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This has been an outstanding year so far in the recognition of MIRC faculty and research prowess!

Director of CIHR’s Institute of Infection and Immunity, Charu Kaushic

The appointment of MIRC’s Dr. Charu Kaushic as the Director of CIHR’s Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) is of significant impact for the University. This is the first time that any of the CIHR Institutes/Directors has appointed and housed at McMaster. Not only does it magnify Charu’s ability in Immunology research, but further increases McMaster’s Immunology profile nationally and internationally. Dr Kaushic is well deserving of this important national position, and we are proud that the III will be led by Charu and indeed housed right beside MIRC on the Fourth floor of the MDCL!

https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/main/news/news_2018/Kaushic_named_scientific_director_of_CIHR_institute.html

The Order of Canada, Jack Gauldie

Dr. Jack Gauldie has recently been awarded membership to the Order of Canada.Dr. Gauldie is well known for his remarkable accomplishments over his career as a scientist, administrator, and advocate for research provincially and nationally. Among numerous activities, Jack led the concept of the research centre (previously the Centre for Gene Therapeutics), and building of facilities and the faculty complement that we now call MIRC. His research and leadership has been recognized by McMaster as one of a handful of University Professors. However, membership in The Order of Canada is the highest recognition of achievement provided by our country and we are very proud to be able to include Jack in our list of closest colleagues here at MIRC!

https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/main/news/news_2018/Three_McMaster_health_sciences_professors_join_prestigious_Order_of_Canada.html

University Scholar, Dawn Bowdish

Dr. Dawn Bowdish is an outstanding scientist, teacher and trainee mentor and drives an impressive research program in Immunity and Aging here at MIRC. Dawn was one of four McMaster midcareer faculty awarded the University Scholar prize, which recognizes global leadership in research, teaching and community service. Dawn is another special piece of the MIRC enterprise.

https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/main/news/news_2018/Bawdish_and_Pare_awarded_University_Scholar_prize.html

CFI awarded, Anthony Rullo

Dr. Anthony Rullo, newest member of the MIRC group, has obtained a new CFI award to support his research program in “Chemical Immunology”. Congratulations to Anthony as he adds a new dynamic to MIRC research.

CDR

Congratulations to Dr. Charu Kaushic, the new Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity

Dr. Charu Kaushic, a long-standing member of MIRC, was recently appointed as the Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III). Dr. Kaushic is the first women to hold the title, and this is the first time a CIHR Institute will be located at McMaster University. Within this leadership role, Dr. Kaushic will focus on identifying research priorities in the areas of infection and immunity, generating funding opportunities, developing partnerships and working towards translating research evidence into policy to help improve the health of both Canadians and individuals worldwide. Additionally, Dr. Kaushic will be heavily involved in setting and implementing CIHR’s strategic direction, further establishing both McMaster University and Canada as global leaders in health research. On behalf of the faculty, students and staff at MIRC, we would like to congratulate Dr. Kaushic on this outstanding achievement and we are confident there is no one better suited for this position.

Read more here:

A few years ago, Barb Thomson told her neighbour and good friend, who was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, that she had a plan to help raise funds towards helping fight cancer. For Barb, this unfortunately was not the first time someone close to her was diagnosed with cancer. She knew several individuals who had been inflicted with cancer, including her father and one of her best friends, and these experiences had left a lasting impression on her. In an act of solidarity and to help support efforts to end cancer, Barb chose to “buzz” her hair and raise funds for cancer research. Barb’s close family and friends across the country proudly watched, in person and via Skype, as her daughter, who is also her trusted hair stylist, cut her hair. In the room was also the same neighbour and friend Barb had made her initial promise to, who has now been cancer-free for over 5 years. “Barb’s Buzzin to Beat Cancer” campaign has now raised well over the target goal of $3000; current funds collected are close to $6000, with support pouring in from all over the country. The money raised will be donated directly to cancer research being undertaken at MIRC. Barb’s decision to raise money for cancer research stems from her admiration of her father, a courageous individual who volunteered to undergo experimental treatment when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He understood that without volunteers stepping forward and participating in such efforts, it would be difficult to make advancements in cancer research. His desire to selflessly help others has been a great inspiration to Barb. Furthermore, Barb learned about immunology while watching an HBO special called “Killing Cancer” and hearing about the efforts being taken to fight cancer caught her attention. Learning that through immunology research, there will be “a cure for cancer in our lifetime”, really impacted Barb and resulted in her doing some of her own research and finding MIRC. Barb believes that the research being done at MIRC is very valuable, and that helping fund research efforts is critical to help make the goal for a cure a reality. Barb represents a champion of strength; whose generosity and support towards cancer research is truly inspiring. She demonstrates that every individual, in their own, can help make a difference. On behalf of the faculty, students, and staff at MIRC, we would like to thank Barb for her tremendous support of our research, and for allowing us to be involved in her fight to end cancer.

