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RESEARCH

LAB Research Focus

The Gillrie Lab utilizes 3D tissue engineering techniques to develop human organs on chips to study inflammation and cell trafficking with particular focus on globally important infections. Tissue engineering approaches allow for the use of engineered human cells to better understand cellular communication and identify novel pathways for therapeutic intervention. Particular interest is in the communication between organ-specific stromal cells and vascular endothelial cells impacts organ function during infectious diseases.

Viral And Bacterial PNEUMONIA

COVID-19 Pneumonia

COVID-19 has quite literally changed our world over the past 1 year. The lab has been involved in clinical studies, clinical trials on plasma and anticoagulation, plus re-establishing the UofC's BSL3 Facility. The specific focus is on how lung microvessels contribute to severe disease.

Bacterial Pneumonia

Prior to COVID-19, research using a novel human lung on a chip has focused on understanding pathogenic mechanisms in Streptococcal pneumonia. Ongoing projects in this model are focused on bacterial dissemination to the brain via the vasculature.

Ventilator Induced Lung Injury

In collaboration with Dr. Bryan Yipp, we are studying how mechanoreceptors activated during mechanical ventilation affect lung inflammation during bacterial pneumonia. This is an important complication in the ICU where ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) leads to increased hospital stays, cost, and mortality.

Severe Malaria

Cerebral Malaria

Cerebral Malaria is a potentially fatal complication of severe malaria associated with coma which at its simplest level is due to dysfunction of neurons of the central nervous system. The lab is engineering 3D tissue models to understand how Plasmodium infected red blood cells alter the blood brain barrier and in turn neuron function.

Severe Malaria and ARDS

One of the most severe complications of severe malaria is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome but little is understood in how this condition starts or could be treated. The lab is using a human 3D lung on a chip model to understand how Plasmodium infected red blood cells alter the air-blood barrier.

PUBLICATIONS - Google Scholar

FUNDING

Human Organoid Innovation Hub - Developing immune organoids - PI (2025-2027)

Snyder Catalyst Grant - Novel anti-staphylococcal therapies - Co-PI (2025-2027)

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Airway colonization by Candida in cystic fibrosis - Co-PI (2025-2028)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research Catalyst - Development of New Biotechnology - Lung on a chip - PI (2024-2027)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project - Candida airway colonization in ARDS - Co-PI (2025-2030)

Alberta Innovates LevMax-Health - Airway mycobiome - Co-PI (2025-2028)

NSERC Discovery Grant - Functionalizing a lung on a chip - PI (2024 – 2029)

ACHRI ONE Child Every Child - Novel pneumococcal therapies - Co-PI (2024-2026)

Snyder Clinical Incubator - Alveolar macrophages in staphylococcal pneumonia - Co-PI (2023-2024)

University of Calgary Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Diseases (MIID), Snyder Institute, Cumming School of Medicine - Startup funds (2021-2024)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research - COVID19 - Co-PI (2020-2022)

Canadian Foundations for Innovation - COVID-19 and Univ. of Calgary BSL3 Centre - Co-PI (2020)

Cnadian Institutes of Health Research - EVALI / ARDS Catalyst - Co-PI (2020-2022)

University of Calgary Clinical Research Fund - COVID19 CONCOR1 Plasma Trial - Co-PI (2020-2022)

University of Calgary New Investigator International Collaboration Grant - Co-PI (2019-2020)

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