Bosco Chan, Scientist - BioTherapeutics Research Group
RESEARCH SUMMARY


The research interest of Bosco Chan is in the study of cell movement.
Regulated cell movement represents an essential feature in diverse biological processes which include embryogenesis, wound healing, tumour metastasis and immune surveillance. Cell movement within tissue requires interactions with diverse stromal matrix proteins, such as collagen, fibronectin and laminin. Two research foci are pursued. The first research focus is an understanding of how integrins, the major receptors for extracellular matrix proteins, mediate the ability of the cell to remain stationary or motile. The second research focus is an understanding of how cells are regulated to undergo random (chemokinesis) and/or directional (chemotaxis) migration through the mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase A pathways, which in turn, affect the balance in the activation of Rho GTPases for cytoskeletal rearrangement. The biological significance of chemokinesis and chemotaxis is assessed in tumour metastasis and maturation of T lymphocytes in the thymus.


Key Research Issues:

Delineate the signaling pathways that differentially regulate chemokinesis and chemotaxis.
Assess how modulation of chemokinesis and chemotaxis impact T lymphocyte maturation in the thymus and distribution of tumor foci within tissues.



EDUCATION & AWARDS:

Education Ph.D., University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Training Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard Medical School

Awards Scholarship Award, Medical Research Council
Operating Grant, Canadian Institute of Health Research
Operating Grant, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Canadian Foundation for Innovation
Centennial Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Medical Research Council: Harvard Medical School
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Medical Research Council: Harvard Medical School
Cancer Research Institute Fellowship: Massachusetts Institute of Technology


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Ho, W.-C., Heinemann, C., D. Hangan, S. Uniyal, V.L. Morris, and B.M.C. Chan (1997) Modulation of in vivo migratory function of a2b1 integrin in mouse liver. Mol. Biol. Cell 8: 1863-1875.

2. Chan, B.M.C., H. Zhang, H. Wang, S. Uniyal, B. Garcia, J. Wang and R. Zhong (1998) Treatment of cardiac allografts with established leukocyte infiltration by modulation of a4 and LFA-1 integrin function. Transplantation 66: 277-283

3. Uniyal, S., L. Boeters, S. Chakrabarti, B. Singh, and B.M.C. Chan (1999) Leukocyte infiltrate utilizes both a4 and a5 integrins to remain within b-islets of nonobese diabetic mice" J. Autoimmunity 12: 167-176.

4. Pickering, J.G., L.H. Chow, S. Li, K.A. Rogers, E. Rocnik, R. Zhong and B.M.C. Chan (2000) a5b1 integrin expression and fibronectin matrix assembly by smooth muscle cells at the luminal edge following arterial injury. Am. J. Pathol. 156: 453-465.

5. Ho, W.-C., S. Uniyal, S.O. Meakin, V.L. Morris and B.M.C. Chan, (2001) "A differential role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in stimulated PC12 Pheochromocytoma cell movement" Exp. Cell Res. 263: 254-264.


CONTACT INFO

Bosco M.C. Chan
Bio Therapeutics Research Group
Robarts Research Institute
P.O. Box 5015, 100 Perth Drive
London, ON N6A 5K8
Canada
Phone: (519) 663-5777 ext. 1-34206 Fax: (519) 663-3789
E-mail: bosco@robarts.ca

Bibi Pettypiece
Administrative Assistant
bpettypiece @robarts.ca
(519) 663-5777 ext. 34083