Research
Self-propelled Hemostatic Particles Find a New Home in Gauze and Spray Cartridges
July 11, 2019
Self-propelled particles—What started as a “wouldn’t that be cool” idea has become a real technology that has gained the support of many groups that hope to some day see this product, on the front of both military and civilian lines, saving lives.
Walking the Tightrope
May 23, 2019
Imagine, you are walking on a tightrope. If you fall to one side of this narrow line, zombies are waiting to eat you up. On the other side, it is a fall into a crazy deep canyon.
Can Dysfunctional Clotting Contribute to Neurological Disorders?
April 4, 2019
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating neurological disorder with no known cure. Characterized by gradual cognitive decline, its effects are felt throughout Canada. Over half a million Canadians are living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is a major contributor to this number.
New Anticoagulants Enhance “Clot-busting” Ability of the “Clot-former” Factor Xa
March 28, 2019
If you, loved ones or friends suffer from diseases that may involve abnormal blood clotting, such as heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or even cancer, commercials on “blood thinners” (anticoagulants) may catch your attention more than other drugs while watching your favourite TV show.
Thrombomodulin: Old Protein with New Functions and Hope
January 31, 2019
As its name suggests, thrombomodulin (TM) modulates thrombin activity. The traditional role of TM is to vastly accelerate production of activated protein C from its zymogen by thrombin.
From Computers to Clinics: Advances in Designing Polyphosphate Inhibitors as Novel Anti-thrombotics
January 10, 2019
Thrombosis, the formation of a potentially deadly blood clot, remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Once formed, clots can slow or obstruct normal blood flow, leading to damage to surrounding tissue.
Proteases can be a turn-on, or a turn-off. Or… A Protease-mediated Switch Controls the Transition from Proinflammatory (M1) to Repair (M2) Macrophages
November 29, 2018
Chronic inflammatory & autoimmune diseases affect many Canadians, and yet the mechanisms behind such conditions are not fully understood and there is no cure available.
Paradigm Shifts in Cell Wall Biogenesis Understanding
September 20, 2018
Antibiotic resistance has become a major issue in recent years, and is believed to be directly linked to the livestock industry which accounts for ~80% of antibiotic use in North America. Frighteningly, this is expected to rise by nearly 70% globally by 2030.
Gene-trap Mutagenesis Identifies a Crucial Role for a Cryptic Member of the ABC Superfamily
September 13, 2018
The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) super-family of proteins is one of the largest families of proteins to have representatives in all living organisms from prokaryotes to humans.
McNagny Lab Uncovers a New Protective Role for an Old Protein During Lung Repair
July 26, 2018
Members of the McNagny lab at the Centre for Blood Research focus their efforts on understanding CD34, a cell surface protein typically used as a marker for progenitors of blood cells. In their paper, Bernard Lo of the McNagny lab, and collaborators, investigated the role of CD34 in lung disease using mouse models of acute lung injury.