We were especially pleased to introduce a few new elements this year, including the rapid-fire presentations and the panel discussion featuring early-, mid-, and senior-career PIs interviewed by students, both of which brought great energy and valuable perspectives to the program. A highlight of the day was the keynote by Dr. Tillie-Louise Hackett, Peter T. Macklem Lecture: Understanding Heterogeneous Airways Disease in Asthma and COPD Using Spatial Imaging, which sparked some excellent discussions.

The winners for best oral presentation were:

Ryann Lang
PhD student with Basil Petrof
Elucidating the Role of Interleukin-6 in Ventilator-induced Diaphragm Dysfunction

Olivier Salko
Resident with Nicole Ezer
Benralizumab for Early Stage Lung Cancer with Eosinophilia trial -BELE trial – Improving post-operative lung cancer resection outcomes with eosinophil guided anti-IL-5 therapy – A Bayesian Adaptive feasibility study

The winners for best rapid fire oral presentation were:

Shahin Bolori Hanafi
PDF with Maziar Divangahi
IL-22 Mediated Autophagy in Alveolar Type 2 Cells Promotes Pulmonary Disease Tolerance to Influenza

Kriti Agarwal
PhD with Tania-Janaudis Ferreira
Six-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial on tele-rehabilitation in individuals with long COVID

The winners for best poster presentation were:

Hansen Feng
MSc with James Martin
Characterization of the intrapulmonary antiviral immune response to oropharyngeal influenza A virus infection during pregnancy

Willem Rijnbout St James
PhD student with Carolyn Baglole
The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor is a Novel Regulator of ECM Synthesis and Focal Adhesion Dynamics in Lung Fibroblasts

Rui Sun
PDF with Maziar Divangahi
15-lipoxygenase is essential for hematopoietic stem cell functions and β-glucan-mediated trained immunity against influenza A virus

Trainee-led Panel Discussion:
One piece of advice for students in this room

Trainee Moderators & Facilitators: Sophia Goldman, Eszter Farkas, Sydney Joy, Sami Sedraoui, Kalpana Chaudhary, Kate Harvey
Panelists: Tillie-Louise Hackett, Eva Kaufmann, Nermin Diab, Irah King,
Kevin Schwartzman

As part of this year’s Research Day, trainees led an interactive panel discussion featuring faculty researchers and our keynote speaker, creating a space for open, honest conversations about career paths, mentorship, and life in academia.

From the very first question “How did you decide your career path?”, one message came through clearly: there is no single path into science. Panelists shared journeys shaped by curiosity, unexpected pivots, and influential mentors. Some discovered their passion early, while others found their direction much later, often after changing fields entirely. The common thread? Follow what excites you and be open to change along the way.

Choosing Academia: Freedom, Curiosity, and Personal Fit

When asked what drew them to academia, panelists emphasized the freedom to explore ideas and shape their own research programs. At the same time, they highlighted that academia is not the only path, and that choosing between academia and industry is ultimately a personal decision, shaped by individual priorities and interests.

Mentorship Matters – And It Goes Both Ways

A major theme of the discussion was the importance of strong mentor–trainee relationships. Panelists described mentorship as more than supervision; it’s about advocacy, honesty, and aligning with a trainee’s long-term goals. Trainees were encouraged to actively communicate their expectations and seek out mentors who support both their professional and personal growth.

Lessons Learned (Sometimes the Hard Way)

Panelists also shared candid reflections on challenges they faced during training. A key takeaway: don’t ignore problems but rather address them early. Whether it’s a difficult mentorship dynamic or uncertainty about career direction, being proactive can make a significant difference.

Another recurring message was the importance of taking ownership of your work: driving your project forward, developing your own ideas, and building essential “soft skills” like writing, communication, and organization.

Beyond Publications: What Really Matters for Academic Careers

During the audience Q&A, trainees asked how to stand out in academia beyond publishing papers. Panelists emphasized: building connections and visibility within your field, developing strong communication and storytelling skills; thinking beyond your current project to identify the next big question. Ultimately, success isn’t just about a CV, it’s about your ability to communicate your vision and make others care about your work.

