Cells & Disease

Molecular genetic approaches are applied to the cell and developmental biology of model systems in order to understand how cells work in health and disease. Our interests include signal transduction, cilia, morphogenesis, cell death and autophagy, cytoskeleton, gene expression, cell division and polarity. Disease targets include cancer, cardiomyopathies, ciliopathies, neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases.

Audas Lab

Understanding the role of noncoding RNA in the reversible formation of amyloid aggregates.

EMAIL: 

TIM AUDAS
taudas@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM: 

SSB 7166

LAB PHONE:

(778) 782-3904

Beh Lab

In our laboratory, we exploit molecular genetics, biochemistry, and genomics to understand how the cell coordinates the transfer of molecular cargo between internal membranes to regulate its growth.

EMAIL: 

CHRISTOPHER BEH
ctbeh@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM:

SSB 7179 / 7141

LAB PHONE: 

(778) 782-5931

Braid Lab

Our laboratory explores the identity, function, and regulation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at the interface of immunity and regeneration. Our research examines how MSCs in various stem cell and perivascular niches contribute to tissue maintenance and regeneration. We also study how MSCs evolve over a lifetime of exposure to environmental stressors, becoming potential drivers of idiopathic and autoimmune diseases.  

EMAIL: 

LORENA BRAID
lrbraid@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM:

SSB 6150

LAB PHONE:

778-782-3986

Gorski Lab

The study of autophagy (= “self-eating”) has generated tremendous attention due to the recognition that autophagy is involved in multiple developmental processes and human diseases including cancer.

EMAIL: 

SHARON GORSKI
sgorski@bcgsc.ca

LAB ROOM:

Genome Sciences Centre at BC Cancer 7-124

LAB PHONE:

(604) 675-8000 (local 7905)

Hawkins Lab

The Hawkins lab uses C. elegans to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying asymmetric cell division.

EMAIL: 

NANCY HAWKINS
nhawkins@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM: 

SSB 7179

LAB PHONE: 

(778) 782-5931

Holt Lab

The main focus in our lab (located at the BC Cancer Research Institute) is understanding and potentiating the anti-cancer immune response.

EMAIL: 

ROBERT HOLT
rholt@bcgsc.ca
rah6@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM: 

BC Cancer Research Institute

 

Jaumouillé Lab

Our laboratory use quantitative microscopy approaches to study the role of mechanical forces, cytoskeleton and membrane dynamics in the innate immune response to microbial infections and cancer.

EMAIL: 

VALENTIN JAUMOUILLÉ
v_jaumouille@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM: 

SSB 6120

LAB PHONE: 

(778) 782-4090

Leroux Lab

Our studies focus on the identification and cellular analysis of proteins found within cilia, the microtubule-based organelles implicated in an ever-growing number of human disorders (ciliopathies) that affect development and virtually all physiological functions.

EMAIL: 

MICHEL LEROUX
leroux@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM: 

SSB 6144

LAB PHONE: 

(778) 782-5785

Quarmby Lab

Summertime blooms of microalgae on snow cause "watermelon snow." We use the tools of genomics, bioinformatics, ecology and cell biology to study the algae, fungi, bacteria and other organisms comprising the the snow algae microbiome.

EMAIL: 

LYNNE QUARMBY
quarmby@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM: 

SSB 7124

LAB PHONE: 

(778) 782-4598

Setiaputra Lab

Our lab seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the mammalian DNA damage response. We are driven by our desire to better understand this fundamental aspect of our biology as well as the potential to manipulate DNA repair processes in genotoxic cancer therapy and gene editing.

EMAIL: 

Dheva Setiaputra
dsetiapu@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM:

SSB 6134

LAB PHONE: 

(778) 782-5785

Silverman Lab

We are cellular neurobiologists studying the role of protein transport in healthy and diseased neurons.

EMAIL: 

Michael Silverman
masilver@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM:

TBA

LAB PHONE: 

TBA

Tibbits Lab

Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of inherited cardiomyopathies and arrythmias.  The SFU-based lab in TASC II focuses on the use of zebrafish and human recombinant protein structures that make up the thin filament of the cardiac contractile apparatus. 

EMAIL: 

GLEN TIBBITS
tibbits@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM:

TASC II - 8410

LAB PHONE: 

(778) 782-4974

Verheyen Lab

The Verheyen lab uses developmental genetics, cell biology and biochemistry to understand how organs and tissues form and grow properly to shed light on normal development and human disease.

EMAIL: 

ESTHER VERHEYEN
everheye@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM:

SSB 7152

LAB PHONE: 

(778) 782-4239

Vocadlo Lab

We create new chemical and biochemical probes of glycan processing enzymes and use these to evaluate the roles of interesting glycoconjugates in cellular processes and diseases.

EMAIL: 

DAVID VOCADLO
dvocadlo@sfu.ca

LAB ROOM: 

TASC II 8060

LAB PHONE: 

(778) 782-7015