Department of Medicine

Dr. Nair's research involves measuring inflammation by non-invasive methods, such as in sputum, to improve treatment during exacerbations and to modify smooth muscle biology to limit chronic changes associated with airway diseases such as asthma and COPD.

He is advancing the development and clinical application of such non-invasive measurements, particularly in patients with difficult-to-control asthma and prednisone-dependent asthma.

Dr. Larché's research involves studying the development of peptide immunotherapy leading to the development of new treatments for immunological diseases. He uses synthetic fragments (peptides) of the proteins that cause the disease (pollen, dust mites) to "switch on" the immune responses. Because the peptides lack the structure of the whole proteins, they don’t stimulate an allergic reaction themselves — but they do trigger the immune system to begin to defend the body.

This helps to minimize that body’s subsequent allergic reactions.

Dr. Eikelboom's research involves studying the mechanisms and genetic determinants of antiplatelet drug resistance and improving its diagnosis and treatment. In a landmark study involving almost 1,000 patients at high risk of cardiovascular events treated with aspirin, Dr. Eikelboom and his colleagues demonstrated that at least 20 percent of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths that occur during aspirin treatment are caused by a “resistance” to its antiplatelet effects.

What’s more, evidence suggests that patients who are resistant to aspirin may be identified by a simple urine test.

Dr. Surette's research involves human microbiomes that are composed of the microorganisms that live on or in us. These are predominantly bacteria (but also include fungi, protozoa and viruses) and outnumber human cells at least 10 to 1. These organisms play a critical role in development and physiology as well as defense against infection and are generally thought of as beneficial. Dr. Surette’s research program addresses the role of the normal microbiota in health and disease, particularly with regards to the respiratory tract.

Dr. Steinberg's research involves understanding how hormones regulate the body’s storage and breakdown of fat and its response to insulin. He is conducting metabolic studies in which genetically modified mice exercise or consume high calorie foods. How many and what type of calories (fat or carbohydrate) the mice burn will be measured both during exercise and in response to hormones.

Steinberg’s studies will be complemented with work using advanced techniques in protein chemistry and molecular biology with an emphasis on phosphoproteomics (identifying, cataloguing and characterizing proteins) and gene expression analysis.

Dr. Cook's is translating research into medical practice in intensive care units and developing ways to put research results into use at the bedside. Dr. Cook is focusing on studies that have discovered there is a practical, non-invasive way to reduce the risk of pneumonia in critically ill patients who are hooked up to ventilators in the Intensive Care Unit of hospitals.

She was the first intensive-care specialist in Canada who is also educated in biostatistics and clinical epidemiology (the causes, distribution, and control of diseases in populations).

Dr. Weitz's research involves new techniques for identifying and treating the underlying causes of blood clot formation. Following a comprehensive bench-to-bedside program, he will explore the most basic molecular dynamics responsible for this condition, expanding this research to develop clinical treatments that have value for patients who have already been diagnosed and are currently being treated.

Dr. Weitz has also characterized the structure and function of various clotting enzymes, and has used these insights to create new types of anticoagulant drugs that are now being tested.