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PEOPLE |
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Kirk J. McManus, PhD (Principal Investigator) |
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Professor (March 2021 - present) |
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Associate Professor (March 2015 - March 2021) |
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Assistant Professor (June 2009 - March 2015) |
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Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics University of Manitoba |
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Senior Scientist (June 2009 - present) |
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CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba |
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Education/Training |
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Post-doctoral Fellowship - Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada |
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PhD (Oncology) - Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (2004) |
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MSc (Human Genetics) - University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada (1999) |
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BSc (Honors Genetics) - University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada (1995) |
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Contact Information |
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Dr. Kirk McManus is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics at the University of Manitoba. He is also a Senior Scientist within the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute housed within CancerCare Manitoba. He received a BSc (1995) and an MSc (1999) from the University of Manitoba and moved to Edmonton, Alberta to conduct his PhD studies (1999) in Oncology under the supervision of Dr. Michael Hendzel. There he studied the regulation and dynamics of post-translational histone modifications and their influence on chromosome segregation. His post-doctoral studies were performed with Dr. Phil Hieter at the Michael Smith Laboratories in Vancouver, BC, where he utilized cross-species approaches to identify genes that regulate chromosome stability and characterize their impact on cancer development. Dr. McManus joined the University of Manitoba in June, 2009, and his research interests focus on identifying and characterizing genes that regulate chromosome stability in a cancer context and exploiting these characteristics to identify novel therapeutic targets. He currently couples genetics, biochemistry and cellular biology along with innovative digital imaging microscopy to identify both genes and targets of interest. |
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Kailee Rutherford (PhD Student) |
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BSc (Honors; Genetics) - University of Manitoba |
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Colorectal cancer is one of most common cancers diagnosed in Canada, but the genetic defects causing it still remain poorly understood. Chromosome instability (CIN: ongoing chromosome gains/losses) occurs in over 80% of colorectal cancers and drives cancer development and progression. Despite these prevalent oncogenic roles, causal genes (i.e. CIN genes) remain largely unknown. Genetic defects giving rise to CIN have been observed in pathways regulating cell cycle control, mitotic spindle assembly and DNA damage repair. My project seeks to expand our basic understanding of specific genes, that when mutated or abnormally expressed, give rise to CIN. Accordingly, my work will provide novel insight into the underlying mechanisms leading to colorectal cancer, which may ultimately lead to novel targeted therapies to improve patient outcomes not only in colorectal cancer, but in a diverse array of cancer types. |
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Ally Farrell (MSc Student) |
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BSc - University of Manitoba |
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High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer and remains the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Unfortunately, >80% of patients will experience tumor recurrence and are often diagnosed with chemoresistant disease. One of the fundamental drivers of disease recurrence and drug resistance in many cancer types is chromosome instability (CIN; continual changes in chromosome complements). The McManus laboratory recently identified a number of new CIN genes (i.e., aberrant expression induces CIN) in HGSOC cell contexts. Although the role of CIN in HGSOC pathogenesis has yet to be fully elucidated, it is of great interest for its potential clinical utility in the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Accordingly, my project seeks to identify candidate drug targets that exploit genetic defects in CIN genes to ultimately improve the lives and outcomes of women living with HGSOC. |
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Rubi Campos Gudiño (MSc Student) |
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BSc Bioengineering - Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali, Mexico |
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Cancer is the leading cause of deaths in Canada with 2 in 5 Canadians expected to be diagnosed during their lifetime and 1 in 4 predicted to succumb to the disease. As such, understanding what drives cancer development and progression is essential to develop new and effective treatments to improve the lives and outcomes of those living with the disease. Chromosome instability (CIN) refers to ongoing changes in chromosome numbers, and while it is a driving force of cancer development, the abnormal genes and pathways causing CIN remain largely unknown. Our pilot data show that reduced expression of FBXO5 (or EMI1), induces CIN, but the mechanism by which this occurs has yet to be determined. Accordingly, my project will use state-of-the-art genetics and microscopy techniques to ‘turn off’ FBXO5 to determine the impact reduced FBXO5 expression has on CIN and oncogenesis in a colorectal cancer model (CRC), where CIN occurs in ~85% of cases. Understanding the role of FBXO5 and its impact on CIN will provide novel insight into the origins of CRC and may also reveal new therapeutic options to improve the lives of those living with cancer. |
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Zelda Lichtensztejn (Lab Manager) |
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MSc (Human Genetics) - Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (1994) |
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Mirka Sliwowski (Research Laboratory Assistant) |
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Diploma (Chemical & Biosciences Technology) - Red River College, Winnipeg (2004) |
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Demi Andromidas (Research Laboratory Assistant) |
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BSc - University of Manitoba |
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Amy Johnson (Undergraduate Summer Student) |
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BSc - University of Manitoba |
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Lukas Lam (Undergraduate Summer Student) |
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BSc - University of Manitoba |
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SINGLE CELL TECHNOLOGIES PERSONNEL |
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Arshani Alukumbura (SCT Platform Technician) |
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BSc (Honors) - University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka |
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MSc - University of Manitoba |
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Nicole Neudorf (SCT Platform Technician) |
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BSc - University of Manitoba |
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MSc - University of Manitoba |
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Kyle Valentino (CRISPR Technician) |
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HBSc - University of Toronto, Scarbrough |
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ALUMNI |
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Abby Edmond (Undergraduate Summer Student) |
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Alyssa Cohen (Undergraduate Summer Student) |
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Tooba Razi (Undergraduate Summer Student & Research Technician) |
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Raghvendra Vishwakarma (Research Associate) |
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Lucile Jeusset (PhD Student) |
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Michaela Palmer (MSc Student) |
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Cindy Atayan (Co-op Student) |
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Gillian Boychuk (Undergraduate Summer Student) |
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Nicole Wilson (MSc Student) |
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Claire Morden (MSc Student) |
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Manisha Bungsy (MSc Student) |
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Chloe Lepage (Project Student, MSc Student & Research Technician) |
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Morgan Hiebert (Co-op Student) |
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Laura Thompson (PhD Student) |
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Yasamin Asbaghi (MSc Student) |
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Lexis Johannson (Undergraduate Summer Student) |
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Erin McAndrew (MSc Student) |
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Megan Neufeld (Co-op Student) |
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Allison Baergen (Summer Student, Research Assistant & BSc (Med) Student) |
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Tarik Leylek (Research Assistant & BSc (Med) Student) |
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Brent Guppy (PhD Student) |
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Signe Penner-Goeke (Undergraduate Summer Student & Research Assistant) |
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Amy Cisyk (MSc Student & Research Technician) |
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Babu Sajesh (Post-doctoral Fellow & Research Associate) |
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Aaron MacAulay (Undergraduate Summer Student/Project Student) |
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Rehan Khan (Post-doctoral Fellow) |
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Brittany Kessler (Undergraduate Summer Student) |
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Laryssa Sawchuk (Undergraduate Summer Student/Project Student) |
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Nermin Moujani (Undergraduate Summer Student/Project Student) |
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Jeff Schachter (Undergraduate Student) |
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