Deborah Assayag (Priority Announcement)
The Longitudinal Use of Oscillometry in Interstitial Lung Diseases

Jonathon Campbell
Co-Investigators: Benjamin Smith, Kevin Schwartzman, Dick Menzies, Andrea Benedetti
Functional Outcomes, Lung health, and Livelihood Outcomes among people With Tuberculosis (FOLLOW-TB): a pan-Canadian prospective cohort study

Maziar Divangahi
Harnessing the power of trained immunity in disease tolerance against influenza virus

Elizabeth Fixman (Priority Announcement)
Sex-specific mechanisms by which environmental triggers promote durable changes to the lung to exacerbate type 2 innate and adaptive immunity

Irah King
Mechanisms of tissue-resident T cell activation for intestinal host defense

Larry Lands (Co-Principal Investigator)
Nominated Principal Investigator: Juan Ianowski (University of Saskatchewan)
Function of pulmonary ionocytes and club cells in human airway and their contribution to cystic fibrosis lung disease

Larry Lands (Co-Principal Investigator)
Nominated Principal Investigator: Sze Man Tse (Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine)
Predicting biologic therapy response in children with severe asthma: the Medication response and Asthma Therapy in CHildren with severe Asthma (MATCHA) Study

Sushmita Pamidi
Co-Investigators: Andrea Benedetti, John Kimoff
Sleep-Disordered Breathing During Pregnancy and Long-Term Postpartum Blood Pressure Pattern

Bryan Ross
Co-Investigators: Jean Bourbeau, Jun Ding, Sabah Hussain, Larry Lands
Enhancing the Clinical Benefits of COPD Chronic Management: The SUPplementation with URolithin-A during Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD (SUPRA-COPD) Trial

The post CIHR Project Grant Results – Fall 2025 appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Building on over three decades of research on the TC-PTP (PTPN2) gene, this project aims to develop a novel mRNA-based therapeutic platform to precisely modulate immune responses. The team will engineer antibody fragments that can either inhibit or activate TC-PTP inside cells and deliver them using lipid nanoparticle mRNA technology. In preclinical models, TC-PTP inhibitors will be explored for cancer immunotherapy, while activators will be evaluated in inflammatory conditions such as colitis.

This innovative approach lays the groundwork for next-generation intracellular mRNA immunotherapies, with broad implications for immune-mediated diseases.

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Foundational Projects | Cycle 2. The Foundational Projects funding program supports high-risk, early-stage projects with the potential to be game-changers in the fields of D2R’s areas of interest. Nov 6, 2026. D2R News.
Principal Investigator: Caroline Wagner (McGill University)
Co-Investigator(s): Khanh Huy Bui (McGill University), Larry Lands (McGill University), Adam Shapiro (McGill University), Darcy Wagner (McGill University)

The post A New mRNA-Based Approach to Treat Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Developed in collaboration with the McGill University Health Centre Foundation, the Montreal General Hospital Foundation, and the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, this initiative provides critical bridge funding to help researchers maintain momentum, strengthen their proposals, and remain competitive in future national competitions.

Researchers from the RESP program were among the inaugural recipients, leading innovative projects in respiratory health, infectious diseases, and precision medicine:

• Larry Lands is advancing prime editing approaches for cystic fibrosis, targeting genetic variants that do not respond to current therapies.
• Arnold Kristof is investigating cell signaling pathways in lymphangioleiomyomatosis, a rare lung disease, to uncover new therapeutic targets.
• Salman Qureshi is characterizing novel genes involved in host resistance to fungal infections, with potential to improve treatment strategies.
• Maziar Divangahi is exploring trained immunity and lipid mediators (eicosanoids) to enhance immune responses against influenza A virus.

The post Sustaining Excellence: Supporting Breakthrough Research appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Dr. Lands was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to CF research.

Congratulations Dr. Lands!

Read more:

New funding for cystic fibrosis research, The Institute (Montreal Children’s Hospital) March 17, 2025

Leave No One Behind: development of a genetic therapy for people living with Cystic Fibrosis who do not respond to available modulators. Génome Québec

Génome Québec and Cystic Fibrosis Canada invest $1.2 million in research tackling rare, orphan CFTR mutations. Cystic Fibrosis Canada

LinkedIn, Facebook EN, Facebook FR, Instagram, X-EN, X-FR, Bluesky

The post New Funding for a Research Project Focusing on CF Rare Genetic Mutations appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

With input from partners nationwide and the public, the association compiled a list of outstanding contributors in the field of respiratory health. A selection committee then identified 39 remarkable individuals, including pioneering researchers, dedicated clinicians, passionate advocates, and inspiring educators, all of whom have demonstrated long-standing commitment and impact in advancing lung health in Canada.

