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Genes as medicines: from growth factors to
vaccines
From the discovery of DNA, to the understanding of the machinery
of the cell that translates this human information into functional
molecules and organs, to the most recent completion of the sequencing
of the entire human genome, it has been a short and frantic
ride in science.
We know the identity of many genes and some of their functions.
What remains is how to use this information for the benefit
of mankind.
With new advances daily, we can transfer a gene from the outside
of the body into a cell and have that cell translate the gene
and make the protein it codes for.
This is Gene Therapy or Gene Therapeutics
and holds promise for the true "cure" of some genetic
diseases. We can also transfer genes that work for us, such
as Growth Factors or Hormones and can influence immune responses
in the body.
Most frequently, this approach to use genetic information has
benefited the field of vaccines in the infectious disease area.
We can safely deliver a single gene from a dangerous organism
to stimulate the immune system for protection against the infection,
such as SARS.
Although the field is young, it has tremendous promise and
benefits and is the likely area for most rapid developments
in therapeutic treatments of major diseases over the next ten
to twenty years.
Jack
Gauldie's Home Page
Read the Hamilton Spectator Article
by Meredith Macleod
This is a free public
lecture.
All are welcome!
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Hamilton Spectator Auditorium
Doors open @ 6:30 pm
Lecture begins at 7:00 pm
To reserve your seat
e-mail sciencecity@mcmaster.ca
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Jack Gauldie is recognized internationally for his work
in defining the molecular regulation of the acute phase
inflammatory response and is a world expert in the areas
of cytokine biology and the molecular regulation of
chronic inflammation and mucosal immunity. He has published
over 300 scientific articles and book chapters over
his career.
He was first to identify Interleukin
6 as the major regulator of the host Acute Phase Response
to infection and trauma, thus linking the innate response
to the adaptive immune response. His work with other
cytokines, including LIF and IL-1, helped define the
signaling pathways involving pg130 and the family of
IL-6 like molecules.
He developed gene transfer systems to
investigate the molecular regulation of acute and chronic
inflammation and identified TGFb as a critical element
of tissue remodeling. His work in defining TGFb regulatory
events in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
and the identification of inflammation independent events
involving mesenchymal epithelial interaction in the
propagation of chronic inflammation has received wide
recognition.
He has developed gene therapeutic interventions
for immune therapy of cancer and is targeting antigen
specific cell based vaccines, using dendritic cells,
as the most efficient method to break self-tolerance
and stimulate anti-tumor responses. He is a prominent
member of the Canadian National Centres of Excellence
in Vaccine Development and Immunotherapy (CANVAC) and
is involved in several current clinical trials in melanoma
and breast cancer therapy.
He has been Professor and Chair of the
Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at McMaster
for the past 14 years and is a Fellow of the Royal Society
of Canada, and the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh).
He also holds the title of University Professor at McMaster.
He has trained numerous students and
research fellows in immunology, gene therapy and pulmonary
fibrosis. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the
Institute of Immunology and Infection in the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and serves on the
scientific advisory boards of several companies.
He is on the editorial board of a number
of basic and clinical journals, including J Clin Invest,
and is a regular reviewer of grants from Canadian and
USA granting agencies (CIHR, NCIC and NIH) as well as
several others from around the world. Dr. Gauldie holds
patents in immune regulation and mucosal vaccine development.
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