Appointments:
Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology & Immunology and Pathology, Dalhousie University
Affiliations:
Affiliated staff member at IWK Health
Research Interests:
Intestinal pathology, intestinal cancer, epithelium, inflammatory bowel disease, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, asparaginase
Combining my interests in epithelial cell roles and inflammatory bowel disease, it was a small step to begin to study colon cancer. In fact, long-standing active ulcerative colitis is a leading cause of colon cancer. Consequently, I have investigated the contribution of various cytokines to the development of colon carcinoma. In another stage of my research, I chose to apply my expertise on epithelial cell roles during inflammation to work to mitigate chemotherapy-induced mucositis. I have recruited other investigators, including a Pediatric Oncology colleague, to join me on this journey. The interest in mucositis and the people I have met along the way, led to my current project exploring leukemic cell tolerance of low plasma asparagine levels, in patients undergoing treatment with asparaginase. Cells that continue to grow despite low plasma asparagine are one reason for treatment failures and relapses. I am working to characterize these clones to enable early detection and suitable treatment.
What brought you to your current institution? My interest in chronic inflammatory diseases was compatible with others, particularly in the Division of Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, where I began my academic appointment.
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Why are you interested in your area of research? I decided on a career in research in the 3rd year of my undergraduate studies in Zoology, when we conducted experiments on helminth-infected rodents in a parasitology class, with graduate student mentors.
Learn More about my research: http://microbiology.medicine.dal.ca/people/stadnyk/
I post my birding hobby on Twitter, mixed with some academic news https://twitter.com/I_stop_forbirds
Involvement with BHCRI to date:
Since BHCRI was established, I have served on multiple ad hoc review committees, including as Chair. I attend roughly 80% of the educational events and seminars, and present when invited. I have had trainees funded through the CRTP and held BHCRI seed grant funding.
Email:
Website:
medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/microbiology/people/our-faculty/andrew-stadnyk.html