The Gupta lab uses genome sequences to identify novel molecular markers that are useful for diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary studies.

The Gupta lab uses genome sequences to identify novel molecular markers that are useful for diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary studies.

Our research focus is on the role and regulation of muscle satellite cells, the stem cell population of skeletal muscle, in health and disease states such as diabetes mellitus and limb girdle muscular dystrophy.

Skeletal muscle has an amazing capacity to regenerate following injury. The injury may be induced by a number of factors including heavy exercise, trauma or disease. The regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle is due primarily to a rare population of progenitor cells called muscle satellite cells. These cells have many characteristics of stem cells, including the capacity divide numerous times, self-renew their population and enter a state of quiescence when they are not needed.

The potential of this cell population is tremendous, however, the use of these cells for cell transplantation into patients with myopathies has yielded disappointing results. This is mostly due to a lack of knowledge regarding the regulatory mechanisms controlling these cells. It is only through a more thorough understanding of this cell population that their therapeutic potential be realized.

Using molecular, cellular and physiological techniques, we are attempting to define the regulation of this cell population in health and disease. Techniques used in the lab include: histology, immunohistochemistry, protein and RNA expression assays, isolated single fibre and primary myoblast cultures, in situ muscle stimulation to assess contractile function, adenoviral mediated overexpression and/or silencing and metabolic enzyme assays.

Our research focus is on the role and regulation of muscle satellite cells, the stem cell population of skeletal muscle, in health and disease states such as diabetes mellitus and limb girdle muscular dystrophy.

Skeletal muscle has an amazing capacity to regenerate following injury. The injury may be induced by a number of factors including heavy exercise, trauma or disease. The regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle is due primarily to a rare population of progenitor cells called muscle satellite cells. These cells have many characteristics of stem cells, including the capacity divide numerous times, self-renew their population and enter a state of quiescence when they are not needed.

The potential of this cell population is tremendous, however, the use of these cells for cell transplantation into patients with myopathies has yielded disappointing results. This is mostly due to a lack of knowledge regarding the regulatory mechanisms controlling these cells. It is only through a more thorough understanding of this cell population that their therapeutic potential be realized.

Using molecular, cellular and physiological techniques, we are attempting to define the regulation of this cell population in health and disease. Techniques used in the lab include: histology, immunohistochemistry, protein and RNA expression assays, isolated single fibre and primary myoblast cultures, in situ muscle stimulation to assess contractile function, adenoviral mediated overexpression and/or silencing and metabolic enzyme assays.

Dr. Holloway’s research is focused on examining the mechanisms by which chemical insults in fetal or adult life can cause metabolic endocrine disruption in animal and human populations. The central theme of her current research is to examine how exposure to various chemicals during pregnancy can cause adverse postnatal metabolic outcomes, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. The chemicals that are of interest to her laboratory include: chemicals we may intentionally expose ourselves to through lifestyle choices or the use of over the counter natural health products, man-made chemicals present in the environment and naturally occurring chemicals in our diet (e.g., plant phytoestrogens). The majority of the work in her lab at this time focuses on the consequences of fetal and neonatal exposure to constituents of cigarette smoke and smoking cessation pharmacotherapies.

Dr. Holloway’s research is focused on examining the mechanisms by which chemical insults in fetal or adult life can cause metabolic endocrine disruption in animal and human populations. The central theme of her current research is to examine how exposure to various chemicals during pregnancy can cause adverse postnatal metabolic outcomes, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. The chemicals that are of interest to her laboratory include: chemicals we may intentionally expose ourselves to through lifestyle choices or the use of over the counter natural health products, man-made chemicals present in the environment and naturally occurring chemicals in our diet (e.g., plant phytoestrogens). The majority of the work in her lab at this time focuses on the consequences of fetal and neonatal exposure to constituents of cigarette smoke and smoking cessation pharmacotherapies.

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. Raha’s research focuses on understanding the role of the endocannabinoid system in early development. Specifically, the laboratory focuses on mechanisms underpinning the effects of the bioactive components of cannabis on placental function and fetal growth. Understanding how these compounds impact cellular communication between the stem cells that comprise the maternal-fetal interface and the baby may lead to elucidation of therapeutic strategies for how to mitigate effects of uterine stresses and the developing fetus. Specifically, he is interested in the role of the mitochondria, the energy factories of the cell, in this process. These questions are tackled using a variety of methodologies which provide practical training for opportunities in today’s biotechnology employment market. These include, 2D and 3D cell culture, live cell microscopy, histopathological imaging, gene and protein expression analysis, interrogation of samples using microarrays and the associated bioinformatic analysis. Dr. Raha’s laboratory is also interested in translating these data, through effective science communication, and developing interactive learning opportunities for youth. 

