Our Team
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Dr. Jean Marshall, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie UniversityDr. Jean Marshall (Dalhousie University) is Canada's top academic immunologist and internationally recognized mast cell biologist with extensive experience in studies of mechanisms of inflammation. She brings extensive administration experience from her time as Department Head of Microbiology and Immunology. Email: jean.marshall@dal.ca Research InterestsDr. Marshall has a long term interest in the biology and function of mast cells in host defence and disease. This includes study of mast cells in models of viral infection, cancer and allergic disease such as asthma and food allergy. Her work often involves multidisciplinary teams of scientists and multiple research trainees. |
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Dr. Michael Bezuhly, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie UniversityEmail: mbezhuly@dal.ca Research InterestsDr. Bezuhly joined the IWK Health Centre in January 2012 as an attending craniofacial and plastic surgeon. His principal clinical interests include craniofacial remodeling, cleft lip and palate repair, ear reconstruction and obstetrical brachial plexus reconstruction. He is the primary plastic surgeon on the Cleft Palate Team and has helped to establish the multidisciplinary Craniofacial Clinic at the IWK. As a clinician-scientist, he has numerous peer-reviewed publications and holds several research grants. He continues to pursue the epidemiological research in which he was involved during his graduate studies at Harvard University. He also conducts laboratory research into novel treatments for abnormal scars, the link between clotting and cancer spread, and the use of stem cells to improve craniofacial healing. |
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Dr. Beata Derfalvi, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics , Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie UniversityEmail: beata.derfalvi@iwk.nshealth.caResearch Interests
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Dr. Francesca Di Cara, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie UniversityEmail: dicara@dal.caResearch InterestsOur research relies primarily on the use of Drosophila, a genetically amenable model system, to elucidate the previously unexplored role of peroxisomes as signaling platforms in the innate immune response. We demonstrated the peroxisome direct involvement in immune defense, with evidence of peroxisome requirements in phagocytic pathogen clearance and innate immune signaling in immune responsive tissue in flies and mammals. Peroxisomes are essential metabolic organelles present in every eukaryotic cell. Website https://dicara.wixsite.com/dicaralab
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Dr. John G. Hanly, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Department of Pathology; Dalhousie UniversityEmail: john.hanly@nshealth.caResearch InterestsDr. Hanly’s major research foci are pathogenic mechanisms and clinical outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus, with emphasis on how lupus affects the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Dr. Hanly also collaborates on studies of pathogenic mechanisms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. He belongs to several national and international research networks involving clinical studies of systemic lupus erythematosus and received the Distinguished Investigator Award 2018 from the Canadian Rheumatology Association.
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Janice E. Graham, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Research Professor, Department of Pediatrics , Department of Sociology and Social AnthropologyEmail: janice.graham@dal.ca
Research Interests
Dr. Graham is an anthropologist of science, technology and medicine in the Department of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases). She studies the cultural, technical and moral tensions in regulating one health. Interested in the moral basis of profit when disease becomes a market opportunity, she works among those who develop, regulate, commercialize, implement and use emerging pharmaceuticals and vaccines to examine their safety and efficacy.
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Dr. Shashi Gujar, DVM, PhD, MHA, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology , Department of Microbiology & Immunology , Department of Biology, Dalhousie UniversityEmail: shashi.gujar@dal.ca Research Interests
Dr. Gujar’s research program focuses on molecular and immunological aspects of human health, with special focus on cancer immunotherapies. His multi-disciplinary interests include Oncolytic viruses, Immunology and immunotherapies, Epitope discovery, Cellular biology and metabolism, Applied immunomics and Proteo-immuno-metabolomics.
Website : www.gujarlab.com
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Dr. Donna Halperin, PhD, Professor, School of Nursing, St. Francis Xavier University
Email: dhalperi@stfx.ca
Research InterestsDr. Halperin’s applied research program focuses on vaccine program implementation and evaluation and health policy research. She has methodological expertise in mixed methods, survey research and grounded theory. Currently she is a co- investigator with the PHAC/CIHR Canadian Immunization Research Network that was established to provide Canada with a national capacity to undertake coordinated, evaluative research to inform public health policy relating to vaccine and vaccination. She is currently a Principal Investigator on a CIHR collaborative study in Nunavut and a Co-Investigator on a Public Health Agency of Canada funded program evaluation in Prince Edward Island. |
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Dr. Scott Halperin, MD, Professor, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie UniversityEmail:
Research InterestsDr. Halperin’s research focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pertussis and other vaccine-preventable diseases. |
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Dr. Todd Hatchette, MD, Professor; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Chief, Division of Microbiology; Capital District Health Authority, Department of Pathology , Department of Microbiology & Immunology , Division of Infectious Diseases
As the Province’s only Medical Virologist and one of the Directors of Immunology and Virology at the QEII HSC I oversee the running of the clinical virology laboratory. I also oversee the anchor laboratory for the Severe Outcomes Surveillance Project in the PHAC/CIHR Influenza Research Network (PCIRN)
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Dr. Ford Doolittle, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie UniversityResearch InterestsI examine prevailing concepts in genomics, molecular biology and microbial ecology, most often as these reflect understandings of evolution by natural selection. Particular concerns are multilevel selection theory, selection for differential persistence (instead of differential reproduction), holobiosis and selection on cycles and interactions, microbiology and the Modern Synthesis, origin of eukaryotes and cellular complexity, lateral gene transfer and the Tree of Life, and the meaning of “function”. |
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Dr. Thomas Issekutz, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics , Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Microbiology & Immunology , Department of Pathology, Dalhousie UniversityEmail: thomas.issekutz@iwk.nshealth.caResearch Interests |
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Dr. Brent Johnston, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University
Email: brent.johnston@dal.caResearch InterestsThe research in Dr. Johnston’s laboratory is focused on factors and cells that regulate the immune system in autoimmune disease and cancer. The laboratory studies white blood cell trafficking, activation, and effector functions in disease models. The current focus is on harnessing the immunoregulatory activities of a subset of white blood cells called natural killer T (NKT) cells to either boost beneficial immune responses (cancer) or dampen pathogenic immune responses (arthritis).
