Principal Investigators – University of British Columbia and McGill University
Jay Kizhakkedathu
CITF Program Co-Director
Professor and Canada Research Chair
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia
Research Interests: The Kizhakkedathu laboratory is leading a cutting-edge translational research program to innovate materials and therapeutics. Kizhakkedathu laboratory is utilizing unique biologically active polymers, bioengineering & novel chemistry approaches, and animal models to develop novel therapeutics and treatment approaches to prevent immunothrombosis, and infection, protect vascular impairment and prevent immune-mediated transplant rejection, and protection of tissues and organs in inflammatory conditions. This interdisciplinary research involves material chemistry and bioengineering approaches in combination with an understanding of the pathophysiology of diseases with well‐designed biological assays and animal models to discover therapeutics, and technologies for biomedical and clinical use. This will realize better transplantation outcome, change the way patients are treated for thrombotic problems, and develop new therapeutic approaches to protect microvascular damage in inflammation, and new way protect medical devices and implants against infection and thrombosis. This research is taking place at the world leading facilities and outstanding research and training environments at UBC’s Centre for Blood Research (www.cbr.ubc.ca) and Life Sciences Institute (www.lsi.ubc.ca), two premier life sciences research institutes in Canada.
Email: jay@pathology.ubc.ca
Group Website: https://cbr.ubc.ca/our-people/investigators/jayachandran-kizhakkedathu/
Gerhard Multhaup
CITF Program Co-Director
Professor and Canada Research Chair – Tier 1
DAAD Research Ambassador
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University
Research Interests: Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most prevalent devastating neurodegenerative disorder in the world, estimated to currently affect over 35 million people and to contribute to the majority of all dementia cases. As life expectancy continues to increase, a dramatic rise in the incidence of AD is anticipated. The sequential cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretases results in the release of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, which are now generally accepted as the primary culprits in the pathogenesis of AD.
The Multhaup lab’s research interests include understanding APP biology, i.e., to unravel the protein network and the mechanisms involved in Aβ generation by structural and functional analyses, and investigating the molecular events of amyloid aggregation, gain of toxicity, and the causes of neuronal dysfunction. Our aim in the NSERC-CREATE-IRTG program is to develop devices and technologies to ‘elucidate structural implications of Polyelectrolyte-protein/peptide interactions’. A detailed theoretical and experimental understanding of PE interactions with biomolecules will allow us to develop novel pharmacological strategies for prevention and therapy of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Email: gmulthaup@me.com
Group Website: http://gerhard-multhaup.lab.mcgill.ca/Gerhard-Multhaup.html
Anna Blakney
Assistant Professor
School of Biomedical Engineering, Michael Smith Labs, University of British Columbia
Research Interests: The Blakney lab is interested in investigating the interaction between RNA, biomaterials and the immune system in order to harness this knowledge to design the next-generation of RNA vaccines and therapies.
Email: anna.blakney@msl.ubc.ca
Group Website: https://blakneylab.msl.ubc.ca/
Bastien Castagner
Associate Professor
Canada Research Chair in Therapeutic Chemistry
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,
McGill University
Research Interests: The Castegnar lab’s research focuses on the design of small molecules and natural product analogues, with a particular interest in inositol phosphates, carbohydrates, and polyphenols. We are notably developing novel strategies to inactivate the toxins responsible for the pathogenesis of Clostridioides difficile. We are also interested in prebiotic approaches where glycans and polyphenols can enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut and improve human health, especially in the context of cancer immunotherapy.
Email: bastien.castagner@mcgill.ca
Group Website: https://castagnerlab.com/
Edward Conway
Professor
Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Scientist, UBC Centre for Blood Research, Life Sciences Institute
Research Interests: The Conway lab’s translational research program is focused on characterizing the interplay between the vascular endothelium, coagulation, inflammation and innate immunity in health and disease.
Email: ed.conway@ubc.ca
Group Website: https://cbr.ubc.ca/our-people/investigators/ed-conway/
Alyson Fournier
Professor
Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University
Research Interests: The Fournier lab aims to characterize the molecular landscape of CNS neurons in response to acute nerve cell damage and in response to pathological inflammation. The lab harnesses this information to devise molecular and pharmacological strategies to promote neuroprotection and axon regeneration.
