Vincent Duronio. PhD
Professor
Division of Respiratory Medicine, UBC
Director
Experimental Medicine, UBC
phone: 604-875-4707
fax: 604-875-4497
vduronio(at)interchange.ubc.ca
Biochemical Signals Which Control Cell Death and Survival
All cells are programmed to die eventually. If cells don't die normally, they can become harmful. For example, cancer can result when cells that should die keep growing instead. On the other hand, cells die by defined mechanisms when they are starved of oxygen, such as during a heart attack, or as a result of a stroke.
Each cell produces 10 to 15,000 proteins, with approximately 25 to 50 per cent of these involved in transmitting signals from the outside to the inside of the cell. My research is investigating how signals are sent within individual cells to control the process of cell death as well as survival.
Signalling proteins bind to receptors on the cell surface to regulate growth and determine whether a cell lives or dies. The function of many signal proteins is to keep cells from undergoing apoptosis (cell suicide). My research team has deciphered the function of some key proteins and is continuing to study how proteins determine whether cells live or die. We have also made some interesting discoveries about the 'cell cycle' machinery that is used to duplicate DNA and to control how cells divide. Our goal is to find ways to stimulate or block cell growth or death, which could lead, for example, to the ability to force cancer cells to die. We are also examining macrophages, scavenger cells that clean up debris and are important in the development of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), and the function of inflammatory cells in the immune system that respond to infection.
This research will increase understanding of cell death and may lead to the development of new drug therapies for cancer, cardiovascular disease or inflammatory conditions such as asthma.
Education
PhD - Biochemistry - University of Western Ontario
BSc - Biology and Chemistry - University of Windsor