International Rare Disease Day: Alex’s Story
At the Meakins-Christie Laboratories, we care about rare diseases. Read Alexandre Grant’s interview on his rare disease diagnosis.
Research Themes
Pulmonary Research Themes
According to the WHO, respiratory disorders are leading causes of death world-wide (second only to heart attack & stroke). These include diseases such as obstructive lung diseases and pulmonary infections. As a result, our research is focused around four main pulmonary research themes. These include: chronic airways disease, lung injury and infection, neuromuscular dysfunction in respiratory diseases, and sleep-disordered breathing.
Above all, a multidisciplinary approach is used to study the basic mechanisms of a number of diseases. These include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary infections, cystic fibrosis, sleep apnea, respiratory muscle disorders, pulmonary fibrosis, lung injury, and rare respiratory diseases. Research at the Meakins also involves the study of human physiology and tissues in parallel with relevant animal and cell culture models. Furthermore, research is facilitated by the availability of a variety of core facilities for both clinical and fundamental studies.
Learn more about our research themes here.
Below you will see posts and news items related to our research themes.
Health Matters: Bringing Awareness to Rare Diseases
Arnold Kristof, MD, speaks with Tarah Schwartz on an MUHC Foundation’s Health Matters podcast, discussing LAM and other rare diseases, and his hopes for future research in this area.
Breathing Easier After COVID
Read how one patient’s journey post-COVID has led him to co-chair the the Dream Big: Breathe Easier campaign.
Muscular Dystrophy and Trained Immunity
Basil Petrof, MD, and his research team, have uncovered a new mechanism of inflammation in muscular dystrophy, paving the way for the development of new therapies.
McGill Medical Cannabis Experts Teach in Malta
Carolyn Baglole dispel myths about cannabis use in medicine as part of McGill Medical Cannabis Course
Health Matters: Smoking Cessation Clinic at the Montreal Chest Institute
MUHC Foundation Health Matters interview discuses the smoking cessation clinic at the Montreal Chest Institute
3 CIHR Project Grants and 2 COVID-19 Grants Awarded!
Congratulations to Basil Petrof, Jun Ding and Faiz Ahmad Khan who were funded in the Fall 2021 Project Grant Competition!
Health Matters: Ensuring At-Home Rapid COVID Tests are Accurate
Dr. Jonathon Campbell discusses how to ensure your at-home rapid COVID test is accurate on the MUHC Health Matters podcast
Health Matters: Early Lung Cancer Screening & How Are You Sleeping?
Dr. Nicole Ezer discusses early lung cancer screening and R. John Kimoff discusses what a good night’s sleep actually means
Dr. Dennis Jensen Renewed as CRC in CERP Research
Dr. Dennis Jensen has been renewed as the Canada Research Chair, Tier 2, in Clinical Exercise and Respiratory Physiology Research, by the CIHR