Research excellence
Pushing boundaries in immunology
January 21, 2025
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Dr. Kubes and PhD student Kartik Sachdeva examine a cell sample under a microscope.
It’s been just over a year since Queen’s announced it would welcome a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Immunophysiology and Immunotherapy to campus. Paul Kubes is a world-leading expert on the immune system, and understanding how it can be harnessed to treat chronic disease. His work leverages existing institutional strengths in immunology, cancer research, and precision medicine, positioning Canada as a global hub for translational research on immune-based therapies.
Under the CERC program, a federal government initiative that attracts up to $8 million in funding over eight years, Dr. Kubes has been busy developing his research program, from advancing research across several areas of immunology and fostering a collaborative team to building a state-of-the-art laboratory. We explore some of these highlights below.
New insights into neonatal immunology
Earlier this year Dr. Kubes published new research in the high-impact journal Science Immunology, exploring why newborns are so susceptible to infections like sepsis and meningitis. The research seeks to understand the vulnerability of babies during the first few weeks of life.
“In the first four weeks of a baby’s life, their immune system is the most vulnerable to infections, and premature births elevate the risks even further,” says Dr. Kubes. “Bloodstream infections are a significant concern, and understanding the mechanisms behind this vulnerability is essential for developing ways to protect them.”
To investigate, Dr. Kubes and his colleagues used advanced intravital microscopy to observe the immune response in one-day-old mice exposed to infections. Their findings revealed that Kupffer cells, the specialized immune cells in the liver responsible for filtering blood, are initially located outside the liver's sinusoids (blood vessels). This positioning limits their ability to capture and neutralize pathogens effectively.
During the first week of life, these cells undergo a process known as reverse migration, moving into the sinusoids where they become better equipped to trap and eliminate pathogens. This transition is crucial for establishing a functional immune system.
The delayed migration of Kupffer cells to the sinusoids in animal models may explain the heightened susceptibility to bloodstream infections. Dr. Kubes and his team believe that a similar phenomenon may occur in human newborns emphasizing the potential for these insights to improve clinical outcomes in neonatal care.
The innovative imaging technique used to view the mouse’s Kupffer cells earned its place on the cover of the prestigious research journal Science Immunology. (Credit: Bruna Araujo David/University of Calgary)
Fostering collaboration in immunology research
In addition to his research on neonatal immunology, earlier this year Dr. Kubes was awarded a $2M Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant to investigate how wildfire smoke impacts the lungs of asthma patients. The next stage of this ongoing research will explore potential treatments to prevent or mitigate long-term effects, such as diminished resistance to infections, and the link between wildfires and lung cancer.
“Immunology is a rapidly evolving field, and the discoveries we’re making today are helping us rethink how we approach treatment for a wide range of conditions,” says Dr. Kubes. “We need to focus on research that not only advances our understanding but also leads to meaningful changes in how we prevent and treat diseases.”
In September, Dr. Kubes also joined the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology at Oxford University as part of the Newton-Abraham Visiting Professorship, a prestigious award given to the most distinguished scholars in the biological, chemical, or medical sciences.
Building Canada’s leading imaging centre
Uncovering the mysteries of the immune system requires highly specialized tools. Dr. Kubes has made significant progress in setting up an advanced laboratory that is specially designed to support highly detailed imaging.
“My goal is to build the best imaging centre in Canada here at Queen’s,” says Dr. Kubes. “An imaging centre that can do in-vivo imaging, and take it not just down to the cell, but a single molecule.”
This new infrastructure will enable the exploration of innovative approaches like CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell), a form of immunotherapy that involves modifying a patient's own T cells to better recognize and attack cancer cells, enabling more precise and effective treatments.
Dr. Paul Kubes discusses imaging techniques used in his immunology research, showcasing a close-up view of cellular activity.
To support this work, he’s hired eight postdoctoral researchers with diverse skill sets, some of whom received training under Dr. Kubes at the University of Calgary before joining the Queen's lab, and others who were trained internationally in China and Brazil. The team is already running experiments that will inform the next generation of immune-based therapies.
“The progress we’ve made this past year is just the beginning,” says Dr. Kubes. “I’m incredibly excited about the potential of our imaging centre and the discoveries we can make with this team. There’s so much left to uncover about the immune system, and I look forward to contributing to breakthroughs that could transform how we approach health challenges worldwide.
Learn more about Dr. Kubes’ research in the Queen’s Gazette.
