Research excellence
Pushing boundaries in immunology
January 21, 2025
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Dr. Kubes and PhD student Kartik Sachdeva examine a cell sample under a microscope.
It카지노 게임 컬렉션s been just over a year since Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s announced it would welcome a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Immunophysiology and Immunotherapy to campus. Paul Kubes is a world-leading expert on the immune system, and understanding how it can be harnessed to treat chronic disease. His work leverages existing institutional strengths in immunology, cancer research, and precision medicine, positioning Canada as a global hub for translational research on immune-based therapies.
Under the CERC program, a federal government initiative that attracts up to $8 million in funding over eight years, Dr. Kubes has been busy developing his research program, from advancing research across several areas of immunology and fostering a collaborative team to building a state-of-the-art laboratory. We explore some of these highlights below.
New insights into neonatal immunology
Earlier this year Dr. Kubes published new research in the high-impact journal Science Immunology, exploring why newborns are so susceptible to infections like sepsis and meningitis. The research seeks to understand the vulnerability of babies during the first few weeks of life.
카지노 게임 컬렉션In the first four weeks of a baby카지노 게임 컬렉션s life, their immune system is the most vulnerable to infections, and premature births elevate the risks even further,카지노 게임 컬렉션 says Dr. Kubes. 카지노 게임 컬렉션Bloodstream infections are a significant concern, and understanding the mechanisms behind this vulnerability is essential for developing ways to protect them.카지노 게임 컬렉션
To investigate, Dr. Kubes and his colleagues used advanced intravital microscopy to observe the immune response in one-day-old mice exposed to infections. Their findings revealed that Kupffer cells, the specialized immune cells in the liver responsible for filtering blood, are initially located outside the liver's sinusoids (blood vessels). This positioning limits their ability to capture and neutralize pathogens effectively.
During the first week of life, these cells undergo a process known as reverse migration, moving into the sinusoids where they become better equipped to trap and eliminate pathogens. This transition is crucial for establishing a functional immune system.
The delayed migration of Kupffer cells to the sinusoids in animal models may explain the heightened susceptibility to bloodstream infections. Dr. Kubes and his team believe that a similar phenomenon may occur in human newborns emphasizing the potential for these insights to improve clinical outcomes in neonatal care.
The innovative imaging technique used to view the mouse카지노 게임 컬렉션s Kupffer cells earned its place on the cover of the prestigious research journal Science Immunology. (Credit: Bruna Araujo David/카지노게임사이트 of Calgary)
Fostering collaboration in immunology research
In addition to his research on neonatal immunology, earlier this year Dr. Kubes was awarded a $2M Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant to investigate how wildfire smoke impacts the lungs of asthma patients. The next stage of this ongoing research will explore potential treatments to prevent or mitigate long-term effects, such as diminished resistance to infections, and the link between wildfires and lung cancer.
카지노 게임 컬렉션Immunology is a rapidly evolving field, and the discoveries we카지노 게임 컬렉션re making today are helping us rethink how we approach treatment for a wide range of conditions,카지노 게임 컬렉션 says Dr. Kubes. 카지노 게임 컬렉션We need to focus on research that not only advances our understanding but also leads to meaningful changes in how we prevent and treat diseases.카지노 게임 컬렉션
In September, Dr. Kubes also joined the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology at Oxford 카지노게임사이트 as part of the Newton-Abraham Visiting Professorship, a prestigious award given to the most distinguished scholars in the biological, chemical, or medical sciences.
Building Canada카지노 게임 컬렉션s leading imaging centre
Uncovering the mysteries of the immune system requires highly specialized tools. Dr. Kubes has made significant progress in setting up an advanced laboratory that is specially designed to support highly detailed imaging.
카지노 게임 컬렉션My goal is to build the best imaging centre in Canada here at Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s,카지노 게임 컬렉션 says Dr. Kubes. 카지노 게임 컬렉션An imaging centre that can do in-vivo imaging, and take it not just down to the cell, but a single molecule.카지노 게임 컬렉션
This new infrastructure will enable the exploration of innovative approaches like CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell), a form of immunotherapy that involves modifying a patient's own T cells to better recognize and attack cancer cells, enabling more precise and effective treatments.
Dr. Paul Kubes discusses imaging techniques used in his immunology research, showcasing a close-up view of cellular activity.
To support this work, he카지노 게임 컬렉션s hired eight postdoctoral researchers with diverse skill sets, some of whom received training under Dr. Kubes at the 카지노게임사이트 of Calgary before joining the Queen's lab, and others who were trained internationally in China and Brazil. The team is already running experiments that will inform the next generation of immune-based therapies.
카지노 게임 컬렉션The progress we카지노 게임 컬렉션ve made this past year is just the beginning,카지노 게임 컬렉션 says Dr. Kubes. 카지노 게임 컬렉션I카지노 게임 컬렉션m incredibly excited about the potential of our imaging centre and the discoveries we can make with this team. There카지노 게임 컬렉션s so much left to uncover about the immune system, and I look forward to contributing to breakthroughs that could transform how we approach health challenges worldwide.
Learn more about Dr. Kubes카지노 게임 컬렉션 research in the Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s Gazette.