Dr. Raha’s research focuses on understanding the role of the endocannabinoid system in early development. Specifically, the laboratory focuses on mechanisms underpinning the effects of the bioactive components of cannabis on placental function and fetal growth. Understanding how these compounds impact cellular communication between the stem cells that comprise the maternal-fetal interface and the baby may lead to elucidation of therapeutic strategies for how to mitigate effects of uterine stresses and the developing fetus. Specifically, he is interested in the role of the mitochondria, the energy factories of the cell, in this process. These questions are tackled using a variety of methodologies which provide practical training for opportunities in today’s biotechnology employment market. These include, 2D and 3D cell culture, live cell microscopy, histopathological imaging, gene and protein expression analysis, interrogation of samples using microarrays and the associated bioinformatic analysis. Dr. Raha’s laboratory is also interested in translating these data, through effective science communication, and developing interactive learning opportunities for youth. 

Dr Sloboda is a Professor and the Associate Chair of Research in the Dept of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, Canada. She completed her PhD training at the University of Toronto in Physiology in 2001 following which she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. In 2006 she was recruited to the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and where from 2008 -2011, she was the Deputy Director of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development. In 2012, she left Auckland to take up a faculty position at McMaster University and held a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Programming for 10 years. 

Dr Sloboda’s laboratory investigates early life impacts on maternal, fetal and placental development and the risk of non-communicable disease later in life. Her experimental studies investigate parental nutrient manipulation on pregnancy adaptations, including the microbiome, placental inflammation and offspring reproductive and metabolic function.?In community-based health studies, Dr Sloboda engages with expectant mothers and services that support pregnant women, developing community-based knowledge transfer and work programs to promote and advocate for health behaviours before and after conception. She has investigated the impacts of COVID on adolescent health and well-being and developed resources that target the need of adolescents during the pandemic and is currently the lead on The Art of Creation Project: an arts-based knowledge translation program, with the Art Gallery of Hamilton.  

In 2015, Dr Sloboda was awarded the International Society of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Nick Hales Award for outstanding research contribution to the field of early life programming, and in 2017 won the Hamilton YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in Science Trade, and Technology. In 2019 she was awarded the FHS McMaster University Graduate supervision award for her outstanding student mentoring and in 2022 received the McMaster University Faculty Association Outstanding Service Award. 

Dr Sloboda is one of the founding co-Presidents of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Society of Canada, and was the Secretary and member of the Executive of the International Society for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease for 10 years. She has published >135 papers in leading scientific journals and book chapters, on the early life origins of health and disease.

Dr Sloboda is a Professor and the Associate Chair of Research in the Dept of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, Canada. She completed her PhD training at the University of Toronto in Physiology in 2001 following which she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. In 2006 she was recruited to the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and where from 2008 -2011, she was the Deputy Director of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development. In 2012, she left Auckland to take up a faculty position at McMaster University and held a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Programming for 10 years. 

Dr Sloboda’s laboratory investigates early life impacts on maternal, fetal and placental development and the risk of non-communicable disease later in life. Her experimental studies investigate parental nutrient manipulation on pregnancy adaptations, including the microbiome, placental inflammation and offspring reproductive and metabolic function.?In community-based health studies, Dr Sloboda engages with expectant mothers and services that support pregnant women, developing community-based knowledge transfer and work programs to promote and advocate for health behaviours before and after conception. She has investigated the impacts of COVID on adolescent health and well-being and developed resources that target the need of adolescents during the pandemic and is currently the lead on The Art of Creation Project: an arts-based knowledge translation program, with the Art Gallery of Hamilton.  

In 2015, Dr Sloboda was awarded the International Society of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Nick Hales Award for outstanding research contribution to the field of early life programming, and in 2017 won the Hamilton YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in Science Trade, and Technology. In 2019 she was awarded the FHS McMaster University Graduate supervision award for her outstanding student mentoring and in 2022 received the McMaster University Faculty Association Outstanding Service Award. 

Dr Sloboda is one of the founding co-Presidents of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Society of Canada, and was the Secretary and member of the Executive of the International Society for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease for 10 years. She has published >135 papers in leading scientific journals and book chapters, on the early life origins of health and disease.

