Pediatric researchers in Montreal unite to tackle infection and immunity on two different fronts
Researchers at the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital of the 平特五不中 Health Centre 鈥� the Children鈥檚 - and the CHU Sainte-Justine are coming together within the scope of two new projects, funded under the auspices of the 平特五不中 Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4): improving the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial pneumonia and better understanding rare immune disorders.
Improving the appropriateness of antibiotic use to treat pneumonia
Antibiotic overuse is an important cause of bacterial antibiotic resistance. Most pediatric pneumonias are caused by viruses, for which antibiotics are not necessary. However, children sick enough to be hospitalized for such lung infections typically receive antibiotics because there are currently no adequate tests to exclude the possibility of bacterial pneumonia, which requires prompt antibiotic treatment.
The first project, led by Dr. Jesse Papenburg at the Children鈥檚 and Dr. Jocelyn Gravel at CHU Sainte-Justine, will evaluate the feasibility of collecting high quality samples and performing advanced laboratory and statistical analyses to test new ways to distinguish between viral and bacterial pneumonia in children. If successful, this approach will improve the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia, allowing doctors to safely use fewer antibiotics, the key to fighting antibiotic resistance.
Developing innovative modeling of primary immunodeficiencies
Rare chronic immune disorders, known as primary immunodeficiencies (PID), represent a large, heterogeneous group of diseases responsible for a wide range of illnesses including susceptibility to infection, autoimmunity, allergies and cancer. Advances in DNA sequencing have led to the identification of many genetic changes that are linked to PID. However confirming which genes are responsible for PID in a given patient can be challenging. This may lead to over- or under-diagnosis of PID, with impacts on patient care.
Led by Dr. Fabien Touzot at CHU Sainte-Justine and Dr. Constantin Polychronakos at the Children鈥檚, the second project aims to establish an innovative research platform that will identify which genetic changes underlie the development of PID, combining the strengths and resolution of cutting-edge technologies including stem cells, genome engineering, and pre-clinical models. This innovative platform will direct patient diagnosis and care and permit testing of therapies in participating patients.
First pediatric grants for MI4
Established in April 2018, MI4 aims to foster interdisciplinary research to discover, develop and implement innovative solutions for infectious and immune threats to human health. The pediatric seed fund grant components of MI4, made possible through equal contributions from the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation and the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation, are designed to establish new, inter-institutional translational research teams linking world-class pediatric investigators at the two institutions to support preliminary innovative new ideas, and proof-of-concept studies with the potential to improve child health. The projects will each receive $150,000 over two years to carry out their work.
鈥淚nfectious and immune diseases are among the greatest threats facing humanity, at a level on par with climate change,鈥� explains Dr. Don Sheppard, Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at 平特五不中, scientist at the Research Institute of the 平特五不中 Health Centre and Director of MI4. 鈥淲e are grateful to the two hospital foundations for their generous support, which allows us to award the first two, of what we hope to be many, pediatric grants.鈥�
鈥淗aving worked in both institutions and having experienced first-hand the high level of research that happens in our two pediatric hospitals, I am delighted to see the emergence of new collaborations, aiming at improving children鈥檚 care,鈥� adds Dr. Caroline Quach, Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology at Universit茅 de Montr茅al, Clinician scientist at CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre and scientific lead on the MI4 initiative for the CHU Sainte-Justine.
Additional quotes:
鈥樷�橳he CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation supports the CHU Sainte-Justine鈥檚 priorities and as such, puts an emphasis on preventing, offering new therapies and curing infectious diseases. Thanks to our donors, we鈥檙e able to support this collaboration with the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital, which brings together some of the brightest minds in the field. We鈥檙e hopeful that merging our expertise holds the key to tackling some of pediatric health鈥檚 most pressing issues.鈥欌��
Maud Cohen, President and CEO of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation
鈥淲e are very proud that Dr. Papenburg and Dr. Polychronakos have been rewarded for their dedicated, hard work of the last few years. Their innovative projects are poised to spearhead the optimization of children鈥檚 health, and are part of the Children鈥檚 continued efforts to be at the forefront of pediatric healthcare and Finding Unexpected Ways to Heal.鈥�
Ren茅e V茅zina, President, The Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation
About the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation
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About the CHU Sainte-Justine
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About the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre
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About the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital
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About MI4
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