 | Dr. Heather WilsonNeonatal Immunization
Group
|
Biography
Heather completed her Doctoral degree in Biochemistry at the University of Saskatchewan and joined VIDO-InterVac as a Research Scientist I in 2006. A member and Project Leader within the Neonatal Immunization Research Group, Heather's primary focus is the development of a novel vaccination strategy in which breast milk acts as the "route of administration" for a neonatal mucosal vaccine. Currently, her active research programs include establishing mammary tissue expression of host defense peptides for immunotherapeutic applications and using host defense peptides to combat cellulitis in chickens.
Responsibilities:
♦ Project Leader: Milk-Derived Vaccination of Neonates
♦ Associate Member: Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan
Education:
♦ University of Saskatchewan, Department of Biochemistry, Ph.D. 2002
Relevant Work Exprerience:
2006-Present. VIDO Research Scientist II
2002-2006. VIDO Research Scientist I
Expertise:
Neonatal Vaccinology, High-throughput genomic analysis, Elucidating mechanism of adjuvant signaling.
Major Accomplishments:
♦ Elucidating co-signals required for T cell and antigen-independent B lymphocyte activation
♦ Introduce system to tract host defense peptide (and other adjuvant) retention at sites of injection and/or systemic migration.
♦ Establish that host defence peptides suppress transcriptional responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide and promote T cell anergy
Current Research Areas:
♦Design of novel neonatal vaccines,
♦Prophylactic treatment of host defense peptides to combat cellulitis in birds and Neonatal Diarrheal Disease in ruminants.
