Download The Biology of Breathing Research Theme: Research Objectives and Focus

The Biology of Breathing Research Theme:
Research Objectives and Focus
Principal research objectives in developing and
directing the Theme are to ensure significant
qualitative and quantitative growth in multidisciplinary pediatric pulmonary. As indicated in
our full proposal, we plan to foster group
investigation on understanding how exposure of
the developing lung to environmental factors in
utero and in childhood leads to lung disease that
often persists through life. Disease areas in which
current research will be fortified include asthma,
pulmonary hypertension, pre-term breathing
disorders associated with surfactant deficiency
and neural control, and bronchopulmonary
dysplasia.
affiliated with
The Manitoba Institute of
Child Health
1. Build on existing research strength and capacity.
Theme investigators and their collaborators provide strong expertise in
respiratory biology, biomechanics, neurobiology, basic and clinical
genetics, functional analysis of genes and their products, and development
of animal models. They have a proven record in the developing and using
new research approaches.
The collective expertise will allow the development of animal models,
investigation of human disease phenotypes, characterization of the genetic
basis for childhood diseases, and determination of effects of a range of
environmental factors on physiology and phenotype at the cellular, organ
and whole animal level. Individual investigator research interests are
included in
Appendix 2, and a list of selected publications from the past
5 years is included below illustrating the breadth and excellence of their
on-going research programs.
Note that in each year several studies including multiple Theme members
are evident, and on average this group of investigators currently publish at
least 40 peer-reviewed papers in total each year.
2. Increase capacity and strength of independent research programs by
facilitating mutually beneficial research initiatives.
Growth will be hinged on building bridges across established research
strengths (eg. clinical-genetics-biochemistry-cell biology-integrated
physiology) and we propose to consolidate expertise in divergent research
areas.
As an example, Dr. Scott has basic research capacity to study surfactant
Who’s Who in the BBG:
PDF the
Download the
latest appendix listing the
current members of the
Biology of Breathing Group.
For more info on the Biology
of Breathing group or about
this web page email
[email protected].
Addendum BBG Research
Proposal Oct 2002:
Download the
PDF of the
addendum and the listing
publications dating from 1997
- 2002
effects on surface tension, building capacity in the Theme will spawn
critical new clinical/physiological studies with clinical investigators with an
interest in synthetic surfactant therapies in neonates such as Drs. Rigatto
and Dakshinamurti, with Drs. Pasterkamp and Mink to assess the
association between surfactant properties and human or large animal
airway pulmonary function measurements, and with Dr. Giles who is
developing models to assess the role of oxidative stress on pulmonary
function of small animals that will be measured using the murine lung lab
being implemented by Dr. HayGlass and other MICH colleagues.
As another example, an important and unique strength of the group is it’s
significant growth potential to include assessment of genotypeenvironment interactions both in local human pediatric cohorts and murine
research models. This growth will be fostered through collaborative
projects that build on existing initiatives with Dr. Becker, who has
characterized pediatric cohorts to study the genetic basis of asthma in
collaboration with investigators at U British Columbia. The expertise of
investigators such as Drs. Halayko, Stephens in functional analysis of genes
and their products will enable genetic targets to be characterized both at
the molecular and cellular level, and the state-of-the-art capabilities to
isolate individual human chromosomes through Dr. Rector’s flow
cytometry laboratory will further enhance analysis after genes of interest
are identified.
These examples illustrate how support of
existing research capacity in the Theme will be
directed to foster collective benefits to group
members, either through developing multidisciplinary collaborative projects or by
providing multi-user availability.
The figure below further illustrates the primary
research directions and anticipated interactions between Theme
investigators, and will include integration of the expertise of existing
collaborators with Theme investigators. It will be possible for example, to
determine the effect of environmental factors, using genotypically unique
human subgroups or animal models, on lung function, physiology and cell
responses, isolate affected tissues and cells for cell biology and phenotype
assessment, and identify molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression
and protein function. To ensure this integrated approach is achieved with
success, the future integration of other local investigators that will not hold
formal association with the Theme initially will be encouraged where
necessary. Furthermore, proposed Theme initiatives will promote effective
networking with other established groups including, the Transgenic
Research Facility and Mammalian Functional Genomics Centre (U of
Manitoba) to develop new animal models, and the Manitoba Centre for
Proteomics and Monoclonal Antibody Facility to develop antibodies and
identify gene products.