Affiliated Research Programs and Centres
Chronic Viral Illness Service Research Team
The Chronic Viral Illness Service (CVIS) research team is dedicated to advancing patient-centred, multidisciplinary research for people living with chronic viral infections such as HIV, hepatitis C virus and human papilloma viruses. Our investigators perform world class research in epidemiology and public health, and conduct basic science studies and clinical trials to discover new therapies for the management of HIV and its complications. The CVIS Research teams aims to advance knowledge through translational research and to train the next generation of clinician scientists.
To know more, visit http://www.cocostudy.ca and http://www.hivnet.ubc.ca/home/
Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program at the MUHC RI (IDIGH)
The mission of the program in Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health is to (i) act as catalyst for innovative research programs, (ii) to establish discovery pipelines in select diseases, (iii) to enhance research competitiveness of program members, and (iv) to train the next generation of scientists in biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, and health outcome research. A total of 35 research groups are pursuing a translational research agenda through collaborations within the program and with affiliated groups of external collaborators.
To know more, visit the Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health website
JD MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases
The J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases at McGill University is a world-renowned centre of expertise, research, and training in Clinical Tropical Medicine, including neglected tropical diseases, and is the largest of its kind in North America.
To know more, visit the J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases website
McGill Global Health Programs
The mission of McGill Global Health Programs (GHP) is to address health inequities and improve global health through education, research, and partnerships. GHP and its partners draw on the talents and resources of one of the world’s leading educational and research institutions to achieve the following goals: 1) Offer high-quality education and training in global health, and enhance capacity in resource-limited settings; 2) Facilitate and conduct innovative, interdisciplinary, collaborative, and policy-relevant research to address critical global health challenges and priorities; and 3) Build strategic partnerships with major stakeholders and institutions in Canada and internationally, to exchange knowledge and skills, to ensure knowledge translation, and to support advocacy and implementation of policies.
To know more, visit the McGill Global Health Programs website
McGill International TB Centre
The Centre brings together over 20 investigators with expertise ranging from economics to mouse models, working both at an academic centre and with a number of collaborating groups around the world. Please refer to http://www.mcgill.ca/tb/ to find out why our Centre is a world leader in the interdisciplinary study of TB and how we work together to unravel the many mysteries of this recalcitrant disease.
To know more, visit the McGill International TB Centre Web site
MUHC Vaccine Study Centre (VSC)
The MUHC Vaccine Study Centre (VSC) conducts vaccine and epidemiological research. Located in Pierrefonds, Quebec, the VSC has conducted over 200 studies with over 8,000 participants enrolled to date.
IDIGH Investigators research work within the Division of Infectious Diseases
Dr. Marcel Behr – Molecular epidemiology and Bacterial genomics
In conjunction with public health investigators, the Behr laboratory uses molecular biology tools create DNA fingerprints of bacteria, allowing us to better track the spread of organisms within the community. This combination is known as molecular epidemiology. As well, the Behr lab uses bacterial genomics to determine the genetic differences between closely related organisms to understand the reason why some cause disease and others are less virulent. More specifically, a variety of genetic techniques, including PCR, DNA microarrays and whole genome sequencing have been used to uncover the molecular differences within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, between subspecies of Mycobacterium avium and across the mycobacterial genus.
Dr Cecilia Costiniuk - Chronic pulmonary disease in HIV-infected individuals
Despite the success of highly active antiretroviral therapy, individuals with HIV appear to be at increased risk of chronic lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which cannot be accounted for by smoking alone. Dr Costiniuk’s clinical and translational research program focuses on understanding potential factors associated with accelerated chronic lung disease, such as pulmonary inflammation and pulmonary immune abnormalities, in HIV-infected individuals on effective antiretroviral therapy.
Dr. Charles Frenette - Infection prevention and control
Doctor Charles Frenette has been a pioneer in developing and organizing the provincial network for surveillance of nosocomial infections in Quebec (SPIN) including surveillance for C. difficile, MRSA , VRE and nosocomial blood stream infections. With the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) he is been involved in evaluating and studying application and effectiveness of infection control measures in acute care hospitals in Quebec . In addition he is involved in the evaluation of rapid diagnostic techniques for the diagnosis of specific infectious diseases such as MRSA , influenza and C. difficile. He currently is the Chair of the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) a large network of Canadian teaching hospitals which has published extensively on the surveillance of nosocomial infections in Canada.
