Current Positions

Professor, Department of Oral Biology
Professor (Adjunct), Dept of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics
Professor (Adjunct), Dept of Physiology and Pathophysiology
Scientist, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba
Director, Grants Development, RFHS
Director, Manitoba Chemosensory Biology Research Group, University of Manitoba

Education

PDF, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
PhD, University of Manitoba
MSc, Andhra University, India

Research Focus

The research in our laboratory is focused on taste and chemosensory biology. The three major thrust areas are:

1. TASTE RECEPTORS & ORAL HEALTH. We are investigating how taste genetics influence health in different oral and systemic diseases. We are pursuing a holistic approach to investigate how taste receptors influence the oral microbiome and oral innate immunity in chronic conditions.

2. CYSTIC FIBROSIS. This involves characterizing the role of G protein-coupled receptors (including taste receptors) and their downstream signalling molecules in mediating innate immunity and mucociliary clearance in Cystic Fibrosis.

3. FOOD CHEMOSENSATION. Discovery of novel bitter taste modifiers and assay methods. It includes taste receptor structure-function analysis, biased signaling mechanisms, and chemosensory analysis.

Research Interests

- Taste receptors
- Oral microbiome
- Host-microbe interactions
- Oral Innate Immunity
- Cystic Fibrosis