This is new work published by Sophie as first author and Ali as senior author, with collaborators from Hamilton Health Sciences, on the potential of NK cell immunotherapy in ovarian cancer.

https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/main/news/news_2018/McMaster_scientists_developing_a_new_immunotherapy_for_ovarian_cancer.html

Jonathan Bramson is giving white blood cells a new mission: to seek out and destroy tumours.

Please see the link for more information:https://brighterworld.mcmaster.ca/articles/the-best-weapon-in-the-war-on-cancer-might-already-be-in-your-body/

MIRC’s annual Perey Symposium was held on June 7^th at McMaster Innovation Park and featured over 35 poster presentations, and 10 oral presentations. The day-long symposium organized primarily by student trainees at MIRC was well-attended by over 100 attendees, including faculty, students, staff and visiting speakers. This year’s opening key-note address was by McGill University’s Dr. Russell Jones, widely renowned for his work on cellular metabolism in immune function and cancer progression. The day followed by oral, poster and speed-talk presentations, highlighting the impressive research being conducted by the trainees at MIRC. Finally, Dr. Sean Bendall from Stanford University closed off the symposium, with an invigorating key-note talk exploring novel techniques in single-cell analysis. The day was a great success and included several award winners who were selected as top presenters within their respective categories: 1) Top Oral Presentation: Hannah Stacey (Miller lab), 2) Top Speed Talk: Joshua Koenig (Jordana lab), 3) Top Poster Presentation – PhD/PDF: Ali Zhang (Miller lab), and 3) Top Poster Presentation – Undergrad/MSc: Yosef Ellenbogen (Jordana lab). Congratulations to all the award winners and for everyone who presented at the Perey Symposium! We would also like to extend a special thanks to the 2017-2018 MIRC Trainee Association (Arya Afsahi, Puja Bagri, Steven Cass, Vivian Lau, Sophie Poznanski, and Danya Thayaparan) for putting together a great symposium and doing an excellent job with events organized throughout the year.

Maryam Vaseghi-Shanjani

Dr. Karen Mossman

MIRC stands out again with YWCA's Women of Distinction 2018 Nominees! Congratulations to Maryam and Dr. Mossman for demonstrating personal and professional excellence. To read more please follow the link https://ywcahamilton.akaraisin.com/gala/Event/PhotoGallery.aspx?seid=15075&mid=41

Congratulations to Peter Zeng and Hanu Chaudhari, undergraduate students in the Miller lab, and Joseph Chon, an undergraduate student in the Bowdish lab, for receiving 2018 IIDR Summer Student Fellowship awards. The fellowship is designed to support students working on their research projects over the summer and is awarded to undergraduate students based on their leadership, academic excellence, extracurricular involvement and the impact of their research within the field of infectious disease research. Read more: https://mcmasteriidr.ca/2018/05/fellowships/

Matthew Miller interviews with CBC's The National

In April 2018, as part of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health (GIRH) – Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health (FIRH) student exchange, three MIRC students, Steven Cass, Olivia Mekhael, and Chandak Upagupta, studied in China for three weeks. During this exchange, students focused on novel research in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Moreover, each had the opportunity to work alongside world renowned leaders in respiratory medicine, including Dr. Nanshan Zhong and Dr. Rongchang Chen. Living on the Guangzhou Medical University campus allowed our trainees to interact with Chinese students and fully immerse themselves in the Chinese culture. The student exchange strengthened the collaborative link between McMaster University and Guangzhou Medial University through the establishment of novel research and the sharing of expertise.