FARNCOMBE
Farncombe Family
Digestive Health
Research Institute
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Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute
Improving Health From The Inside Out
The Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute is an integrated group of clinical and basic scientists dedicated to understanding the impact of digestive health and nutrition on disease across the life span.
The Institute is focused on developing new strategies for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of intestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which will have global benefits. However, the focus of research in the Institute is not limited to digestive diseases; rather, it includes diseases of many other organ systems that may be caused and/or profoundly influenced by digestive health and nutrition.
Facilitated by an extraordinary $15 million donation from the Farncombe family, the Institute was established as an outgrowth of McMaster University's Intestinal Diseases Research Program, originally founded in 1983. The Farncombe Family's generous contribution has allowed by the establishment of endowed chairs and infrastructure capital, which will ensure the long-term success of the Institute and enhance its role as an innovative training environment.
For more than 20 years, McMaster’s Intestinal Diseases Research Program has garnered an international reputation as one of the top 10 gastrointestinal research groups in the world. The growth in research funding, faculty awards and now the expansion into a Research Institute is a testament to the critical role McMaster researchers are playing in the study of digestive disorders.
Dr. Elena Verdu selected for CAG Young Investigator Award
Dr. Elena Verdu will receive the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology's prestigious Young Investigator Award for 2012 at their annual meeting to be held in Montreal in February.
Farncombe's Director receives distinguished honour in the United Kingdom
Dr. John Wallace was awarded the William Harvey Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Science during the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the William Harvey Research Institute in London, England.
Farncombe Scientists honoured for teaching, research
Dr. Patangi (Chari) Rangachari was named the recipient of the 2011 Claude Bernard Lectureship by the American Physiological Society in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the teaching of physiology. Dr. Jack Gauldie received an Honourary Doctor of Science degree from McMaster and the McMaster Lifetime Innovator Award.
Farncombe researcher honoured with Masters Award in Gastroenterology
The American Gastroenterological Association has recognized the outstanding contributions of Dr. Elena Verdu to research by presenting her the Masters Award in Gastroenterology. Elena received the award at a formal reception in Chicago on May 9th.
Two Farncombe researchers elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
Dr. Stephen Collins and Dr. John Wallace have been elected as Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. They will be formally inducted in September 2011. Fellows of the Academy are elected on the basis of their demonstrated leadership, creativity, distinctive competencies and commitment to advance academic health sciences. Membership is considered one of the highest honours for members of the Canadian health sciences community.
Farncombe researchers win first prize in The Probiotic Challenge !
The American Gastroenterological Association and the Institut Rosell-Lallemand have awarded 1st prize (valued at $10,000) in The Probiotic Challenge to a group of Farncombe researchers for their work entitled "The anxiolytic effect of Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 requires vagal integrity for gut-brain communication". This work was carried out by PhD candidate Amber Park and several collaborators working with Dr. Premek Bercik, Dr. Stephen Collins and Dr. Elena Verdu.
Farncombe Institute Recruits Top Microbiologist to Probe the Causes of IBD
Dr. Michael Surette has been recruited to McMaster to lead an initiative to better understand the contribution of intestinal bacteria to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Dr. Surette is an internationally recognized expert in microbiology, having made landmark discoveries of key bacteria responsible for triggering infection of the lung in cystic fibrosis.
Science paper by Farncombe researchers outlines discovery of a fundamental element of immunity
A team of researchers from the Farncombe Institute and the University of Bern have described how intestinal bacteria can regulate one of the fundamental elements of immunity (immunoglobulin A secretion). The team is led by Farncombe Institute members Drs. Kathy McCoy and Andrew Macpherson, and included a number of Farncombe graduate students and post-doctoral fellows (Melissa Lawson, Julia Cahenzli, Dr. Maaike Stoel, Wilhelm Bodewes and Dr. Markus Geuking).
Click here for a PDF of the paper: PDF
Discovery may aid remission of ulcerative colitis
Farncombe Institute researchers Dr. Linda Vong and Dr. John Wallace, together with Drs. Jose Ferraz, Paul Beck and Remo Panaccione at the University of Calgary, have identified a specific chemical that may trigger remission in patients with the debilitating disease of ulcerative colitis. The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).
