemination and Mentoring
Peter L. Rosenbaum
Dr. Rosenbaum's research involves summarizing the latest research, making new ideas about childhood disability available in plain language, and sing a standard test to assess the gross motor skills of children with cerebral palsy. One of the questions Dr. Rosenbaum and his colleagues will try to answer is whether young people with cerebral palsy lose motor skills once they reach puberty and adolescence. If true, therapists may be able to help young people regain their motor skills
Cognitive Dimensions of Clinical Expertise
Geoffrey R. Norman
Dr. Norman's research involves the psychology of clinical reasoning, the way medical students are taught, how they diagnose illness, the use of computers in teaching and education of healthcare professionals. This research has already demonstrated that conventional approaches to education may be more effective than depending on cutting-edge technology. This chair will help Dr. Norman and his colleagues understand the psychology that guides the way people assimilate and apply new information.
Directed Evolution of Nucleic Acids
Yingfu Li
Dr. Li's research involves the catalytic abilities of enzymes made of DNA and RNA, understanding molecular evolution and the origin of life, and the possible manipulation of DNA enzymes for gene repair or targeted cell destruction. By experimenting with RNA and DNA enzymes, Li hopes to discover whether these enzymes can be used to destroy cancer cells or be engineered into tools that will insert RNA into cells to repair genes.
Ethnic Diversity and Cardiovascular Disease
Sonia Anand
Dr. Anand's Research involves identifying the health behaviours and genetic aspects that contribute to the risk factors for cardiovascular disease in ethnic communities in Canada. .
Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology
Guillaume Paré
Dr. Paré's proposed research will enhance our collective understanding of the etiology of stroke by identifying and validating novel genetic and molecular markers to assist in the development of effective prevention strategies. Prevention holds the greatest promise of reducing the burden of stroke since even the most promising acute therapies have limited ability to alter the outcome of a stroke. Integrating genetic, gene expression and protein data, Dr. Pare's proposed research will provide an innovative approach expected to lead to the development of novel risk prediction algorithms. This builds on his unique expertise in cardiovascular genetics, biomarkers and bioinformatics.
Genetic Epidemiology
David Meyre
Dr. Meyre's research involves the genetic determinants of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, the interaction of genes and ethnicity, and genes and the environment, with the goal of better genetic prediction of high risk individuals.
Geroscience
Parminder Raina
Dr. Raina's research involves successful aging, aging brain, disability, and fall related injury. It brings together the capacity, knowledge and expertise of experts in the physical, psychological and social health domains to unlock some of the greatest mysteries of aging that have the most impact on the health of Canadians over time.
Health Services Research in Cancer
Timothy Whelan
Dr. Whelan's research involves clinical trials regarding optimal radiation treatment for patients with cancer and Health Services research in supportive cancer care. The goal of his research is to identify the optimal use of radiation therapy in the treatment of women with breast cancer and other malignancies. This will involve developing reliable approaches where benefits are maximized and side effects are minimized. This study foresees better-managed radiation therapy leading to better quality of life for patients.
Human Cancer Stem Cell Biology
Sheila Singh
Dr. Singh's research focuses on further characterization of genetic abnormalities of brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs), with the intent of developing future therapies that will target BTICs, and provide insight into patient prognosis. Targeting BTICs holds great promise in potentially alleviating brain tumours — a leading cause of cancer deaths in children and a form of cancer that remains difficult to cure despite advances in surgery. Dr. Singh has discovered an abnormal stem cell, the brain tumour initiating cell (BTIC), that may drive the formation of brain tumours.
Human Stem Cell Biology
Mick Bhatia
Dr. Bhatia's research examines the parallels between the behaviour of human stem cells and the initial stages of the development of human cancer in order to advance understanding of how cancer begins. The research has the potential to alleviate the suffering of cancer patients — and save lives — through pre-clinical modelling of new cancer drugs and by developing therapies to regenerate immune systems. By studying the sequence of events that cause the development of a cancer tumour, Bhatia hopes to come up with much "smarter" agents for treating cancer.
Human Stem Cell Lineage Commitment
Jonathan Draper
Dr. Draper's research uses a range of technologies to screen, identify and investigate the factors that determine cell division during the process when human embryonic stem cells become specialized tissues. Dr. Draper aims to unlock the secrets of human development by investigating the very beginnings of life, working with embryonic stem cells. His goal is to find out how embryonic stem cells become specialized — a step which lays the groundwork for future drug discoveries, as well as therapeutic applications such as tissue transplantation.
Immunobiology of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy
Manel Jordana
Dr. Jordana's research explores the cellular and molecular basis of the immune-inflammatory response to aeroallergens, the identification of novel targets and therapeutic approaches for asthma and allied allergic respiratory diseases including the development of genetic immunotherapy strategies. His hope is that dissecting the nature of the immunological interactions between the external environment, particularly aeroallergens, and the respiratory mucosa will have far-reaching implications for understanding and managing allergic airway diseases.
