The lab of Dr. Dawn Bowdish at the McMaster University Immunology Research Centre (MIRC) has recently begun collaboration with the Vancouver-based pharmaceutical company Qu Biologics on preclinical studies investigating the role of macrophage dysfunction in chronic inflammation.<\/p>\n
Qu Biologics has developed Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs), which aim to \u201creboot\u201d the body\u2019s innate immune system in targeted organs or tissues to reverse chronic inflammation.<\/p>\n
\u201cMacrophages are important cells of the innate immune system. There is growing evidence that macrophage dysfunction underlies many important common chronic diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disease,\u201d said Dr. Hal Gunn, CEO of Qu Biologics. \u201cThis collaboration will be invaluable to assist in our understanding of the benefits of SSI therapy on macrophage function as it relates to chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction.\u201d Dr. Gunn added.<\/p>\n
The studies will test whether a lung-specific SSI therapy can restore normal lung and bone marrow-derived macrophage function using a variety of in vivo<\/i> and in vitro<\/i> assays.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bowdish adds \u201cThis is an ambitious and exciting project that takes a fundamentally different approach to tackling the problem of chronic inflammation, which has been very resistant to therapeutic intervention. My team is thrilled to be working together on a problem that affects the lives of so many Canadians.\u201d \u00a0This work capitalizes on the resources and immunology expertise of the McMaster Immunology Research Centre and Dr. Bowdish\u2019s research interests in how inflammation impairs macrophage function.<\/p>\n
About Qu Biologics<\/b><\/p>\n
Qu Biologics develops Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSI), a novel class of immunotherapies that aim to reboot the body\u2019s immune system. SSIs are designed to stimulate an immune response in targeted organs or tissues to potentially reverse the chronic inflammation underlying many conditions including cancer and autoimmune disease. The company recently launched a Phase 1\/2 clinical trial to research SSI therapy for the treatment of Crohn\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
Backed by a prestigious group of scientific advisors and board members, Qu Biologics is led by a management team that includes co-founder and CEO Dr. Hal Gunn, a physician and expert on the body\u2019s immune response to chronic disease; and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, former CEO of the BC Cancer Agency and a distinguished clinician, scientist and leader in cancer control in Canada and internationally.\u00a0 For more information, visit www.qubiologics.com<\/a> and www.qucrohnstrial.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more details and to see the original press release here:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.qubiologics.com\/qu-biologics-begins-research-with-mcmaster-university-to-study-chronic-inflammation-associated-with-macrophage-dysfunction\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The lab of Dr. Dawn Bowdish at the McMaster University Immunology Research Centre (MIRC) has recently begun collaboration with the Vancouver-based pharmaceutical company Qu Biologics on preclinical studies investigating the role of macrophage dysfunction in chronic inflammation. Qu Biologics has … Continue reading