The Reality of Academic Life

In a refreshingly honest exchange, panelists acknowledged the less glamorous side of academia: administration, emails, and competing responsibilities. Their advice: prioritize wisely, set boundaries, and accept that no role is perfect. At the same time, they encouraged trainees to embrace uncertainty, learn from mistakes, and seek guidance from more experienced colleagues.

Photos from the Event

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Backed by the River Philip and Trottier Family Foundations and the McGill University Health Centre Foundation, this initiative helps researchers maintain momentum, refine their proposals, and strengthen future applications.

This year’s funded projects span a wide range of impactful areas, from lung health and vaping-related disease to infectious diseases, chronic conditions, and innovative therapies. By bridging funding gaps, the program ensures that promising discoveries continue to move forward and contribute to better health outcomes.

Congratulations to everyone, especially our RESP program members:

• Carolyn Baglole is investigating how vaping impairs the lung’s natural defense systems, contributing to respiratory disease.
• Elizabeth Fixman is exploring sex-specific immune responses in the lung, with implications for allergic airway diseases like asthma.
• Tania Janaudis-Ferreira is leading a web-based exercise and education program for mild COPD, improving access to care and self-management tools.

Read More

Sustaining Excellence competition supports top-ranked researchers. Outstanding CIHR applicants maintain research momentum thanks to funding support from generous donors. The Institute News. March 19, 2026.

The post Sustaining Excellence Grants Keep High-Impact Research Moving Forward appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Dr. Baglole and fellow guest Dr. Sean Gillman expressed concern that selling cannabis vapes through a government-run retailer may be interpreted by the public as an endorsement of safety. While cannabis may be considered relatively safe for adult recreational use, vaping is not risk-free, and the long-term health effects remain unknown. Dr. Gillman described the decision as particularly troubling given that vaping products are especially popular among youth, the brain continues to develop until about age 25, and Québec and Canada are already facing a vaping epidemic. Vaping is often perceived as easier and more appealing than smoking, largely because of the delivery device, which may further increase its appeal to young people who might otherwise avoid smoking.

The SQDC has stated that its decision is based on consumer trends showing a shift away from smoking and toward vaping. The agency argues that offering regulated products reduces reliance on the black market and ensures that ingredients and THC concentrations are known and controlled, with a maximum THC content of 30 percent. While both experts acknowledge that regulation improves transparency compared to unregulated products, where THC levels can reach much higher concentrations, they emphasize that regulation does not mean safety.

Dr. Baglole reiterated that nothing we smoke or vape should be considered safe. She noted that while there is a long history of tobacco use and medicinal cannabis use, vaping is relatively new, having only become widespread since around 2007. Heating chemicals can change their composition, and inhaling these altered substances may affect lung health. Because there are so many vaping products and formulations on the market, it is difficult for research to keep pace, and there is still insufficient long-term data to fully understand the health effects.

Dr. Baglole stressed that the public needs clear, accurate information to make informed decisions. She emphasized that “safer” does not mean “safe” and called for a strong public education campaign to communicate risks, particularly to youth and parents.

Listen to the Interview

The SQDC is about to sell vaping products for cannabis. Is that a good idea? We talk with Carolyn Baglole, a McGill Medicine professor who studies the impact of smoking and vaping on the body. CBC Listen Radio Noon Quebec with Shawn Apel. November 20, 2025.

The post Cannabis Vaping: Regulated Does Not Mean Safe appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

While many young people view cigarettes as a social or aesthetic choice, medical experts stress the dangers are real and addiction sets in quickly.

Dr. Carolyn Baglole warns that “there is no such thing as a safe cigarette.” She also notes that while vaping may feel like the unknown alternative, her research shows it is far from harmless: “Just because we don’t know what it’s doing doesn’t mean you should use something that is knowingly bad for your health.”

Bottom line: whether it’s smoking or vaping, neither is safe, and prevention is still the most powerful tool.

