The Coombes laboratory investigates the genetics and molecular pathogenesis of human and animal infectious diseases. Coombes lab scientists use genetic, genomic and proteomics techniques to understand how bacterial virulence factors are expressed and function in the context of a host. We use model systems to then understand the complexity of the biological processes affected by these virulence factors, including subversion of the immune system, colonization dynamics and host damage. We have initiated research projects in four major areas that focus on the evolution, mechanisms and host responses to pathogenic processes caused by bacteria.

The Coombes laboratory investigates the genetics and molecular pathogenesis of human and animal infectious diseases. Coombes lab scientists use genetic, genomic and proteomics techniques to understand how bacterial virulence factors are expressed and function in the context of a host. We use model systems to then understand the complexity of the biological processes affected by these virulence factors, including subversion of the immune system, colonization dynamics and host damage. We have initiated research projects in four major areas that focus on the evolution, mechanisms and host responses to pathogenic processes caused by bacteria.

Dr. Hynes obtained his BSc from the University of Calgary, and has spent the years since working on bacteriophages in one form or another – first, through a PhD at Memorial University of Newfoundland with Dr. Andrew S. Lang, and then later as a Postdoc with Dr Sylvain Moineau, at Université Laval. As the Farncombe Family Chair in Phage Biology, he brings this expertise to complement the exciting microbiome research that is already a signature of the institute.

Dr. Hynes obtained his BSc from the University of Calgary, and has spent the years since working on bacteriophages in one form or another – first, through a PhD at Memorial University of Newfoundland with Dr. Andrew S. Lang, and then later as a Postdoc with Dr Sylvain Moineau, at Université Laval. As the Farncombe Family Chair in Phage Biology, he brings this expertise to complement the exciting microbiome research that is already a signature of the institute.

We work with a small nematode, C. elegans, to study how environment impacts health and development. The environmental factors we focus on are diet and microbiota.

Both diet and microbiota have been reported to influence neuronal health, however the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We are examining the effects of these environmental factors on neuronal function and on age-related neuronal decline. We also use models of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases to study the impact of environment on neurodegeneration.

We work with a small nematode, C. elegans, to study how environment impacts health and development. The environmental factors we focus on are diet and microbiota.

Both diet and microbiota have been reported to influence neuronal health, however the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We are examining the effects of these environmental factors on neuronal function and on age-related neuronal decline. We also use models of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases to study the impact of environment on neurodegeneration.

Dr Sloboda is a fetal physiologist. She completed her BSc at the University of Guelph, her MSc at Western University in London and her PhD in the Department of Physiology at the University of Toronto focusing on the effects of stress hormones during pregnancy on fetal development. In 2001 she received a fellowship from the Women’s and Infants’ Research Foundation at the University of Western Australia, where she spent 5 years completing her postdoctoral fellowship while opening new molecular research laboratories and taking on an administrative role as Lab Head. Here she was responsible for undertaking scientific research but also building and managing the Department’s wet lab facilities. In Australia, Dr Sloboda continued her investigations in fetal endocrine development and established a new research interest involving a prospective cohort study investigating the prenatal origins of reproductive function and the onset of puberty in adolescent girls.

In 2006 Dr Sloboda was recruited to the Liggins Research Institute at the University of Auckland where she investigated the effects of early life nutrition on reproductive and metabolic health. In 2009 she was awarded an Early Career Research Award from the University of Auckland.

During her time in New Zealand, Dr Sloboda was appointed Deputy Director of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development at the University of Auckland; a position she maintained from 2008-2011, while continuing her scientific research and managing her research lab. In 2009 she held the position of Acting Director of the Centre for one year.

In 2012, Dr Sloboda joined the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University as an Associate Professor. She is an Associate member to the Depts of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Pediatrics. Dr Sloboda continues to be an Honorary Research Fellow Appointment at the Liggins Institute in New Zealand, where she maintains collaborations.