The team found that people in long-term remission of ulcerative colitis have elevated levels of the same chemical, prostaglandin D2, which they previously found to be important in promoting healing and maintaining remission of the condition in laboratory rats.
Click here for a PDF of the paper: PDF
Related Article
- New Clues for Treating Ulcerative Colitis (Health Day)
Farncombe researcher honoured in China
Dr. Jan Huizinga recently gave several lectures at the Hubei Cancer Hospital Congratulations Jan!
Farncombe researcher selected for national award
Dr. Wali Khan has been selected to receive a Canadian Institutes of Health New Investigator Award. Dr. Khan was ranked #1 among the applicants considered for this prestigious 5-year salary award.
McMaster researcher leads development of promising drug for inflammation
A novel anti-inflammatory drug being developed and commercialized by John Wallace has shown promise in relieving symptoms of inflammation, while substantially reducing the incidence of bleeding and intestinal damage often caused by NSAIDs. The research is published in the March issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology.
Is it unethical not to commercialize academic research? 
John Wallace will be speaking at the International Symposium on Nitric Oxide and Other Gaseous Neurotransmitters at MaRS Discovery District in Toronto on May 27 and 28, 2010.
Farncombe researcher wins national award
Congratulations to Dr. Elena Verdu, who has been selected for the J.A. Campbell Research Award for 2010 from the Canadian Celiac Association! Dr. Verdu is researching the mechanisms through which gluten causes damage in the intestine, and how this may result in the development of type I diabetes. Dr. Verdu is also working on a novel therapy for celiac disease.
Farncombe Professor receives prestigious honour
Dr. Richard Hunt was selected to deliver the prestigious Bockus Lecture at the joint meeting of the World Congress of Gastroenterology and the United European Gastroenterology Society, in London last month. This is regarded as one of the highest honours in gastroenterology in the world. Congratulations Richard!
Related News Story: McMaster gastroenterologist takes international award in his field
Dr. Waliul Khan receives Ontario Research Fund grant for $250,000
Dr. Waliul Khan is determined to find out how the human immune system regulates intestinal endocrine cell biology, and what effect probiotics have in treating GI disease. His work could lead to a more effective strategy for treating these debilitating conditions. Find out more at Ministry of Research and Innovation News.
Science paper for Farncombe Researchers
A team of Farncombe Institute researchers headed by Drs. Kathy McCoy and Andrew MacPherson have published an article in the prestigious journal SCIENCE entitled "Innate and adaptive immunity cooperate flexibly to maintain host-microbiota mutualism."
Drs. Verdu, Bercik & Collins Awarded Discovery Grant
Drs. Elena Verdu, Premysl Bercik and Stephen Collins have been awarded a Discovery grant from the AFM Network entitled "Examining the impact of diet and the intestinal microbiome on gut health and general well-being."
Premier's Summit Award to Farncombe's Director
Dr. John Wallace, Director of the Farncombe Institute, has won the prestigious $5 million Premier's Summit Award in Medical Research.
Video 
Audio 
- Dr. Wallace's acceptance speech at the Premier's Summit Awards
- An interview with Dr. Wallace edited from Ideas: Science at the Summit
courtesy of CBC Radio
Dr. David Armstrong receives Innovation Grant
Dr. David Armstrong has received a $200,000 "Innovation Grant" from Hamilton Academic Health.
Dr. Stephen Collins receives "Research Leadership Award"
Dr. Stephen Collins has been awarded the prestigious "Research Leadership Award" from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada in recognition of his many contributions to IBD research in Canada.
Drs. Wali Khan, Elena Verdu & Premsyl Bercik receive grants and awards
Congratulations to Dr. Wali Khan on receiving a CFI award for over $250,000. Also, congratulations to Dr. Elena Verdu for receiving an "Internal Career Research Award" from the Department of Medicine and to Dr. Premsyl Bercik for receiving an "AFP Internal Career Research Award" from the Department of Medicine.