Drs. Jean Bourbeau and Larry Lands from the RESP program were among these recipients. We are proud to have Jean and Larry among our group, and this is a well deserved recognition of the great work they have done throughout their careers.

CONGRATULATIONS!

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CLA recognizes excellence with King Charles III Medals. Canadian Lung Association honours outstanding contributions to lung health in Canada with King Charles III Coronation Medals. Canadian Lung Association News. March 3, 2025.

Recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medal As nominated by the Canadian Lung Association. Canadian Lung Association. March 3, 2025

Researchers honored with King Charles III’s Coronation Medal for outstanding achievements. In recognition of their contributions to the understanding of neurological and respiratory disease, four members of The Institute been awarded the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal. The Institute News. April 7, 2025.

The post King Charles III Coronation Medal Awarded to RESP Members appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

In 2019, Trikafta, a breakthrough medication, transformed the treatment of cystic fibrosis by improving lung function and reducing severe symptoms for many patients. Many patients found themselves laughing without coughing, pursuing dreams, and, for the first time, breathing freely. While it is not a cure, its impact has been life-changing, significantly reducing the need for lung transplants. For example, at the Montreal Chest Institute, lung transplants for cystic fibrosis patients have dropped from 20 a year to just one.

However, Trikafta is extremely expensive, costing over $300,000 per patient annually in Quebec. Beyond the financial burden, some patients experience side effects like liver issues, and many face new psychological challenges as they adapt to a dramatically different outlook on life. Furthermore, the drug only works for patients with a specific genetic mutation, F508del, which accounts for about 90% of cystic fibrosis cases. This leaves some patients with other, rarer, mutations unable to access Trikafta’s life-changing effects.

Even for those eligible, access varies widely. In Canada, some provinces cover the full cost of the expensive treatment, while others place financial burdens on patients. Globally, the situation is even more challenging, with the drug often out of reach for people in many low- and middle-income countries. These disparities highlight the urgent need for fair and equitable access to this life-saving medication and the development of new therapies for patients with rare variants not targeted by these new medications.

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La fibrose kystique les condamnait à une mort précoce. Plus maintenant. Radio-Canada. Signé par Ariane Labrèche. September 30, 2024.

Un miracle médical s’est produit. Mais pas pour eux. Radio-Canada. Signé par Ariane Labrèche. October 1, 2024.

The post Trikafta Prolongs the Lives of Cystic Fibrosis Patients appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Quazi Sufia Islam (PhD with Carolyn Baglole). Formation de doctorat FRQS. Title: Le rôle de l’antigène R humain (HuR) dans le développement de la fibrose pulmonaire idiopathique (fpi).

Elizabeth Lapshina (MSc with Maziar Divangahi). Formation de maîtrise FRQS. Title: Le rôle des macrophages péritonéaux dans la défense de l’hôte contre l’infection par la grippe.

Clara MacMahon (PhD with Irah King). Formation de doctorat FRQS. Title: Caractériser le rôle du métabolisme intestinal de cholestérol alimentaire sur la Maladie D’Alzheimer.

Hamed Shieh (PhD with Dao Nguyen). Formation de doctorat en recherche FRQNT. Title: Conception d’un dispositif colorimétrique rapide pour la détection au point de service d’infections bactériennes et l’antibiogramme.

Maryam Youssef (MSc with Larry Lands). Formation de maîtrise en recherche FRQS. Title: Optimisation d’une formulation de nanoparticules lipidiques pour l’encapsulation et la délivrance améliorées d’ARNm.

Maddison Arlen (MSc with Carolyn Baglole). Master’s Award – CIHR. Title: Lung Inflammation Induced by Cannabis Smoke Regulated by Human Antigen R (HuR).

Patrick Greiss (MSc with Carolyn Baglole). Master’s Award – CIHR. Title: The effect of terpenes on immune inflammatory response in the lungs.

Zachary Grimard (MSc with Simon Rousseau). Master’s Award – CIHR. Title: A synthetic biology approach for the production of rare cannabinoids with anti-diabetic properties in yeast.

Kristina Nikolaou (MSc with Maziar Divangahi). Master’s Award – CIHR. Title: The mystery of BCG vaccine in protection against SARS-CoV-2.

Khaled Skaik (MSc with Sabah Hussain). Master’s Award – CIHR. Title: Manipulating Muscle Stem Cells for Health.