Read More

Just a drunk cigarette? The nouveau smoking epidemic. What doesn’t kill you makes you cooler. by Ellie Garry-Jones, The Dalhousie Gazette, September 18, 2025.

The post Vaping, Smoking, and the Myth of a Safer Choice appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

The first study, published in American Journal of Physiology – Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, showed that cannabis vapour contains carcinogens and both cannabis smoke and vapour generate cellular stress. The second study, in Cell Biology and Toxicology, found that vaping cannabis alters gene activity in lung cells, potentially affecting inflammation, immune responses, and cancer risk. The results highlight possible health risks associated with cannabis vaping.

The researchers stress the need for more research to understand the full impact of cannabis vaping, especially as legalization and social acceptance grow. These findings can help inform public health messaging and policy decisions, challenging assumptions that vaping is a safer option.

Read More

Vaping cannabis could harm your lungs. Two recent studies from The Institute suggest that cannabis vapour may have adverse effects on lung cells. The Institute News. May 22, 2025

Read the Articles

Transcriptomic changes in oxidative stress, immunity, and cancer pathways caused by cannabis vapor on alveolar epithelial cells. Wilson ET, Graham P, Eidelman DH, Baglole CJ. Cell Biol Toxicol. 2025 Mar 8;41(1):57.

Cannabis vaping elicits transcriptomic and metabolomic changes involved in inflammatory, oxidative stress, and cancer pathways in human bronchial epithelial cells. Arlen MT, Patterson SJ, Page MK, Liu R, Caruana V, Wilson ET, Laporte SA, Goniewicz ML, Harris CS, Eidelman DH, Baglole CJ. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2025 Mar 1;328(3):L478-L496.

The post Vaping Cannabis Could Harm Your Lungs  appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Maddison Arlen (PhD with Carolyn Baglole). Bourses de doctorat en recherche – FRQS.
Title: La perturbation de la signalisation PPAR par l’inhalation de produits du cannabis altère les mécanismes de défense de l’épithélium respiratoire.

Andrei Bogza (PhD with Irah King). Bourses de doctorat en recherche – FRQS.
Title: Rôle des infections helminthiques dans le retard de croissance causé par des carences nutritionnelles.

Andrei Bogza (PhD with Irah King). CIHR Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships.
Title: Investigating the Role of Helminth Infections in Diet-Induced Stunting

Susan Cai (MSc with Maziar Divangahi). Bourses de maîtrise en recherche – FRQS.
Title: Le rôle de IFN-g en imprimer les fonctions des macrophages alvéolaires.

Susan Cai (MSc with Maziar Divangahi). CIHR Master’s Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Title: The role of interferon-gamma in imprinting alveolar macrophage functions

Alyson Deprez (PDF with Basil Petrof). CIHR Fellowship.
Title: Trained immunity, macrophages and muscle stem cells in dystrophic respiratory muscle.

Hansen Feng (MSc with James Martin). CIHR Master’s Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Title: The role of pulmonary macrophages during syngeneic and allogeneic pregnancy in the context of an influenza A viral infection

Felix Girard (PhD with Dennis Jensen). CIHR Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Title: Influence of respiratory mechanical (un)loading on inspiratory neural drive and breathlessness during exercise.

Justine Mathé (PDF with Dao Nguyen). CIHR Fellowship.
Title: Deciphering Host-Pathogen Interactions in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Through Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis

Ava Naphin (MSc with Carolyn Baglole). CIHR Master’s Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Title: The Impact of E-Cigarette Use on Susceptibility to Influenza and Secondary Bacterial Infection

Anabel Selemon (MSc with Jonathon Campbell). CIHR Master’s Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Title: Improving the Targeting of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment in Canada

Kailu Song (PhD with Jun Ding). FRQS Bourses de doctorat en recherche.
Title: DeepExonas : Faire progresser la représentation cellulaire au-delà du niveau du gène en intégrant la quantification au niveau de l’exon et les lectures de jonction avec des réseaux neuronaux profonds.