Infectious Disease Pathogenesis
Brian Coombes
Dr. Brian Coombes' research involves investigating how major enteric pathogens — the organisms that enter our bodies and cause serious problems with our gastrointestinal systems — infect humans, and how human and environmental activities influence the evolution of these infectious diseases.
Interdisciplinary Microbiome Research
Michael Surette
Dr. Surette's research involves the relationships between microbes and humans in health and disease. This research has the potential to transform the ways we understand human health and prevent, diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions.
Knowledge Transfer and Exchange
John N. Lavis
Dr. Lavis is researching whether, how, and under what conditions, federal and provincial policy makers make use of research knowledge. His research identifies how to put research knowledge to use in governing the health care system and in improving the health of Canadians. Dr. Lavis draws on the fields of political science, organizational decision-making and knowledge utilization to develop a conceptual framework for this research field.
Membrane Biogenesis
David Andrews
Dr. Andrews is researching how proteins are involved in the control of cell death, the development of new drugs that target membranes and bioengineering therapies. Dr. Andrews will take a closer look at alterations in cell membranes, and deficiencies in the way that those membranes are involved in the trafficking of proteins within and to the outside of cells—and how they contribute to a wide variety of diseases. Unlocking the way these mechanisms work could provide key information to combat cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, and certain types of encephalitis.
Molecular Hemostasis
Catherine P. Hayward
Dr. Hayward's research involves hematology, the molecules important to blood clotting and vascular repair. She is investigating the causes of inherited bleeding disorders and finding new ways to improve blood-clotting abilities. Dr. Hayward’s work is likely to provide new insights into how and why blood clots occur, and how blood vessels can be repaired. The results will be instrumental to new treatment and diagnostic devices to prevent excessive bleeding or blood clotting in sick patients, particularly those who have problems with platelet function.
Metabolism, Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Gregory Steinberg
Dr. Steinberg's research involves understanding how hormones regulate the body’s storage and breakdown of fat and its response to insulin. He is conducting metabolic studies in which genetically modified mice exercise or consume calorie foods. How many and what type of calories (fat or carbohydrate) the mice burn will be measured both during exercise and in response to hormones. Steinberg’s studies will be complemented with work using advanced techniques in protein chemistry and molecular biology with an emphasis on phosphoproteomics (identifying, cataloguing and characterizing proteins) and gene expression analysis.
Molecular Studies of Antibiotics
Gerard D. Wright
Dr. Wright's research involves antibiotic resistance and chemically synthesizing antibiotics. Gerard Wright’s research concentrates on understanding the mechanisms that promote antibiotic resistance and the reasons micro-organisms become resistant. He is particularly interested in the enzymes that alter or destroy antibiotics. By identifying resistance genes, expressing and purifying enzymes, and understanding their role in the process of antibiotic resistance, Wright hopes to gather data to help reverse this resistance and develop new drugs.
Musculoskeletal Trauma and Surgical Outcomes
Mohit Bhandari
Dr. Bhandari's research studies musculoskeletal trauma and surgical outcomes. It also uncovers novel strategies to improve outcomes following orthopaedic injury. His research includes the design and conduct of large, multicentre randomized trials that evaluate interventions in patients with musculoskeletal injuries. In addition, his program explores the methodological issues specific to the conduct of surgical trials and involves the application and evaluation of evidence-based methods to guide the care of patients with musculoskeletal trauma.
Research Transfer in Intensive Care
Deborah J. Cook
Dr. Cook's is translating research into medical practice in intensive care units and developing ways to put research results into use at the bedside. Dr. Cook is focusing on studies that have discovered there is a practical, non-invasive way to reduce the risk of pneumonia in critically ill patients who are hooked up to ventilators in the Intensive Care Unit of hospitals. She was the first intensive-care specialist in Canada who is also educated in biostatistics and clinical epidemiology (the causes, distribution, and control of diseases in populations).
Social Determinants of Child Health
Michael Boyle
Dr. Boyle's research involves Examining the adverse effects of socioeconomic status on children’s health, and identifying the characteristics of families, communities and nations that diminish these effects. The research will provide insights for evidence-based policy decisions on the allocation of resources for children’s health and development in Canada and abroad. Boyle hopes to conduct an international comparative study of child health and the impacts of social, economic and cultural forces on children and their families.
Stem Cell Signaling
Bradley Doble
Dr. Doble's research involves Identifying different outcomes and early steps of embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation (or how these cells turn into different types) in human ESCs and prototype mouse ESC model systems. Doble’s research looks, specifically, at GSK-3 (glycogen synthase kinase), a regulatory protein particularly important for the basic functioning of cells. He is using genetically engineered mouse stem cells to study GSK-3’s role in these pathways in normal stem cell biology and in cancer.
Thrombosis
Jeffrey Weitz
Dr. Weitz's research involves new techniques for identifying and treating the underlying causes of blood clot formation. Following a comprehensive bench-to-bedside program, he will explore the most basic molecular dynamics responsible for this condition, expanding this research to develop clinical treatments that have value for patients who have already been diagnosed and are currently being treated. Dr. Weitz has also characterized the structure and function of various clotting enzymes, and has used these insights to create new types of anticoagulant drugs that are now being tested.