The post Spring 2023 Student Awards appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

The winners for best oral presentation were:

Tom Podolsky
MSc student with Basil Petrof
Intermittent Glucocorticoid Therapy Prevents Signs of Trained Innate Immunity in Macrophages from Muscular Dystrophy (mdx) Mice

Amanda Marino
Resident with Deborah Assayag
Racial Disparities in Lung Biopsies for Interstitial Lung Diseases in Canada

The winners for best poster presentation were:

Wided Akik
PhD student with Larry Lands
Synergistic Implications of IL-17A in the Modulation of Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation by Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Mina Sadeghi
PhD with Maziar Divangahi
Regulation of the bone marrow iron metabolism in hematopoiesis and host defense against TB

Coralie Geric
MSc student with Faiz Ahmad Khan
Incorporation of clinical factors to improve the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence-based chest X-ray analysis for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis

Eszter Farkas
PhD with Dao Nguyen
Production of antimicrobials in Canadian High Arctic Bacteria

Amanda Scanga
MSc with Marta Kaminska
Effect of Long-acting Levodopa on Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Parkinson’s Disease (ELO-PD trial): Preliminary Results

The post RESP Research Day Oral and Poster Presenter Winners – 2023 appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

Applicants: Ben Smith, Jun Ding, Larry Lands.
Co-Applicant: Jonathan Spicer
Collaborator: Pierre-Olivier Fiset

Dr. Ben Smith is a member of the Meakins-Christie Laboratories and RECRU, Scientist in the Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program and Associate Director of the Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.

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Dr. Ben Smith and team win the 2023 RI-MUHC Trottier Webster Innovation award. The MUHC Foundation honours landmark research toward a cure for COPD. RI-MUHC News. March 29, 2023

Dr. Ben Smith and team win the RI-MUHC Trottier Webster Innovation award for landmark research toward a cure for COPD. MUHC News. March 28, 2023

The post MUHC Trottier Webster Innovation Award Goes to RESP Team appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.

(Time on podcast: 09:50). Dr. Ben Smith hopes to reprogram your lungs with a new study funded by the MUHC Foundation through the Trottier Webster Innovation Award. Dr. Smith, together with his team members Dr. Jun Ding and Dr. Larry Lands are using this funding to test a novel hypothesis. When designing their project, they considered the following: 1) What is a big problem in respiratory diseases and 2) What innovative technique could they apply to help solve this problem. In respiratory diseases, there are many chronic lung diseases, but one does stand out and that is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide and is associated with reduced quality of life, breathlessness, sputum production, and a lot of health services utilization. COPD tends to be a chronic problem and in some individuals, the disease can progress quickly. Unfortunately, no game changing treatment currently exists. To hopefully identify novel COPD treatments, the team turned to RNA technologies. There have been major advances in RNA therapeutics in recent years (think of COVID-19). This project will explore this technology in COPD. Cells in our lungs need to divide and maintain themselves over our lifespan. The current understanding for COPD is that those cells that help to maintain the lung have become “exhausted”. They cannot divide and regenerate the lung to the same extent that a normal lung can. The progenitor cells in the lung of COPD patients tend to be exhausted and this may lead to the recurring symptoms and infections these patients experience. This study will look at which genes are turned on or turned off in these healthy vs “exhausted ” COPD cells. Then the team will test if they can deliver RNA in an aerosol mist to try to reprogram these exhausted lung cells into a more youthful lung cell so that it could continue to maintain the lung.

(Time on podcast: 19:53). Dr. Deborah Assayag describes how she is helping patients with interstitial lung disease ILD) breathe easier. The Montreal Chest institute has a clinic specialized in ILDs. ILDs are a group of disease that affect the lung tissue and are associated with progressing inflammation and scarring of lung tissue. There are many things that can cause ILDs, such as exposures (asbestos, autoimmune diseases) or even genetic predisposition. It comes as no surprise that ILDs can significantly affect patients’ lives. They experience shortness of breath and suffer from chronic cough, which can limit their daily activities. As the disease progresses, they often have to go on oxygen therapy and their life expectance is shortened. ILDs are rare when compared to asthma and COPD, but the lack of effective treatment options makes this an important disease to study. The ILD clinic at the Montreal Chest Institute is gathering as much clinical information on its patients to really understand the natural history of the disease. With this information, the ILD clinic will be able to better understand risk factors that trigger or worsen the disease. There is also the risk that there are many patients that are not diagnosed or misdiagnosed – delays in diagnosis (between 1-3 years) can really impact patients’ lives. Dr. Assayag’s research program builds upon her clinical experience and allows her to identify the gaps in the field of ILDs and find innovative ways to address these gaps in knowledge.

Listen to the Podcast

Understanding the care in palliative care. The MUHC Foundation’s Health Matters. February 19, 2023.

Web: https://bit.ly/3CvxdMb
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/32HFxrc
Apple: https://apple.co/35NvItS

The post Health Matters: Reprogramming Lungs Against COPD appeared first on Meakins-Christie Laboratories.