Dr. Steinberg obtained his PhD in 2002 from the University of Guelph. His research thesis was conducted in the laboratory of Professor David Dyck, where he studied the regulation of metabolism in muscle by the hormone leptin. From 2002-006, Dr. Steinberg conducted postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Professor Bruce Kemp, at St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia. During this time, he gained insight into protein biochemistry and molecular biology, with an emphasis on the metabolic stress sensing protein kinase AMPK. In 2006, Dr. Steinberg became head of the Metabolism Unit at St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research and a senior fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

In 2009, Dr. Steinberg returned to Canada and joined the Department of Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism Division as an associate professor and Canada Research Chair. His laboratory is currently funded by grants from Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Dr. Steinberg obtained his PhD in 2002 from the University of Guelph. His research thesis was conducted in the laboratory of Professor David Dyck, where he studied the regulation of metabolism in muscle by the hormone leptin. From 2002-006, Dr. Steinberg conducted postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Professor Bruce Kemp, at St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia. During this time, he gained insight into protein biochemistry and molecular biology, with an emphasis on the metabolic stress sensing protein kinase AMPK. In 2006, Dr. Steinberg became head of the Metabolism Unit at St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research and a senior fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

In 2009, Dr. Steinberg returned to Canada and joined the Department of Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism Division as an associate professor and Canada Research Chair. His laboratory is currently funded by grants from Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Bernardo Trigatti, or Dino, has been working at the Hamilton General with The Thrombosis & Atherosclerosis Research Institute (TaARI), since January 2010. He says that as a child he was fascinated by nature and constantly asking questions. This led to an interest in research: “I’ve always been interested in discovery and asking questions and finding answers,” he says.

With TaARI, Trigatti’s research has been focused on causes and prevention of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, also known as the hardening of the arteries, is caused by a build-up of cholesterol in the blood vessels and can reduce blood flow to key organs such as the heart and brain.

This is not to say all cholesterol is bad, Trigatti says, “All cells need cholesterol to grow . . . but too much cholesterol can build up and causes problems.”  He is researching the interaction of cells in transferring cholesterol into and out of artery walls.

Research Interests

Cholesterol is made inside cells and then gets packaged into lipoproteins, which transport the cholesterol through the blood stream. If a person has high levels of a type of lipoprotein called LDL in their blood, cholesterol can build up in the artery walls. Normally, cells in people’s immune system clear the arteries by taking in the cholesterol themselves. These inflammatory cells then release the cholesterol to an “acceptor”, which is usually another lipoprotein called HDL. The HDL then carries the cholesterol to the liver where it can be recycled or eliminated. This process occurs in everyone but many people suffering from atherosclerosis have trouble moving cholesterol to the liver so it builds up, hardening in their arteries.

Bernardo Trigatti, or Dino, has been working at the Hamilton General with The Thrombosis & Atherosclerosis Research Institute (TaARI), since January 2010. He says that as a child he was fascinated by nature and constantly asking questions. This led to an interest in research: “I’ve always been interested in discovery and asking questions and finding answers,” he says.

With TaARI, Trigatti’s research has been focused on causes and prevention of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, also known as the hardening of the arteries, is caused by a build-up of cholesterol in the blood vessels and can reduce blood flow to key organs such as the heart and brain.

This is not to say all cholesterol is bad, Trigatti says, “All cells need cholesterol to grow . . . but too much cholesterol can build up and causes problems.”  He is researching the interaction of cells in transferring cholesterol into and out of artery walls.

Research Interests

Cholesterol is made inside cells and then gets packaged into lipoproteins, which transport the cholesterol through the blood stream. If a person has high levels of a type of lipoprotein called LDL in their blood, cholesterol can build up in the artery walls. Normally, cells in people’s immune system clear the arteries by taking in the cholesterol themselves. These inflammatory cells then release the cholesterol to an “acceptor”, which is usually another lipoprotein called HDL. The HDL then carries the cholesterol to the liver where it can be recycled or eliminated. This process occurs in everyone but many people suffering from atherosclerosis have trouble moving cholesterol to the liver so it builds up, hardening in their arteries.

Ray Truant completed his graduate studies in the Department of Medical Genetics, in the lab of Jack F. Greenblatt at the C.H. Best Institute. For his graduate work, his studies focused on protein-protein interactions of the P53 tumor-suppressor protein and P53 mechanism of activation of transcription. 

After receiving his doctorate in 1996, Ray studied as a post-doctoral research associate at the Howard Hughes Medical Research Institute (HHMI) at Duke University, in the department of Genetics with Dr. Bryan R. Cullen. While at the HHMI, his research centred on protein-protein interactions of HIV-1 proteins. 

In 1999, Ray was appointed assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, where he started new projects on polyglutamine diseases, focusing on Huntington’s Disease. In 2001, Ray won the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Scientist Award and his group is now supported by operating grants from Canada and the United States. This includes CIHR, NSERC, NRFR, US HDF, HSC, The Krembil Foundation, CFI and OIT. 

Ray was chair of the Scientific Advisory board and Board Officer of the Huntington Society of Canada,  2007-2021. He was the external scientific advisor to HDBuzz website 2011–16. The Truant lab, with Dr. Celeste Suart, initiated SCAsource.net in 2018. Ray is a recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the 2014 Michael Wright Community Leadership Award. 

