Research Interests: The Ask lab is studying a molecular pathway termed the unfolded protein response (UPR) that is activated when proteins are not folded correctly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Research Interests: The Ask lab is studying a molecular pathway termed the unfolded protein response (UPR) that is activated when proteins are not folded correctly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Research Interests: Optimizing late-life mobility through early detection and personalized interventions.

Research Interests: Optimizing late-life mobility through early detection and personalized interventions.

Research Interests: Immunosenescence, macrophage biology, macrophage receptor expression, scavenger receptor and phagocytic receptor function and signalling, aging and immunity, innate immunity & host defence, bacterial colonization and infections (e.g. Streptococcus pneumoniae), animal models of pneumonia and post-influenza pneumonia, microbiome of the upper respiratory tract, pathogen, commensals of the upper respiratory tract

Research Interests: Immunosenescence, macrophage biology, macrophage receptor expression, scavenger receptor and phagocytic receptor function and signalling, aging and immunity, innate immunity & host defence, bacterial colonization and infections (e.g. Streptococcus pneumoniae), animal models of pneumonia and post-influenza pneumonia, microbiome of the upper respiratory tract, pathogen, commensals of the upper respiratory tract

Research Interests: determinants of chronic diseases; cardiorespiratory health

Research Interests: determinants of chronic diseases; cardiorespiratory health

Dr. O’Byrne is currently the Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. Dr. O’Byrne is  world renowned for his research on asthma that is the result of allergies.

His current research interests focus on the mechanisms and treatment of asthma, with particular reference to the role of environmental allergens and the mechanisms by which these cause airway inflammation. Dr. O´Byrne is a prolific publisher, as evidenced by his almost 400 peer-reviewed papers in highly regarded journals. He has also edited ten books and has written more than 100 review papers and is a frequent lecturer at international meetings.

Dr. O’Byrne is member of the Executive Committee of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), is Associate Editor of Chest, Thorax  and International Archives of Allergy and Immunology.

Research Interests: The mechanisms and treatment of asthma: specifically the regulation of environmental allergen-induced airway inflammation and the development of new anti-inflammatory asthma treatments.

Dr. O’Byrne is currently the Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. Dr. O’Byrne is  world renowned for his research on asthma that is the result of allergies.

His current research interests focus on the mechanisms and treatment of asthma, with particular reference to the role of environmental allergens and the mechanisms by which these cause airway inflammation. Dr. O´Byrne is a prolific publisher, as evidenced by his almost 400 peer-reviewed papers in highly regarded journals. He has also edited ten books and has written more than 100 review papers and is a frequent lecturer at international meetings.

Dr. O’Byrne is member of the Executive Committee of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), is Associate Editor of Chest, Thorax  and International Archives of Allergy and Immunology.

Research Interests: The mechanisms and treatment of asthma: specifically the regulation of environmental allergen-induced airway inflammation and the development of new anti-inflammatory asthma treatments.

Dr. Raghavan completed medical school at McGill University in Montreal.  She then completed Internal Medicine residency training at Queen’s University in Kingston before coming to McMaster for specialization in Respirology.  Following Respirology training, she returned to Queen’s to work in the Respiratory Investigation Unit at Kingston General Hospital with Dr. Denis O’Donnell to work on research in applied respiratory physiology.

She currently works at the Hamilton General Hospital on the Internal Medicine Clinical Teaching Units, as well as on the respirology consult service.  She has a general respirology out-patient practice at the Hamilton General Hospital.  She also works at St. Joseph’s Healthcare on the pulmonary rehabilitation service.

Dr. Raghavan completed medical school at McGill University in Montreal.  She then completed Internal Medicine residency training at Queen’s University in Kingston before coming to McMaster for specialization in Respirology.  Following Respirology training, she returned to Queen’s to work in the Respiratory Investigation Unit at Kingston General Hospital with Dr. Denis O’Donnell to work on research in applied respiratory physiology.

She currently works at the Hamilton General Hospital on the Internal Medicine Clinical Teaching Units, as well as on the respirology consult service.  She has a general respirology out-patient practice at the Hamilton General Hospital.  She also works at St. Joseph’s Healthcare on the pulmonary rehabilitation service.

Roma’s current focus of interest is in studying the molecular mechanisms that stimulate migration of progenitor cells into the lung tissue following allergen challenge. This new and exciting area will not only widen our understanding of the cellular components of an allergic inflammatory response but may provide a further handle by which pharmacological intervention can control the tissue damage associated with allergic inflammatory responses.

Funding

Roma has received funding from various national and provincial sources including the CIHR and Ontario Thoracic Society.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research: “Transmigration pathways of CD34+ progenitor cells in allergic inflammation: from bone marrow to lung” (2002-2005)

Selected Publications

Roma has published 28 peer-reviewed articles, 6 book chapters and 38 abstracts to date and serves on the Ontario Thoracic Society Block Term review committee.