Email: alyson.fournier@mcgill.ca
Group Website: http://fournierlab.mcgill.ca/index.html
Charles Haynes
Professor
Department Head | Canadian Research Chair in Interfacial Biotechnology (Tier 1)
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia
Research Interests: The Haynes lab seeks to improve understanding of the interfacial, thermodynamic and binding behavior of biomolecular and cellular systems, and to use this fundamental knowledge to invent commercial technologies, methodologies and molecules.
Research in the lab involves collaborations with engineers, pathologists, chemists, and microbiologists. This collaborative research environment mirrors the multidisciplinary nature of industrial biotechnology and provides a sound foundation for understanding the complex structures and functions of proteins and thus, promising pathways for their purification.
Email: charles.haynes@ubc.ca
Group Website: https://chbe.ubc.ca/charles-haynes/
Timothy Kennedy
Professor
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University
Research Interests: The Kennedy laboratory at McGill University’s Montreal Neurological Institute investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate axon extension, myelination, synapse formation, and synaptic plasticity, studying the significance of these mechanisms to neural development and to neurodegenerative disease. Supporting these goals, Professor Kennedy is co-director of the McGill Program in NeuroEngineering which promotes collaboration between neuro scientists, physical scientists, and engineers to develop new tools to study the nervous system and new methods to promote recovery of function that has been lost due to injury or disease.
Email: timothy.kennedy@mcgill.ca
Group Website: https://www.mcgill.ca/neuro/timothy-e-kennedy-phd
Simcha Srebnik
Associate Professor
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia
Research Interests: Protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation dynamics are fundamental biophysical processes that profoundly impact cellular function and human health. Beginning with the ribosome, we study how the cellular environment regulates the folding kinetics and efficiency of the nascent protein, while mitigating misfolding. We investigate whether regulatory functions of protein cotranslational folding can be used to understand causes of undesirable polypeptide self-assembly within cellular environments. We develop coarse-grained computational models that address the complexity of the process, yet allow for analyzing numerous proteins in a variable cellular environment.
Email: ssrebnik@mail.ubc.ca
Dusica Maysinger
Professor Emerita
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University
Research Interests: The core of Dr. Maysinger’s research is nanomedicine. Her studies have been focused on the interactions of artificial nanostructures with living cellular structures, and the physiological or pathological outcomes from these interactions. An important component of these studies is to understand the underlying mechanisms of nano-induced insults to the neural cells of the central nervous system. In particular, my research addresses the question of how glial cells (microglia and astrocytes) respond to these nano-induced insults and to inflammogenic stimuli, and how the glial environment affects neuronal functions. Some of these material have been exploited for their imaging and cellular fate (e.g. QDs and gold nanoparticles) and some (e.g. dendrimers and miktoarms) have been used for the delivery of therapeutic agents to promote cell survival, neuronal growth and differentiation. Her investigations thus embrace both cell biology and studies of drug-polymer-cell interactions.
Email: Dusica.maysinger@mcgill.ca
Suzana Straus
Professor
Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia
Research Interests: The Straus group works on designing novel antimicrobial peptides, understanding their mechanism of action and developing delivery strategies. We have expertise in a number of Biophysical Chemistry techniques, with a particular emphasis on NMR.
Email: sstraus@chem.ubc.ca
Group Website: https://chem-straus.sites.olt.ubc.ca/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzana_Straus
Anne McKinney
Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University
Research Interests: The McKinney lab focuses on the development of brain circuits in both the healthy hippocampus and cerebellum and in animal models of ataxia, including ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay region (ARSACS), Christianson syndrome and in neurodevelopmental disorders, including Christianson syndrome and Helsmoortel-Van Der Aa syndrome (ADNP syndrome). We aim to understand the pathophysiology that underlies the onset of disease in ataxia, stroke, neurodevelopmental disorders and epilepsy, to find new therapeutic targets to treat these disorders. We also address fundamental questions into my certain synapses are more likely to be maintained whiles others undergo plasticity or learning in the hippocampus.
Email: anne.mckinney@mcgill.ca
Group Website:
https://www.cellinformationsystemscis.com/research-groups or https://www.mcgill.ca/pharma/faculty-staff/professors/anne-mckinney
Principal Investigators – Freie Universität Berlin
Kevin Pagel
Professor and German Spokesperson
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute für Chemistry and Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry
Research Interests: The Pagel groups research interests are Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry and Spectroscopy of Biomolecules.
