Dr. Derek M. McKay
Positions
Director, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases; Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology
Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
Full Member
Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
Full Member
The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases
Full Member
Inflammation Research Network
Member
Gastrointestinal Research Group
Contact information
Web presence
Phone number
Office: +1.403.220.7362
Lab: +1.403.210.8999
Location
Office: HRIC4AC60
For media enquiries, contact
Kelly Johnston
Senior Communications Specialist
Please submit your media request here
Background
Educational Background
BSc Zoology, Queen's University of Belfast, 1987
PhD , Queen's University of Belfast, 1990
Biography
I received my Ph.D. from The Queen’s University of Belfast (N. Ireland, 1990) for research on the enteric response to the tapeworm parasite, Hymenolepis diminuta. This was followed by post-doctoral training at McMaster University (Hamilton, Canada), under the supervisor of Dr. Mary Perdue, where I subsequently accepted an Assistant Professor Position in the Intestinal Disease Research Program in 1995. In 2006, I moved to the University of Calgary and was appointed Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. I have authored ~150 peer-reviewed publications, given 150 invited presentations, and have been fortunate to receive research awards from the American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Parasitology, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG), Canadian Society for Zoologists, and Crohn’s Colitis Canada (CCC). I have served as President of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (2014-2016) and as a Councilor for the Canadian Society for Zoologists.
I have supervised 38 undergraduate students, 12 M.Sc., 11 Ph.D. graduate students and 15 post-doctoral fellows.
I aim to create a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment conducting leading edge research on the regulation of intestinal physiology and immunity in health and disease, specifically: (a) the role of the microbiota, immune mediators and mitochondria in the control of epithelial barrier function; and, (b) the use of a helminth-rodent model paradigm to dissect pathways of immunomodulation.
This work is supported by CIHR, NSERC, CCC and the Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Research
Areas of Research
We use appropriate models including a helminth parasite to affect mucosal immunity, which is paralleled by assessment of regulatory macrophages to inhibit colitis.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CMMB 567 LEC 01 01 | (MDSC 567) Advanced Topics in Immunology | 2021 |
| MDSC 567 LEC 01 01 | (CMMB 567) Advanced Topics in Immunology | 2021 |
Awards
- Honorary Doctor of Medicine, Linkoping University, Sweden. 2022
- Crohn's and Colitis Canada's Finkelstein Award, 2021
- Fellow Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, 2020
- Canada Research Chair, Tier 1, 2006-2020, 2006
- Fellow American Association of Physiology, 2020
- C.P. Read Mentorship Award, American Society Parasitology, 2020
- Fellow Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, 2016
- President, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, 2016
- Research Excellence Award, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. 2009
- Stoll-Stunkard Memorial Lecture, 2008
Publications
In the News
- Snyder estate donates $67.5M towards medical research at U of C . Calgary Herald. (2022)
More Information
Vickie Li
PhD Student
shuhua.li@ucalgary.ca
Armaan Mohan (co-supervisor: Dr. Timothy Shutt)
PhD Student
armaan.mohn1@ucalgry.ca
Samantha Cortez (co-supervisor: Dr. Eduardo Cobo)
MSc Student
samantha.cortez@ucalgary.ca
Natalie Andonian
MSc Student
natalie.andonian@ucalgary.ca
Amit Jaiswal (primary supervisor: Dr. Timothy Shutt)
PhD Student
amit.jaiswal1@ucalgary.ca
Parker Volk
MSc Student
parker.volk1@ucalgary.ca
Blanca Callejas Pina, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
blanca.callejaspina@ucalgary.ca
Lucas Kraemer Rocha, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
lucas.kraemerrocha@ucalgary.ca
Saranya Navaneetha Krishnan
Postdoctoral Scholar
saranya.navaneethakr@ucalgary.ca
Arthur Wang
Lab Manager
fhawang@ucalgary.ca
Eve Higgins
Research Technician
eve.higgins@ucalgary.ca
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