Supervisor:

Dr. Frank Plummer

Position:

Fellow

Degrees obtained:

• BSc. Science (Honours Physiology) – University of Alberta
• M.D. – University of Alberta

Current Project:

Evaluating innate immune mechanisms of resistance to HIV-1 infection among commercial sex-workers in Nairobi, Kenya.

About: Richard's research interests focus on host resistance to infection, with a focus on innate immunity. Innate immunity provides a first line of defense against potential invading pathogens, and provides ongoing influence on development and maintenance of adaptive immune responses. My current project is evaluating Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression and function as it pertains to immunity in HIV-1 resistant commercial sex-workers in Nairobi, Kenya. Additional interests are healthcare communications in resource-limited settings. Currently he has a project evaluating mobile/cell phone usage for patient follow-up and monitoring in antiretroviral (ART) programs in Africa.

Supervisor:

Dr. Frank Plummer

Position:

Fellow

Degrees obtained:

• M.Sc. Biochemistry - University of Nairobi
• Ph.D. - Kanazawa University
• Kenya Medical Research Institute - Principal Research Officer
• University of Manitoba - Assistant Professor

Current Project:

Analysis of gene expression profiles of HIV resistant and susceptible populations in Kenya using affymetrix micro arrays

About: Dr. Elijah Maritim Songok is currently a Senior Research Officer at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Nairobi. He is on a postdoctoral fellowship sponsored by Canadian Institute’s of Health Research (CIHR). He is studying HIV/AIDS under Prof. Frank Plummer with a research interest on genomics and HIV susceptibility. Presently analyzing gene expression profiles of HIV resistant and susceptible populations in Kenya using affymetrix micro arrays for possible candidates for an anti-HIV vaccine.

Supervisor:

Dr. Frank Plummer

Position:

Fellow

Degrees obtained:

• Ph.D.in Microbiology - University of Manitoba, 2005
• B.Sc. (Honours) Biotechnology - University of Manitoba, 1999

Current Project:

Identification of novel protein biomarkers that are correlated with HIV-resistance using mass spectrometry

About: Adam's project is essentially biomarker discovery. He is examining both blood plasma and cervical mucosa samples from HIV-resistant sex workers to determine if there are any differentially expressed proteins compared to HIV-positive and HIV-negative control groups. Adam is currently evaluating various chromatographic techniques coupled with SELDI-TOF (Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption and Ionization) mass spectrometry to analyze the samples. Any differentially expressed proteins will be identified and its role in HIV-resistance will be investigated. The hope is that this information could be used in the development of an HIV-vaccine.

Supervisor:

Dr. Frank Plummer

Position:

Fellow

Degrees obtained:

• BSc (Hons) Genetics and Molecular Biology- Victorial University of Wellington, NZ
• PhD Genetics and Molecular Biology- Victorial University of Wellington, NZ

Current Project:

Identification of genes associated with HIV-1 resistance using no-biased genome wide SNP analysis

About: James is working with the Affymetrix genechip system to characterise single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) differences between HIV resistant and HIV suseptible members of the Pumwani Sex Worker. He is also involved in the expression analysis of candidate genes identified.

Supervisor:

Dr. Frank Plummer

Position:

Fellow

Degrees obtained:

• BSc (Hons) Microbiology-University of Manitoba
• PhD, MSc--Microbiology-University of Manitoba

Current Project:

Mechanisms of HIV disease progression

About: Sandra is currently in the final year of her PhD program in the lab of Dr. Keith Fowke. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with an honors degree in Microbiology in 2000, and joined the lab as a Masters student soon after. Her studies have focused on the mechanisms of HIV disease progression, with particular emphasis on immune activation, apoptosis, and T cell memory. Sandra has had the amazing opportunity to do part of her project in Nairobi where she spent a number of months working in the laboratories based at the University of Nairobi. She says she enjoyed her visits there tremendously and hopes she will go back there at some point in my career. Upon finishing her training here, she hopes to stay in the field of infectious diseases with particular emphasis on HIV vaccine development.