Current research

Fighting disease

Our bacteriology and microbial pathogenesis research team is using cutting-edge molecular and genomic technology to study how pathogens cause disease. They’re also working on ways to make the food and water supply safer for Canadians.

As a student conducting research with us, you’ll gain a better understanding of the rational design of more effective vaccines and new antimicrobial strategies. You’ll also gain useful experience in the emerging field of synthetic biology, which has broad implications for the development of biofuels, green chemistry and robots.

Our team

Search faculty members by research topic

Working to eliminate cancer

As a team, we work to study all aspects of cancers and use these findings to benefit cancer patients and their families. Our researchers have focused on:

• new approaches to the early detection of cancer
• the development and spread of cancer
• cancer treatment

Our exciting projects include a simple blood test that allows treatment to be started earlier and a treatment that uses viruses to selectively kill cancer cells.

As a student conducting research with us, you’ll have the unique opportunity to work with world-class scientists and contribute to research that will one day eliminate cancer.

Our team

Search faculty members by research topic

An ounce of prevention

Our internationally recognized team of immunology and inflammation researchers are dedicated to finding ways to preventing and reducing the symptoms of serious illnesses. This research team focuses on six key components:

• how the immune system defends against infection
• how the immune system can be used to treat cancer
• how we can better treat inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, asthma and multiple sclerosis
• the development of new immunotherapies that can be used alone or combined with current cancer treatments
• developing vaccines
• exploring ways to prevent and control the inflammation responsible for many devastating chronic diseases

As a student, you’ll have many opportunities to get involved in basic or translational research projects in immunology or inflammation. We’ve attracted a substantial amount of research funding, resulting in a variety of research areas and training to choose from, including:

• summer work experience
• undergraduate experiential laboratory courses
• PhD and postdoctoral positions

You’ll also have the added benefit of learning from experienced researchers, many of whom are also physicians with research laboratories in the IWK Health Centre.

Our team

Search faculty members by research topic

Gaining understanding

At Dalhousie University, our world-renowned molecular virology and viral pathogenesis researchers are making great strides towards better understanding viral pathogens, as well as the host response to infection.

As a student researcher, you’ll gain valuable research training in areas like:

• vaccinology
• viral pathogenesis
• molecular cell biology
• cancer cell biology

Significant breakthroughs

Our research team has achieved a number of significant breakthroughs, including Dr. Patrick Lee’s determination that reovirus kills cancer cells and Dr. Craig McCormick’s recent discovery that Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) usurps autophagy pathways in cells to block senescence and allow proliferation of KSHV-infected cells.

Our team

Search faculty members by research topic