PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Michael Parkins, MD, MSc, FRCPC
- Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease at the University of Calgary.
- Clinic Director of the Southern Alberta Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic of the University of Calgary Medical Clinics at the Foothills Medical Center in Calgary Alberta.
My scope of clinical practice includes; cystic fibrosis, infections in the immune compromised host and general infectious disease including HIV. My research lab focuses predominately on the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis and other suppurative lung diseases. In addition to the research themes from my laboratory I supervise many medical trainees on independent clinically relevant research projects.
Contact information:
Michael Parkins
Phone: (403)220-5951
Fax: (403)270-2772
Email: mdparkin@ucalgary.ca
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Nicole Acosta, PhD
My expertise relates to the molecular analysis of heterogeneous and polymicrobial medical and environmental samples to understand their constituents. Molecular biology approaches, such as next generation sequencing have been applied in studies for bacterial taxonomic identification in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. Recent research has shown that microbial communities in the cystic fibrosis (CF) airways are highly diverse representing a complex microbial ecosystem. My research focuses on understanding three aspects of the epidemiology in the CF microbiome: (1) Comparing the changes in the CF microbiota that have occurred over time in successive cohorts of CF patients; (2) analyzing changes on the CF microbiota of individuals over time, and (3) the effect of the administration of chronic disease modifying therapies on CF microbiota. The ultimate goal of my research is to better understand the evolution of the CF microbiome and its relationship with outcomes in CF patients.
I have also started an exciting new aim on my research focused on understanding the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in wastewater from different sources in Alberta. I am the current Molecular Team Leader for the wastewater-based surveillance project.
Contact information:
Nicole Acosta
Phone: (403) 220-4215
Email: paula.acostaamador@ucalgary.ca
LAB MANAGER
Barbara Waddell, BSc
My experience as a research technician spans 22 years and involves a variety of microbial, molecular and cellular technics. My research focus In the Parkins lab started out strain typing bacteria in the CF airway. I help maintaining an extensive biobank with CF sputum isolates from many species and have typed many using PFGE and MLST. Allowing assessment of infection transmission and possible epidemic strains. Currently I am working to gaining NGS experience and skills such as library preparation and bioinformatics. Two other main projects that I am working on are: (1) CMV’s impact on CF patients’ disease progression and (2) SARS-CoV-2 Pan Alberta wastewater monitoring. For the SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring project, I have been involved in project implementation and set up for the Parkins lab as well as research and development. Some aspects include SARS-CoV-2 RTqPCR and reporting for a range of sites across Alberta, RTddPCR and assay development for new targets and variants of concern.
Contact information:
Barbara Waddell Phone: (403) 220-4215
Email: bjmalber@ucalgary.ca
LAB TECHNICIANS
Kristine Du
As a recent Bachelor of Science graduate with a specialization in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology, I have joined the Parkins lab to continue my clinical based research as a medical lab technician. Currently, I am working on three projects with their own major objectives: (1) Studying the prevalence of high inoculum cefazolin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus in bloodstream infections and recurrent infections through susceptibility testing and strain typing isolates using PFGE, (2) Understanding the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 using RT-qPCR in wastewater sampling throughout the City of Calgary, and (3) Testing a novel approach for infection control in duodenoscopes used for endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) procedures. I am also involved with the wastewater collection and processing work at the Advancing Canadian Wastewater Assets (ACWA) laboratory.
Contact information:
Kristine Du Email: kristine.du1@ucalgary.ca
Aito Ueno
Contact information:
Aito Ueno Email: aueno@ucalgary.ca
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Conrad Izydorczyk
Respiratory failure due to repeated and chronic lung infections remains the leading cause of death for cystic fibrosis patients. A large component of CF standard of care guidelines focuses on preventing the acquisition of new lung infections by patients through a variety of infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. My work focuses on investigating the potential of various CF-associated pathogens (classical and non-classical) to transmit between patients in historic and current patient cohorts through the application of the latest bioinformatic methods in the field of infectious disease genomics/epidemiology, including (Bayesian) phylogenetics and molecular clock analyses, genomics/pan-genomics, and evolutionary analyses. The long-term goal of this work is to aid in the development of evidence-based approaches to IPC.
Contact information:
Conrad Izydorczyk Email: conradizydorczyk@gmail.com
Julianna Svishchuk
Having completed my undergraduate degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology and the University of Calgary, I conducted my Undergraduate Honours Thesis at the Parkins Lab, studying inoculum effects of Staphylococcus aureus infections in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung environment. I am thrilled to now be a Master's student with Dr. Parkins, my project shifting from a bacterial to a viral basis. Currently, my work focuses on the cellular and epidemiological nature of cytomegalovirus (CMV) lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Given the recent observation that CMV seropositivity is correlated with more rapid progression to end-stage lung disease in CF cohorts, the investigation of CMV's impact on CF disease progression is of high importance. The aims of my Master's project lie in studying the incidence and prevalence of CMV (and other herpesviruses) across CF cohorts, as well as potentially exploring the inflammatory profiles of CMV in airway eptihelial cells through an in vitro approach.
Contact information:
Julianna Svishchuk Email: jsvishchuk@ucalgary.ca
Lauren Bowron
The nature of the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung creates a welcoming environment for respiratory infections from opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. CF patients that acquire such infections often experience respiratory decline and a subsequent reduction in their quality of life. Consequently, understanding how to prevent infections from occurring in CF patients is crucial to ensure patient well-being. My research looks at using an integrated clinical and laboratory approach to study longitudinal changes in the lung microbiome of persons with CF and assess how we can use these changes to predict susceptibility to incident infections from classical pathogens like P. aeruginosa. Through this research, I am exploring the biomarker capabilities of the CF lung microbiome that correlate with bacterial infection and treatment response. My passion for translational research led me to the Parkin’s lab where I hope to produce meaningful and applicable results to benefit persons with CF. Outside of the lab, I have found passion in health advocacy and education through my volunteer work with AHS supporting cognitively impaired seniors and through my outreach role in the mental health organisation, Outrun the Stigma. My other interests include running, hiking, baking, and space exploration.
Contact information:
Lauren Bowron Email: lauren.bowron@ucalgary.ca
Emily Au
I am a recent Bachelor of Health Sciences graduate with specialization in Biomedical Sciences and conducted numerous microbiology and molecular biology research projects during my undergraduate studies. Due to my interest in translational research, I joined the Parkins Lab as a Master’s candidate. The main objective of my research is to adapt the SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance tool to investigate antimicrobial resistance prevalence in tertiary-hospital populations to inform infection control and antimicrobial stewardship.
Contact information:
Emily Au
Email: emily.au1@ucalgary.ca
Janine McCalder
Contact information:
Janine McCalder
Email: jamccald@ucalgary.ca
FORMER UNDERGRAD STUDENTS
Alex Buchner
My name is Alexander Buchner Beaudet. As an undergraduate researcher on the interdisciplinary University of Calgary wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) team working in the Parkins lab, I am currently investigating the potential of utilizing WBE technology on other viral infections of epidemiologic significance (VIES) through an undergraduate honours thesis. Previously, I led a small wastewater sample collection cohort and was involved in the wastewater concentration protocol at the Advancing Canadian Wastewater Assets (ACWA) laboratory.
Contact information:
Alex Buchner
Email: alexander.beaudet@ucalgary.ca