Dr. Marina Klein – HIV and Hepatitis C co-infection
Dr. Klein leads a team conducting clinical and epidemiologic research in HIV and Hepatitis C co-infection: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funded prospective Canadian Coinfection Cohort Study . The primary objectives are to study the interactions between these two chronic viruses and their natural history in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy and to evaluate therapeutic strategies aimed at improving health outcomes in co-infected persons. The cohort has evolved into a translational platform for research and mentoring across many disciplines. For example, we are: evaluating and validating non-invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis; evaluating the role of comorbidities in driving liver outcomes; studying immunologic correlates of HCV related health and treatment outcomes; developing new methods for eliminating bias in observational research studies, and conducting randomized interventional studies aimed at slowing liver disease progression in co-infected persons. http://www.cocostudy.ca/
Dr. Vivian Loo – Clostridium difficile
Dr. Loo’s research group studies the intestinal pathogen Clostridium difficile. Her research activities primarily focus on the epidemiology, health outcomes, rapid diagnosis and infection control aspects related to C. difficile infection.
Dr. Momar Ndao – Human parasitoses
The laboratory is been built around the National Reference Centre for Parasitology (NRCP) which is focused on the development, evaluation and implementation of tests for human parasitoses. A wide range of in vitro/in vivo models have been developed to support the NRCP which are used to test novel vaccines/drugs and to study parasite biology. The lab is particularly interested in the non-malaria, blood/tissue protozoa (eg: African and American trypanosomiasis, crytposporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis).
Dr. Martin Olivier – Host-pathogen interactions and innate inflammatory responses
The Olivier laboratory is focused on host-pathogen interactions and innate inflammatory responses. More precisely, his laboratory works to decipher the cellular and molecular mechanisms whereby intracellular pathogens such as Leishmania can subvert macrophage immune functions by altering their signaling pathways; to study the role of malarial hemozoin in the development of malaria inflammatory related pathologies, as well as to study the role of exosomes (a type of microvesicles released by pathogens and their host) in the induction and the development of infection.
Dr. Michael Reed – Tuberculosis
Research in the Reed laboratory focuses on the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of the infectious disease, tuberculosis (TB). Over recent years, it has become evident that considerable phenotypic diversity exists amongst clinical isolates of TB and we are interested in understanding the impact of this diversity on disease pathogenesis. Increasing our knowledge of variably expressed metabolic pathways and virulence mechanisms employed by M. tuberculosis may ultimately shed light on novel ways to diagnose and prevent TB transmission and disease.
Dr. Don Sheppard – Invasive fungal diseases
The Sheppard laboratory uses molecular and cellular biology approaches to understand the interactions of the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus with the human host. Using these approaches we have discovered the molecular mechanism by which this mold attaches to and invades human cells. In addition to continuing our studies probing the fundamental biology of host-fungal interactions, we are currently pursuing therapeutic strategies that target fungal adherence to host cells in order to prevent or treat invasive aspergillosis.
Dr. Don Vinh – Susceptibility to infection
The Vinh laboratory combines molecular genetics with functional immunology to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which susceptibility to infection occurs. This integrated bench-to-bedside approach aims to correctly identify established and novel Primary Immunodeficiency disorders, and to develop a comprehensive understanding of the natural history, pathophysiology and management of these conditions.
Dr. Brian Ward – Viruses and vaccines
The laboratory has 3 core areas of activity: 1) the development of plant-made, nanoparticle vaccines for respiratory viruses (measles, RSV, influenza, CDV) across the age-range 2) virus-micronutrient interactions with a particular focus on retinoid-virus interactions and 3) novel adjuvants and immunomodulators to enhance vaccine efficacy and safety. The lab is shared with Dr. Momar Ndao so a fourth area of interest is tissue/blood protozoan biology.
Dr. Cedric Yansouni – Diagnostic tools for infectious diseases in low-resource or remote areas
For many crippling infections in low-resource settings, accessibility of accurate diagnostic tests is the principal factor in limiting access to life-saving care or community-level disease control. Similarly, most remote aboriginal communities in northern Quebec have no local access to conventional microbiology services, despite a high burden of disease. Recognition of this diagnostic bottleneck has focused attention on bringing diagnostic testing closer to the point of care, with the objective of improving individual case management and community-level disease control. The Yansouni group works to develop diagnostic tools for infectious diseases that can be implemented in low-resource or remote areas. Theme 1 deals with the development of non-invasive testing strategies for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) that fill key gaps left by currently available tools. Theme 2 centers on assessing the role of near-care diagnostics in improving disease control for infections of public health importance in remote areas of northern Quebec.