Dr Sloboda holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Programming. She was recently awarded the International Society of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Nick Hales Award for outstanding research contribution to developmental programming, and in 2017 won the Hamilton YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in Science Trade, and Technology. Dr Sloboda is the founding co-President of the DOHaD Society of Canada, and has been the Secretary of the International Society for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease since 2013. She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. She has published >90 scientific papers in leading scientific journals and contributed to 13 books on the concept of early life origins of health and disease.

Dr Sloboda is a fetal physiologist. She completed her BSc at the University of Guelph, her MSc at Western University in London and her PhD in the Department of Physiology at the University of Toronto focusing on the effects of stress hormones during pregnancy on fetal development. In 2001 she received a fellowship from the Women’s and Infants’ Research Foundation at the University of Western Australia, where she spent 5 years completing her postdoctoral fellowship while opening new molecular research laboratories and taking on an administrative role as Lab Head. Here she was responsible for undertaking scientific research but also building and managing the Department’s wet lab facilities. In Australia, Dr Sloboda continued her investigations in fetal endocrine development and established a new research interest involving a prospective cohort study investigating the prenatal origins of reproductive function and the onset of puberty in adolescent girls.

In 2006 Dr Sloboda was recruited to the Liggins Research Institute at the University of Auckland where she investigated the effects of early life nutrition on reproductive and metabolic health. In 2009 she was awarded an Early Career Research Award from the University of Auckland.

During her time in New Zealand, Dr Sloboda was appointed Deputy Director of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development at the University of Auckland; a position she maintained from 2008-2011, while continuing her scientific research and managing her research lab. In 2009 she held the position of Acting Director of the Centre for one year.

In 2012, Dr Sloboda joined the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University as an Associate Professor. She is an Associate member to the Depts of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Pediatrics. Dr Sloboda continues to be an Honorary Research Fellow Appointment at the Liggins Institute in New Zealand, where she maintains collaborations.

Dr Sloboda holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Programming. She was recently awarded the International Society of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Nick Hales Award for outstanding research contribution to developmental programming, and in 2017 won the Hamilton YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in Science Trade, and Technology. Dr Sloboda is the founding co-President of the DOHaD Society of Canada, and has been the Secretary of the International Society for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease since 2013. She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. She has published >90 scientific papers in leading scientific journals and contributed to 13 books on the concept of early life origins of health and disease.

Michael Surette, a professor of medicine and one of Canada’s top microbiologists, is shedding new light on why some microbes keep us healthy while others cause illness, what role our microbes play in chronic diseases, how the microbiome develops and changes across the lifespan, and how changes with age affect susceptibility to disease.

While it is often stated that most of the microbiome is not accessible by laboratory culturing methods, Surette’s lab has challenged this assumption. His pioneering approach combining culture-enriched molecular profiling with state-of-the-art genome sequencing allows his laboratory to routinely grow more than 99.9% of bacterial populations, and typically recovers 2-3 times the diversity of bacteria than recovered by molecular profiling alone.

These approaches are being used to investigate specific diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome, and to address fundamental questions about microbe-microbe/host interactions. Exploiting beneficial properties of the human microbiota holds promise for the development of new microbiome-derived therapies for the treatment of a wide range of conditions impacted by the health of our microbiota.

Michael Surette, a professor of medicine and one of Canada’s top microbiologists, is shedding new light on why some microbes keep us healthy while others cause illness, what role our microbes play in chronic diseases, how the microbiome develops and changes across the lifespan, and how changes with age affect susceptibility to disease.

While it is often stated that most of the microbiome is not accessible by laboratory culturing methods, Surette’s lab has challenged this assumption. His pioneering approach combining culture-enriched molecular profiling with state-of-the-art genome sequencing allows his laboratory to routinely grow more than 99.9% of bacterial populations, and typically recovers 2-3 times the diversity of bacteria than recovered by molecular profiling alone.

These approaches are being used to investigate specific diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome, and to address fundamental questions about microbe-microbe/host interactions. Exploiting beneficial properties of the human microbiota holds promise for the development of new microbiome-derived therapies for the treatment of a wide range of conditions impacted by the health of our microbiota.