Email: kevin.pagel@fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/chemie/chemie/forschung/OrgChem/pagel/index.html
Rainer Haag
Professor and German Co-Spokesperson
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute für Chemistry and Biochemistry, Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry
Research Interests: Tha Haag group focuses on Polymeric and Supramolecular Nanosystems, Dynamic Hydrogels and Functional Biointerfaces, Biodegradable and Sustainable Materials.
Email: haag@chemie.fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/chemie/chemie/forschung/OrgChem/haag/index.html
Katharina Achazi
Junior Research Group Leader
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute für Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research Interests: Research of the Achazi group is focused on elucidating cell nanoparticles interactions by using high resolution microscopy methods and real-time investigation of living cells. Of particular interest as interaction partners of cells but also pathogens such as viruses and bacteria are polyanionic nanoparticles, nanogels, or polymers as well as two dimensional materials. Due to their huge surface area they have great potential as new anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial compounds for biomedical applications.
Email: katharina.achazi@fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/chemie/chemie/forschung/OrgChem/achazi/index.html
Matthias Ballauff
Guest Professor
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute für Chemistry and Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry
Research Interests: The Ballauff groups research interest is Polyelectrolytes.
Email: mballauff@zedat.fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/chemie/chemie/forschung/OrgChem/haag/Group-Members/Guests/Ballauff.html
Stephan Block
Junior Research Group Leader
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute für Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research Interests: The Block group in interested in the Emmy Noether Junior Research Group “Bionanointerfaces”.
Email: stephan.block@fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/chemie/chemie/forschung/OrgChem/block/index.html
Jens Dernedde
Group Leader
Charite University Medicine Berlin, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry
Research Interests: The Dernedde research group is interested in structure and Function od L-selectin, Inhibitors of Selectins, Biocompatibility.
Email: jens.dernedde@charite.de
Group Website: https://ilp.charite.de/forschung/ag_dernedde/
Sarah Hedtrich
Professor
Berlin Institute of Health in der Charité (BIH), Center of Biological Design
Research Interests: The Hedtrich lab combines research expertise in pharmacology, biomedical engineering & drug delivery. We focus on the establishment of Next Generation Therapies, Nanomedicine, Tissue Engineering & Tissue Regeneration. We are particularly interested in healthy and diseased states of human epithelia with a current focus on inflammatory and genetic diseases of the human skin and lungs. Our research is highly interdisciplinary and requires close collaborations with experts in the field of chemistry, medicine, and genetics.
Email: sarah.hedtrich@bih-charite.de
Group Website: https://www.bihealth.org/de/forschung/arbeitsgruppe/translationale-humane-organmodelle
Bettina Keller
Professor
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute für Chemistry and Biochemistry, Theoretical Chemistry
Research Interests: The Keller group focuses on molecular dynamics simulations, QM/MM, models of reaction networks.
Email: bettina.keller@fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/chemie/chemie/forschung/PhysTheoChem/agkeller/index.html
Beate Koksch
Professor
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute für Chemistry and Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry
Research Interests: The Koksch group focuses on peptidic Materials and Therapeutics with Unnatural Building Blocks.
Email: beate.koksch@fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/chemie/chemie/forschung/OrgChem/koksch/index.html
Roland Netz
Professor
Freie Universität Berlin, Department pf Physics, Theoretical Bio- and Soft Matter Physics
Research Interests: The Netz group works on deals with the theoretical description and investigation of biological soft matter. The focus is on the investigation of biopolymers, especially polymer elasticity, biopolymers at the water/solid interface as well as static and dynamic effects of charged polymers. Furthermore, non-equilibrium systems, microhydrodynamics and the water structure at interfaces are investigated.
Email: rnetz@physik.fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/einrichtungen/ag/ag-netz/index.html
Thomas Risse
Professor
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute für Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry
Research Interests: Members of the Risse group focus on EPR spectroscopy on single crystal surfaces, Quantification of multivalent interactions using quartz crystal microbalance studies, Structure and dynamics of enzymes using site-directed spin labeling.
Email: risse@chemie.fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/chemie/chemie/forschung/PhysTheoChem/agrisse/index.html
Marie Weinhart
Professor
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute für Chemistry and Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry
Research Interests: Members of the Weinhart Group are working at the interface of Polymer Chemistry, Surface Science, Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering. Accordingly, we are a very interdisciplinary team bringing together experts in the field of chemistry, biology, biotechnology and engineering.
Email: marie.weinhart@fu-berlin.de
Group Website: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/chemie/chemie/forschung/OrgChem/weinhart/index.html