Fariya Wahab (MSc with Deborah Assayag and Carolyn Baglole). CIHR Master’s Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Title: Biomarker Identification for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

The post Spring 2025 Student Awards appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

The winners for best oral presentation were:

Sammy Robayo
MSc student with Jonathon Campbell
Consideration of Risks and Consequences of Tuberculosis and Its Prevention in Cost-Utility Analyses Among Immigrants to Low-Incidence Countries: A Systematic Review

Katelyn Liu
PhD student with Simon Rousseau
Investigating OLFM4 and SHC4 in Severe COVID-19: Implications in Immunothrombosis and Disease Progression

Sydney Joy
PhD student with James Martin
GM-CSF-Treated Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages Improve Pulmonary Fibrosis in a Bleomycin Model of Interstitial Lung Disease

The winners for best poster presentation were:

Alexander Ni
Resident with Maxime Cormier
Benralizumab for Life-Threatening Exacerbations of Eosinophilic Asthma: A Case Series

Alyson Deprez
PDF with Basil Petrof
Impact of Trained Immunity on Macrophage and Muscle Stem Cell Function in Dystrophic (mdx) Mice

Jacquelyn Rich
PhD student with Dao Nguyen
Antibiotic tolerance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates from chronic cystic fibrosis infections

Leonor Simoes
PhD student with Darcy Wagner
Reversing ethyl cinnamate based optical clearing for co-registration of light-sheet fluorescence microscopy datasets with multi-dimensional histological analysis

Leonardo Jurado
PhD student with Maziar Divangahi
A fungal-derived adjuvant significantly amplifies the antitumoral potency of BCG via training granulopoiesis

Mina Sadeghi
PhD student with Maziar Divangahi
Unraveling the Mechanisms of BCG-Induced Early-Life Protection Against Tuberculosis

Rafael Intrevado
MSc student with Anne-Marie Lauzon
Investigating the Mechanisms Resisting Bronchodilatory Responses in Asthma and Fatal Asthma

Willem Rijnbout St James
MSc student with Carolyn Baglole
Characterizing the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor as a Regulator of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Photos from the Event

Photo Credits: Inga Murawski (top row) and Ari Daghlian (bottom row)
Thank you to the Heisler Family for attending the Seymour Heisler Memorial Lecture

The post 2025 RESP Research Day Poster and Oral Winners appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

The changes in heart and lung health were most prominent in males, raising concerns that young men who vape may be more vulnerable to future heart issues. The researchers are calling for further studies to understand these effects, especially as vaping remains popular and e-cigarette products are evolving rapidly. These findings emphasize the need for awareness of vaping’s potential long-term health impacts, particularly for young men.

Research underscores that vaping carries significant health risks, including cardiovascular, metabolic, and potential cancer-related impacts. The widespread adoption of vaping among youth and the evolving understanding of its long-term effects warrant cautious regulation and further study.

Read More

Young men who vape may be at greater risk for future heart disease. Two new studies examine how vaping during adolescence affects the lungs and heart. RI-MUHC News. October 23, 2024

Young men who vape may be at greater risk for future heart disease. McGill Health e-News. October 25, 2024

Two new studies examine how vaping during adolescence affects the lungs and heart. MUHC in the Media. October 28, 2024.

Vaping linked to heart disease, especially in men: McGill study. CTV News. By Laurence Brisson Dubreuil. October 23, 2024.

Young men who vape at greater risk for heart disease, two new studies suggest. CityNews. By Jessica Barile. October 23, 2024

Les adolescents qui vapotent s’exposeraient à un risque accru de maladies cardiaques. L’Actualité. par Pierre Saint-Arnaud, La Presse Canadienne. October 24, 2024.

Les ados qui vapotent s’exposeraient à un risque accru de maladies cardiaques. Noovo Info, par Pierre Saint-Arnaud, La Presse Canadienne. October 24, 2024.

Vaping Health Risks Uncovered Ahead Of Disposable Ban. The Pinnacle Gazette. by Evrim Agaci. October 26, 2024

Les risques du vapotage sous la loupe. La Presse. par Mathieu Perreault. December 15, 2024.

