PhD, Assistant Professor
maya.saleh@mcgill.ca

Research interests

Our research interests are focused on two inter-related themes which are already considerably advanced towards identification of novel players in apoptotic cell death, and investigation of the implication of apoptosis and the inflammasome in inflammatory mediated immune disorders that include auto-immune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease as well as the host response to bacterial infection and sepsis. The strengths of my laboratory are based in fundamental research in apoptosis and cellular immunology, mouse models (genetic and other) of infectious diseases and inflammatory disorders and access to well-defined cohorts of patients with clinical and therapeutic subtypes of many inflammatory disorders.

Structure/function characterization of inflammatory factors and genetic basis of inflammatory disorders.

This theme is based on the observations that many inflammatory diseases are under the control of master switches that operate not only in specific inflammatory diseases, but also across multiple immune disorders. These master switches operate at the innate as well as adaptive immune levels as either stimulators or suppressors of inflammation.

• Toll-like receptors [TLRs], a highly conserved family of proteins that detects pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and triggers acute inflammation,
• inflammatory caspases: caspase-1 (ICE, Interleukin-1b Converting Enzyme, caspases-4, -5 and ­12) required for cytokine maturation and apoptosis, and
• a macromolecular complex known as the inflammasome which has been implicated in various hereditary auto-inflammatory disorders as well as in the host response to invading pathogens. The work in this theme, which represents a large part of the research in my lab, aims to further characterize the above markers at the molecular and functional levels in animal models and possibly in patients.

Identification of novel players in apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death.

Apoptosis is a physiological process necessary for the survival of an organism. Apoptosis must be kept in check, as defects in its regulation are associated with pathogenesis. Too much apoptosis is evident in AIDS, ischemic injury and neurodegenerative diseases, while too little causes cancer and autoimmunity. Identification of novel regulators of cell death is expected to provide important insights into tumor biology. In summary, we are investigating key pathways of inflammation and apoptosis that will ultimately lead to the discovery of new biologic therapies which will allow us to diagnose, treat and prognosticate inflammatory-mediated immune disorders and cancer earlier, with better, evidence-based accuracy.

Awards

CIHR New Investigator Award
2006-2011

Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec
Chercheur-Boursier Junior I Award (declined)
2006-2010

The Dr. Phil Gold Award
2006-2007

The 175th MGH Anniversary Award
2005-2008

Canadian Foundation for Innovation
Leaders Opportunity Award
2006

Keystone Symposia Research Award
2005

Canadian Institute of Health Research
Post-doctoral Industrial Fellowship
2002-2005

McGill University Dean's Honour List
Graduate Studies and Research
2001

Keystone Symposia Research Award
2001

Defi Corporatif Canderel Research Award
2000

McKinnel Research Award
2000

Medical Research Council of Canada Doctoral Studentship
1997-2001

Departmental affiliation

Medicine; Biochemistry; Microbiology and Immunology

Accepting students from

Experimental Medicine; Biochemistry; Microbiology and Immunology