Paul Beck

Paul Beck

PhD MD FRCPC

Positions

Professor

Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Medicine

Full Member

Inflammation Research Network

Full Member

The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases

Contact information

Phone number

Office: 403.220.8389

I'm looking for...

Learning opportunities

Looking for new trainees starting in the fall of 2022

Background

Educational Background

MD Medicine, University of Calgary, 1990

PhD Biological Sciences, Queen's University, 1987

B.Sc. Biological Sciences, Queen's University, 1984

Internal Medine and Gastroenterology Fellowship Fellowship , University of Calgary , 1996

Post doctoral fellowship, IBD/molecular biology Post Doc, Massachusetts General Hosptial, Harvard , 1999

Research

Areas of Research

Defining mechanisms involved in the development of IBD and how the gastrointestinal tract heals itself after injury.

The lining of the gastrointestinal tract is commonly injured in every day life by insults such as arthritis medications, bacteria, viruses acid and others. Why this injury occurs more commonly in some and causes more problems is unclear. However, it appears that some people are susceptible to injury where others fail to heal the injury and likely IBD is a result of increased susceptibility to injury and failure to properly heal following injury. By using both animal models of colitis as well as tissue culture models the goal of my research is to determine factors that protect the gastrointestinal tract from injury and/or improve tissue repair after injury. By determining which factors may be involved in these processes one can develop strategies aimed at treating IBD with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for this group of devastating diseases.

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Awards

  • Top Clinical Teacher, University of Calgary. 2017
  • Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Precision Medicine, 2020
  • Killam Professorship, University of Calgary, for overall excellence, 2015
  • Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Research Excellence Award, 2015
  • University of Calgary Alumni of Distinction, Awarded for Excellence in Mentoring, 2014
  • Alberta Society of Gastroenterology Distinguished Research Award, 2013
  • Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Visiting Research Professor Award, 2013
  • van de Sande Distinguished Achievement Award for Mentoring, Department of Medicine, University of Calgary. 2012
  • International AGA Research Mentor Award, American Gastroenterology Association Institute Council Immunology, Microbiology and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Section. 2012
  • Watanabe Distinguished Achievement Award for overall excellence, University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine. 2011
  • Outstanding Achievement Award for the individual that has contributed the most to the Division of Gastroenterology, University of Calgary. 2011
  • Outstanding Clinician Award at the Foothills Hospital, Foothills Hospital Medical Staff . 2011
  • Awarded as co-founder of Arch Biopartners. $6.7 million from the department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) to support the Phase II development of Metablok (LSALT Peptide), the Company’s therapeutic drug candidate to prevent organ i, Government of Canada. December. 2020
  • Awarded the Deans Mentorship Award for having a student publish a paper in a high impact journal (>10), Mr Jeff Ng and Dr Simon Hirota, University of Calgary. 2011

Publications

More Information

Elliot Peace
BHSc 4th year Thesis student
elliot.peace@ucalgary.ca

Annie Li
Lab Manager
yali@ucalgary.ca

Lucia Wang
HRIC 1AA20
Email: wangl@ucalgary.ca
Phone: 403.220.8389