Title:   
Senior Scientist, professor

Institute:
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Department:  
Pediatric Medicine

Province:
Ontario

Training:  
Postdoctoral Fellow, Pathology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
PhD, Anatomy/Histology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
MSc, Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
BSc, Honors Botany, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
 
Research interests:
Pediatric cancer, pulmonary neuroendocrine cell system/lung development, Cystic Fibrosis 

Recognitions:
Teaching Award, Department of Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, 2009 

Research Projects

Project title: 
The Role of Hypoxia/Hypercapnia Chemosensing in the Pathophysiology and Malignant Transformation of Carcinoids

Funding period:  
2010-2012

Program:
CRS / CNETS Grant (research on neuroendocrine tumours)

Summary:
People with a debilitating lung disease, called carcinoid syndrome, can suffer from a lifetime of illness, risk for developing heart defects, and for development of a lung cancer, that has, so far, been difficult to treat, Our research group has been studying the intricate nature of the responsible cells, called neuroendocrine cells, for more than 20 years because they normally operate as sensors of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in lung. We now propose that the carbon dioxide sensor in these cells, when functioning improperly, is responsible for development of the carcinoid syndrome and the transition into cancer. Therefore, our work will use a variety of experimental models and analytical tools to determine how the defect arises, and how to correct the defect in these cells. We will test some new drugs that we feel could reverse the syndrome and prevent development of the cancer.