Aseem Kumar

Biography

2009 - present Full Professor  Biomolecular Sciences Ph.D. Program  Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry  Department of Biology  Northern Ontario School of Medicine  Laurentian University  2006 - 2009 Associate Professor  Director, Biomolecular Sciences Ph.D. Program 2003-2009  Canada Research Chair in Biomolecular Sciences 2003-2009  Biomolecular Sciences Ph.D. Program  Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry  Department of Biology  Northern Ontario School of Medicine  Laurentian University  2003 - 2005 Assistant Professor Biomolecular Sciences Ph.D. Program  Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry  Department of Biology  Northern Ontario School of Medicine  Laurentian University  1997 - 2002 Assistant Professor of Medicine  Faculty, Division of Cardiovascular Disease and Critical Care Medicine  and Department of Immunology/Microbiology  Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center and University  1995 - 1997 Research Fellow  Department of Cancer Biology  Cleveland Clinic Foundation  1992 - 1997 Ph.D. University of Toronto Dept. of Molecular and Medical Genetics  Faculty of Medicine  1990 - 1992 M.Sc. University of Toronto  Dept. of Molecular and Medical Genetics  Faculty of Medicine  1983 - 1988 B.Sc. Honours University of Toronto  Faculty of Arts and Science  Specialist Programme in Molecular Genetics and Biology  Major Programme in Human Biology  Minor Programme in Physiology  Research Investigations  2009 - present Full Professor  Biomolecular Sciences Ph.D. Program  Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry  Department of Biology  Northern Ontario School of Medicine  Laurentian University  2006 - 2009 Associate Professor  Director, Biomolecular Sciences Ph.D. Program 2003-2009  Canada Research Chair in Biomolecular Sciences 2003-2009  Biomolecular Sciences Ph.D. Program  Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry  Department of Biology  Northern Ontario School of Medicine  Laurentian University  2003 - 2005 Assistant Professor Biomolecular Sciences Ph.D. Program  Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry  Department of Biology  Northern Ontario School of Medicine  Laurentian University  1997 - 2002 Assistant Professor of Medicine  Faculty, Division of Cardiovascular Disease and Critical Care Medicine  and Department of Immunology/Microbiology  Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center and University  1995 - 1997 Research Fellow  Department of Cancer Biology  Cleveland Clinic Foundation  1992 - 1997 Ph.D. University of Toronto Dept. of Molecular and Medical Genetics  Faculty of Medicine  1990 - 1992 M.Sc. University of Toronto  Dept. of Molecular and Medical Genetics  Faculty of Medicine  1983 - 1988 B.Sc. Honours University of Toronto  Faculty of Arts and Science  Specialist Programme in Molecular Genetics and Biology  Major Programme in Human Biology  Minor Programme in Physiology  Research Investigations 

Research Interest

Cytokine and transcription factor regulation: We are identifying infecting organism(s), cytokine profile (including IFNs, ILs and TNFs) and transcription factor profile (including STAT, IRF and NF-kB) in our models of sepsis. We are currently determining if modulation of these cytokines and transcription factors during the disease will increase viability. Apoptosis: We have shown that apoptosis occurs during sepsis and septic shock with an increase in caspase gene expression and activation. We are characterizing caspase gene family expression and are employing inhibitors of caspase activation as a drug therapy. Bacterial DNA and RNA: We have determined that bacterial DNA and RNA induce a depression of myocyte contraction. Regulation of the pathways involved in bacterial DNA and RNA dependent myocyte depression may lead to novel therapeutics. Global gene expression: We have determined that genes involved in the pro-inflammatory response, cell adhesion molecule regulation, apoptosis and cell cycle control are modulated during sepsis. We are using rationale drug design to alter deleterious gene expression patterns that occur during sepsis and septic shock.