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Dr. Bob Bortolussi, PhD, Professor Emertius, Dalhousie UniversityResearch InterestsDr. Bortolussi is a former Vice President of Research of the IWK Health Centre and is Professor Emeritus of Paediatrics at Dalhousie University. He edited “The Handbook for Clinician Scientists” which is used in many Universities in Canada and as part of the MicroResearch Curriculum. He is a fellow of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and President of the Global Health Section of the Canadian Paediatric Society. He is presently the editor of Clinical and Investigative Medicine (CIM). |
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Dr. Jason McDougall,PhD Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Mgmt & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University
Email: Jason.mcdougall@dal.caResearch InterestsDr. McDougall is an international expert on inflammatory mechanisms. Using animal models of rheumatoid .arthritis, osteoarthritis and joint injury, Dr. McDougall's laboratory employs an integrative approach to examine the role of nerves and neurotransmitters in controlling joint inflammation and pain. |
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Dr. Nikhil Thomas, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Dalhousie University
Email: n.thomas@dal.caResearch InterestsMy laboratory emphasizes a cross-disciplinary approach to studying host-pathogen interactions, using techniques in the areas of molecular microbiology, genetics, cell biology, immunology, cell structure, signaling, and protein biochemistry. |
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Dr. Lisa Barrett, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Department of Pathology, Dalhousie UniverisityResearch InterestsDr. Lisa Barrett studies immune responses in chronic and persistent viral infections (HIV, CMV, HCV); the role of chronic viral infection in chronologic and immunologic aging; interactions between innate and adaptive immunity in chronic viral infection and the modulation of the immune response to generate therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines in persistent viral infections. Clinically Dr. Barrett is also interested in treating viral infections in underserved and incarcerated populations. External Website:The Senescence, Aging, Infection & Immunity Laboratory (SAIL) Website |
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Dr. Jeanette Boudreau, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Department of Pathology, Dalhousie UniversityWith a focus on the roles of human immunogenetic diversity and environmental factors, The Boudreau laboratory investigates natural killer (NK) lymphocytes and their role in health and disease. We use humanized animal models and samples from volunteer human donors to investigate the roles and responses of NK cells in health and disease. Our team collaborates with other research groups and physicians to understand how NK cells modulate disease processes, and may be recruited or modulated for immunotherapy of disease. Email:Jeanette.Boudreau@dal.ca |
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Dr. Zhenyu Cheng, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie UniversityEmail: zhenyu.cheng@dal.caResearch InterestsDr. Cheng utilizes systems biology approaches to study the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. His research is relevant to multiple I3V research priorities including antimicrobial resistance, existing and emerging microbial threats, improved diagnostics directly related to infection and immunity, and inflammation. His goal is to identify signalling components in host immunity and bacterial pathogenesis pathways that can be exploited to treat pathogenic infections and enhance host immunity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and chronic inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis is a major translational research focus for Dr. Cheng. External Website: |
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Dr. Christian Lehmann, MD, FRPCP, Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Mgmt & Perioperative Medicine, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Pharmacology; Dalhousie UniversityDr. Christian Lehmann is Professor of Anesthesia, Pharmacology, Microbiology & Immunology and Physiology & Biophysics at Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. He is also Staff Anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesia, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax. Email: clehmann@dal.caResearch InterestsDr. Lehmann has 25 years of experience in experimental and clinical inflammation research. He established experimental intravital imaging laboratories in Berlin and Greifswald, Germany. His focus of research is the microcirculation, i.e. capillary blood flow, cell-cell-interactions, and endothelial pathology. |
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Susan Bowles, Vaccinology Research InterestsMy research is largely informed by clinical practice, where research questions regarding medication use are identified at the bedside. My primary research interests involve appropriate medication use in older patients and reducing vaccine-preventable diseases in older populations.
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Dr. Roy Duncan, PhD, Professor and Killam Chair in Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University
Email: roy.duncan@dal.ca
Research InterestsDr. Duncan’s research group discovered the reovirus fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) proteins, a novel family of virus-encoded fusogens that mediate cell-cell membrane fusion. His interests are focused on biochemical and biophysical analysis of the FAST proteins, cellular pathways involved in cell-cell fusion, and factors that affect actin dynamics during membrane fusion and cell migration. |
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Dr. Jillian Filliter, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Physchology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University
Email: filliter@dal.ca
Research InterestsThe majority of Dr. Filliter's work is focused on ASD assessment in school-aged children and adolescents. She is also interested in health psychology and mental health-related interventions for youth with ASD. Email:
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Dr. Jun Wang, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyDr. Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University, and a full member of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology, IWK Health Centre. The research conducted in Dr. Wang’s laboratory aims to understand the immune regulatory mechanisms underlying host responses to infections and cancer with the ultimate goal of knowledge translation into the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. The primary focus in recent years is to dissect the role of regulatory T and B cells in regulating protective immunity and pathological chronic tissue inflammation in murine models of Chlamydia infection. Another research focus is to understand how interleukin-17 receptor signalling is involved in cancer-related chronic inflammation, and cancer metabolism using both in vitro and in vivo tools.
Email: jun.wang@dal.ca |
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Dr. Yuan Zhou,PhD Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine
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