The Truant lab is in an academic setting but highly collaborative with pharmaceutical industry and biotech partners, as well as our clinical collaborators, in addition to our efforts in Knowledge Translation. Dr. Truant is Co-director on the McMaster Centre for Advanced Light Microscopy (CALM) since 2021. 

The Truant lab has current projects in HD, SCA1 and SCA7 and is moving toward elucidating universal mechanisms in age-onset neurodegeneration, with current focus on DNA damage repair. His lab develops and utilizes state-of-the-art microscopy methods including machine-based learning and scoring. High Content Screening, Biophotonics as well as signal assignment and image processing using Artificial Intelligence and large scale automated image quantification using the KNIME platform.  

Ray Truant completed his graduate studies in the Department of Medical Genetics, in the lab of Jack F. Greenblatt at the C.H. Best Institute. For his graduate work, his studies focused on protein-protein interactions of the P53 tumor-suppressor protein and P53 mechanism of activation of transcription. 

After receiving his doctorate in 1996, Ray studied as a post-doctoral research associate at the Howard Hughes Medical Research Institute (HHMI) at Duke University, in the department of Genetics with Dr. Bryan R. Cullen. While at the HHMI, his research centred on protein-protein interactions of HIV-1 proteins. 

In 1999, Ray was appointed assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, where he started new projects on polyglutamine diseases, focusing on Huntington’s Disease. In 2001, Ray won the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Scientist Award and his group is now supported by operating grants from Canada and the United States. This includes CIHR, NSERC, NRFR, US HDF, HSC, The Krembil Foundation, CFI and OIT. 

Ray was chair of the Scientific Advisory board and Board Officer of the Huntington Society of Canada,  2007-2021. He was the external scientific advisor to HDBuzz website 2011–16. The Truant lab, with Dr. Celeste Suart, initiated SCAsource.net in 2018. Ray is a recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the 2014 Michael Wright Community Leadership Award. 

The Truant lab is in an academic setting but highly collaborative with pharmaceutical industry and biotech partners, as well as our clinical collaborators, in addition to our efforts in Knowledge Translation. Dr. Truant is Co-director on the McMaster Centre for Advanced Light Microscopy (CALM) since 2021. 

The Truant lab has current projects in HD, SCA1 and SCA7 and is moving toward elucidating universal mechanisms in age-onset neurodegeneration, with current focus on DNA damage repair. His lab develops and utilizes state-of-the-art microscopy methods including machine-based learning and scoring. High Content Screening, Biophotonics as well as signal assignment and image processing using Artificial Intelligence and large scale automated image quantification using the KNIME platform.  

Dr. Weitz is Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, Executive Director of the Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute and Past President of Council for the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Dr. Weitz focuses his clinical practice on patients with thrombotic disorders. His research spans the spectrum from basic studies in the biochemistry of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis to animal models of thrombosis and on to clinical trials of antithrombotic therapy. The breadth of his work is highlighted by his over 640 publications in journals as diverse as the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Biochemistry, Circulation, Blood, Annals of Internal Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine and Lancet, and 65 book chapters. The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Weitz is a Fellow of the American Heart Association, the Royal Society of Canada, and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. 

Dr. Weitz is Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, Executive Director of the Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute and Past President of Council for the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Dr. Weitz focuses his clinical practice on patients with thrombotic disorders. His research spans the spectrum from basic studies in the biochemistry of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis to animal models of thrombosis and on to clinical trials of antithrombotic therapy. The breadth of his work is highlighted by his over 640 publications in journals as diverse as the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Biochemistry, Circulation, Blood, Annals of Internal Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine and Lancet, and 65 book chapters. The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Weitz is a Fellow of the American Heart Association, the Royal Society of Canada, and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. 

Our research is concentrated upon understanding why people with diabetes mellitus are predisposed to cardiovascular disease.

The last few decades have witnessed a dramatic, worldwide increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Complications associated with diabetes make it a leading cause of blindness, renal failure and lower limb amputations in adults as well as an important, independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, CVD accounts for over 65% of diabetic mortality. The treatment and prevention of diabetic complications such as CVD is currently limited by our lack of understanding of the mechanisms by which diabetes promotes atherosclerosis – the underlying cause of CVD.

Our research is concentrated upon understanding why people with diabetes mellitus are predisposed to cardiovascular disease.

The last few decades have witnessed a dramatic, worldwide increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Complications associated with diabetes make it a leading cause of blindness, renal failure and lower limb amputations in adults as well as an important, independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, CVD accounts for over 65% of diabetic mortality. The treatment and prevention of diabetic complications such as CVD is currently limited by our lack of understanding of the mechanisms by which diabetes promotes atherosclerosis – the underlying cause of CVD.