1. Systemic aspects of allergic disease: bone marrow responses. J Allergy Clin Immunol (suppl) 106:S243-46, 2000
2. The effects of inhaled budesonide on circulating eosinophil progenitors and their expression of cytokines after allergen challenge in atopic asthmatics. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 162:2139-44, 2000
3. Regulation of IL-5 receptor on eosinophil progenitors in allergic inflammation: role of retinoic acid. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 124:246-48, 2001
4. Retinoic acid modulates IL-5 receptor expression and selectively inhibits eosinophil-basophil differentiation of hemopoietic progenitor cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 109:307-13, 2002
5. Allergen-induced increases in bone marrow T-lymphocytes and interleukin-5 expression in subjects with asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 166(5):883-9, 2002
6. Distinct phenotypic adhesion molecule expression on human cord blood progenitors during early eosinophilic commitment: up-regulation of integrins. Scand J Immunol 56(2):161-7, 2002
7. Cysteinyl leukotrienes promote human airway smooth muscle migration. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 166(5):738-42, 2002
8. Pathogenesis of murine experimental allergic rhinitis; a study of local and systemic consequences of IL-5 deficiency. J Immunol. 168:3017-23, 2002
9. Allergen-induced fluctuations in CC chemokine receptor 3 expression on bone marrow CD34+ cells from asthmatic subjects: significance for mobilization of hemopoietic progenitor cells in allergic inflammation. Immunology 109(4):536-46, 2003
10. Anti-IL-5 (mepolizumab) therapy induces bone marrow eosinophil maturation and decreased eosinophil progenitors in the bronchial mucosa of atopic asthmatics. J Allergy Crit Care Med 111(4):714-9, 2003

Research Interests: Role of mature eosinophils and their progenitor cells in the development of asthmatic responses. Major contributions to research have included: 1. Effect of cytokines on eosinophil migrational responsiveness 2. Development of methods to accurately enumerate and follow phenotypic changes on hemopoietic progenitor cells in bone marrow, blood, cord blood and sputum samples following allergen exposure in allergic individuals.

Roma’s current focus of interest is in studying the molecular mechanisms that stimulate migration of progenitor cells into the lung tissue following allergen challenge. This new and exciting area will not only widen our understanding of the cellular components of an allergic inflammatory response but may provide a further handle by which pharmacological intervention can control the tissue damage associated with allergic inflammatory responses.

Funding

Roma has received funding from various national and provincial sources including the CIHR and Ontario Thoracic Society.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research: “Transmigration pathways of CD34+ progenitor cells in allergic inflammation: from bone marrow to lung” (2002-2005)

Selected Publications

Roma has published 28 peer-reviewed articles, 6 book chapters and 38 abstracts to date and serves on the Ontario Thoracic Society Block Term review committee.

1. Systemic aspects of allergic disease: bone marrow responses. J Allergy Clin Immunol (suppl) 106:S243-46, 2000
2. The effects of inhaled budesonide on circulating eosinophil progenitors and their expression of cytokines after allergen challenge in atopic asthmatics. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 162:2139-44, 2000
3. Regulation of IL-5 receptor on eosinophil progenitors in allergic inflammation: role of retinoic acid. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 124:246-48, 2001
4. Retinoic acid modulates IL-5 receptor expression and selectively inhibits eosinophil-basophil differentiation of hemopoietic progenitor cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 109:307-13, 2002
5. Allergen-induced increases in bone marrow T-lymphocytes and interleukin-5 expression in subjects with asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 166(5):883-9, 2002
6. Distinct phenotypic adhesion molecule expression on human cord blood progenitors during early eosinophilic commitment: up-regulation of integrins. Scand J Immunol 56(2):161-7, 2002
7. Cysteinyl leukotrienes promote human airway smooth muscle migration. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 166(5):738-42, 2002
8. Pathogenesis of murine experimental allergic rhinitis; a study of local and systemic consequences of IL-5 deficiency. J Immunol. 168:3017-23, 2002
9. Allergen-induced fluctuations in CC chemokine receptor 3 expression on bone marrow CD34+ cells from asthmatic subjects: significance for mobilization of hemopoietic progenitor cells in allergic inflammation. Immunology 109(4):536-46, 2003
10. Anti-IL-5 (mepolizumab) therapy induces bone marrow eosinophil maturation and decreased eosinophil progenitors in the bronchial mucosa of atopic asthmatics. J Allergy Crit Care Med 111(4):714-9, 2003

Research Interests: Role of mature eosinophils and their progenitor cells in the development of asthmatic responses. Major contributions to research have included: 1. Effect of cytokines on eosinophil migrational responsiveness 2. Development of methods to accurately enumerate and follow phenotypic changes on hemopoietic progenitor cells in bone marrow, blood, cord blood and sputum samples following allergen exposure in allergic individuals.