Associated Research Groups
Co-supervision of a trainee by a principal investigator and one of the following participants is possible:
Xudong Cao, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, U. Ottawa. Dr. Cao develops engineering techniques to solve basic biology questions. He focuses on polymeric biomaterials and their use to pattern cells for the study of cell-cell and cell-material interactions, and on creating scaffolds for tissue regeneration. In addition, Dr. Cao is developing microfluidic devices for high throughput single cell detection. CS Sobral, et al. Human Keratinocytes cultured on collagen matrix used as an experimental burn model. J Burns and Wounds, 7: 53-59, (2007).
Duncan Stewart, CEO & Scientific Director, Ottawa Health Research Institute; Vice President, Research, The Ottawa Hospital; and Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Stewart is also in the Regenerative Medicine Program. His research is on the endothelium in health and disease. He uses molecular approaches to the prevention and treatment of vascular diseases. He has developed several gene-based approaches for cardiovascular therapy, specifically, a new cell-based gene transfer technology for pulmonary hypertension. He initiated Canada's first clinical trials using gene and cell therapy for cardiovascular disease, including therapeutic angiogenesis for end stage coronary artery disease and progenitor cell therapy for pulmonary hypertension.: SD McCarter et al., Cell-based angiopoietin-1 gene therapy for acute lung injury, Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 175:1014-26, (2007).
Mads Kaern, Assistant Professor, Cell. and Molec. Med. & Physics, University of Ottawa, Tier II Canada Research Chair. Dr. Kaern focuses on methodologies to map data onto quantitative models of gene regulatory networks and signal transduction pathways, shedding new light on cellular decision-making processes. This involves mapping of networks, constructing models through data mining and integration, generating computational tools for model inference and discrimination problems, and mathematical modeling of biological systems spanning the molecular level to the tissue and organ levels. M Kaern, et al. Stochasticity in gene expression. Nature Reviews Genetics 6, 451-464 (2005).
Michel Godin, Assistant Professor of Physics, U. Ottawa. Dr. Godin develops new sensing technologies for the detection of biological material, from biomolecules (e.g. proteins, DNA), to viruses, bacteria and larger cells. By manipulating and analyzing biological samples within microfluidic and nanofluidic environments, it is possible to address some of the limitations of conventional techniques of disease diagnosis, rare cell detection (cancer) and environmental monitoring. His research also enables new measurement capabilities which provide new insight into the biological world. M Godin et al., Weighing of Biomolecules, Single Cells, and Single Nanoparticles in Fluid, Nature 446, 1066 (2007).
Cathy Morris, Ottawa Health Research Institutes. Dr. Morris studies the lipid bilayer mechanics of voltage-gated channels, ubiquitous membrane proteins responsible for regenerative bioelectricity. She shows that voltage sensors are susceptible to the nuanced lateral force profile of the bilayer. She asks how physiologically or traumatically-induced changes in the bilayer affect conducting and non-conducting states in these and other channels. With Béla Joós, she is modeling the impact of “spandex” proteins on bilayer stability. Lin W, et al. Dual stretch responses of mHCN2 pacemaker channels: accelerated activation, accelerated deactivation. Biophys. J. 92:1559-72 (2007).
Andrew Pelling, Assistant Prof. of Physics, U. Ottawa, CRC in Exerimental Cell Mechanics. Dr. Pelling studies the 3D deformation of cellular and sub-cellular architectures in cells and simple tissues, pathways of regulation by the mechanical properties of the microenvironment, and the transmission of force through and between living cells This is achieved with modern cell and molecular biology techniques with simultaneous confocal and atomic force microscopy. A.E. Pelling, et al. Local Nanomechanical Motion of the Cell Wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Science 304, 1147 (2004).
Eve Tsai, Assistant Prof., Neurosurgery, U. Ottawa. Dr. Tsai’s main interests lie in spine and spinal cord diseases (injury, tumors, syringomyelia, and myelopathy). Her research focuses on spinal cord repair strategies, axonal regeneration, MRI imaging of spinal cord tracts in humans and animals, and clinical outcomes after spine surgery. EC Tsai et al,. Matrix inclusion within synthetic hydrogel guidance channels improves specific supraspinal and local axonal regeneration after complete spinal cord transection. Biomaterials 27: 519 (2006).
Zemin Yao, Chair of Biochemistry, Microbiol. and Immun., U. Ottawa. Dr. Yao’s research defines cellular and molecular mechanisms of the pathophysiology of diabetes, premature atherosclerosis, and age-related neuronal degeneration. Various enzymes and transcription factors in liver, adipose tissue and brain are examined using transgenic mouse models. He uses knockout and transgenic mice, as well as novel lipodomics and imaging approaches, such as electron microscopic tomography. J.C. Lo et al, Lymphotoxin beta receptor dependent control of lipid homeostasis. Science 316, 285 (2007).