Read the Articles

Sex-specific alterations in pulmonary metabolic, xenobiotic and lipid signalling pathways after e-cigarette aerosol exposure during adolescence in mice. Paoli S, Eidelman DH, Mann KK, Baglole C. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2024 Sep 18;11(1):e002423.

Chronic exposure to E-cigarette aerosols potentiates atherosclerosis in a sex-dependent manner. Caruana V, Giles BH, Kukolj N, Juran R, Baglole CJ, Mann KK. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2024 Nov;492:117095.

The post Adolescent Vaping Linked to Increased Heart Disease Risk in Men appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Three Established World Class Teams and three Emerging World Class Teams were selected. The competition was intense and two of these teams (Pulmonary Fibrosis and TB) are headed by members of our group. The selected teams will receive prioritized fellowship support, recruitment opportunities, and advocacy for additional resources from McGill and our affiliated institutions. A key feature of the successful teams for the entire competition was their multidisciplinarity with strong representation from both clinical/epidemiologic and basic science.

Please join me in congratulating our members (highlighted below) for their exceptional dedication and achievements!

Emerging Teams

Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Network
Deborah Assayag, Carolyn Baglole, Ilan Azuelos, Jun Ding, Gregory Fonseca, David Langlais, Inés Colmegna, Marie Hudson, Silvia Vidal, Anastasia Nijnik, and Christian Pineau.

The Cardio-Kidney-Diabetes Medicine Team: DECIDE-CV
Sushmita Pamidi, Abhinav Sharma, Thomas Mavrakanas, Kaberi Dasgupta, Atul Verma, Rita Suri, Andrey Cybulsky, Nadia Giannetti, Matthias Friedrich, Michael Tsoukas, George Fantus, Ahmad Haidar, Dana Small, David Buckeridge, Elham Rahme, Giada Sebastiani, Jean-Francois Yale, Maia Kokoeva, Melissa-Rosina Pasqua, Hoi Yun Oriana Yu, Paul Sabatini, Ruth Sapir-Pichhadze, Suzanne Morin and Tricia Peters.

Tuberculosis
Jonathon Campbell, Maziar Divangahi, Andrea Benedetti, Richard Menzies, Faiz Ahmad Khan, Kevin Schwartzman, Andréanne Lupien, Erwin Schurr, Madhukar Pai, Marcel Behr, Michael Reed, Momar Ndao and Nandini Dendukuri.

The post DOM World Class Teams in TB and Pulmonary Fibrosis appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Monica Cella (PhD with Dao Nguyen). Bourses de réintégration à la recherche / Doctorat FRQS. Title: Analyses métagénomiques pour comprendre la dynamique de transmission des bactéries résistantes aux carbapénèmes dans les hôpitaux.

Monica Cella (PhD with Dao Nguyen and Jesse Shapiro). Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships. Title: Metagenomic analyses to understand transmission dynamics of carbapenem resistant bacteria within hospital settings

Fajri Gafar (PDF with Dick Menzies). Formation postdoctorale – citoyens d’autres pays FRQS. Title: Tracer le chemin vers un traitement individualisé de l’infection et de la maladie tuberculeuse.

Quazi Sufia Islam (PhD with Carolyn Baglole). Bourse Tremplin.

Sahar Mikaeeli (PhD with Jean Bourbeau and Simon Rousseau). Formation de doctorat FRQS. Title: Exacerbation aiguë de la BPCO : Variantes du gène CFTR et leur interaction avec les facteurs de risque environnementaux.

Kamila Romanowski (PDF with Jonathon Campbell). Formation postdoctorale -Citoyens canadiens et résidents permanents FRQS. Title: Distiller l’impact des séquelles post-tuberculeuses sur les décisions de coûtefficacité concernant le dépistage et le traitement de l’infection tuberculeuse au Canada.

Emily Wilson (PhD with Carolyn Baglole). Formation de doctorat FRQS. Title: L’activation des récepteurs d’hydrocarbures aryliques par les produits à base de cannabis inhalés régule l’inflammation pulmonaire.

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