Researcher Profile: Dr. Jason LeBlanc

Dr. Jason LeBlanc

Dr. LeBlanc is a certified Clinical Microbiologist and Director of Virology, Immunology, and Molecular Microbiology in the Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (DPLM) at NSHA and has affiliations with Dalhousie University as an Associate Professor in the Departments of Pathology, Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology. He is an investigator for the Serious Outcomes Surveillance Network of the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN SOS Network) and active member of the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology (CCfV).

What is your current research project?
Within the CIRN SOS Network, I have been afforded many opportunities and have been immersed in many interesting collaborative research projects. My particular area of expertise is molecular diagnostics and molecular epidemiology, and I have helped develop new laboratory methods to better our understanding of the burden of respiratory illnesses caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, influenza virus, or new or emerging microbial threats to public health.

How did you become interested in your research topic?
To be honest, my interest in vaccine-preventable diseases was serendipitous, and I had lots of help along the way. Whether studying pathogenesis, epidemiology or diagnostics, I have always had research interests with a molecular techniques at its backbone. On the other hand, the ability to perform the translational research required to make informed decisions on vaccine use in Canada has been guided by my two mentors, Drs. Todd Hatchette and Shelly McNeil. Dr. Hatchette, the service chief in the Division of Microbiology, has helped to guide my career path and establish my research profile. Dr. Shelly McNeil, head of Infectious Diseases and principal investigator of the CIRN SOS Network, has captivated my interest in vaccine-preventable diseases and assisted in the dissemination of my research both nationally and internationally.

What has been unexpected about your findings so far?
Our research has helped assess the need for adult immunization with conjugated pneumococcal vaccine, given the anticipated herd immunity from childhood immunization. In a recent publication from the CIRN SOS Network, we described that a significant proportion of pneumonia in adults was attributed to vaccine-preventable S. pneumoniae. Over the years, this proportion declined through herd immunity, but one vaccine serotype (i.e. serotype 3) emerged to become predominant. The persistence of serotype 3 was surprising given conjugate vaccines were shown to be effective against this serotype.

We concluded that herd immunity afforded from childhood vaccination was insufficient to provide protection to adult against pneumococcal disease. Ongoing surveillance will be required to assess the potential benefits of direct adult immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, and whether it will help reduce the burden of serotype 3.

What’s innovative about your research?
Before our studies, little was known about the burden of pneumonia attributed to S. pneumoniae in hospitalized Canadian adults. There was also a paucity of data describing the distribution of S. pneumoniae serotypes causing in this patient population.

One word that best describes how you work: Collaboratively!

What technology can’t you live without?
Given I develop molecular methods to help the identification and understand the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases, I could not live without sequencing technology. Sequencing allows us to understand the fundamental basis of all living things, and the genetic code within DNA can be exploited to develop diagnostic methods to identify pathogens or understand their evolution.

How do you envision your research benefiting the “public at large”?
Understanding the epidemiology of diseases and the impact of vaccine, enables us to determine who would benefit from specific vaccines. Data generated by the CIRN SOS Network on the burden of pneumococcal disease and serotype distribution has, and continues to help the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) make informed recommendations for use of pneumococcal vaccines in adults. We have shown that older adults are at risk of pneumococcal pneumonia and most of this disease is vaccine-preventable. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is now recommended for individual use in adults.

Researcher Profile: Dr. Noreen Walsh

What is your current research project?

Dr. Noreen Walsh

As a Dermatopathologist involved in patient care my research broadly involves diseases of the skin. My particular focus has been the study of a rare but lethal skin tumor called Merkel cell carcinoma, one with a much higher mortality rate than malignant melanoma.  

Affecting elderly and immunosuppressed individuals, this rapidly growing cancer occurs mainly on the head or neck. Although some patients are cured by surgery and irradiation, the tendency of the lesion to spread quickly to other organs, and the absence of effective therapy for disseminated disease, often lead to a fatal outcome. In a high proportion of cases a virus (Merkel cell polyoma virus) is thought to cause the cancer while sun-damage is responsible for the remainder.  My research has focused on defining different subsets of this disease based on microscopic appearances, viral status, protein expression by tumor cells and their genetic profiles.  In fine-tuning the characteristics of any disease the goal is to foster prognostic accuracy and to facilitate development of novel and effective treatments.

How did you become interested in your research topic?

Serendipity sparked my interest in Merkel cell carcinoma. Almost 20 years ago, in the course of examining cases for diagnostic purposes I made the little-known observation that Merkel cell carcinomas could have different appearances under the microscope.  In essence, some had a pure (homogenous) pattern and others a combined (mixed) pattern.  In time, this core observation led to recognition of the diversity of the tumor with respect to its inherent pathological characteristics, its underlying causes, its biological implications and its susceptibility to innovative targeted therapies. I have fortunately been able to make several contributions to this unfolding story since the original “Eureka moment.” 

On this journey I have been supported by colleagues and students within and outside of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (DPLM) and by funding from the Nova Scotia Health Authority Research Fund and the DPLM Fund for Molecular Pathology housed at the QE II Foundation.

What has been unexpected about your findings so far?

In embarking on this research I was unaware that the cohort of cases of Merkel cell carcinoma in the Maritime Provinces of Canada would be different from those in other geographic zones, nationally and internationally. The relatively high proportion of cases of “combined Merkel call carcinoma” in this region afforded me an unexpected opportunity to study this otherwise rare variant of the tumor and compare it with the more common “pure Merkel cell carcinoma”.

What’s innovative about your research?

Merkel cell carcinoma, first described in 1972, was historically considered to be one tumor.  The innovative aspect of my research has been in disclosing the diversity of this type of cancer. Following an initial morphological observation I engaged in sequential scientific studies which corroborated and expanded upon the seminal findings.   Recognition of different subsets of the tumor is now an important component of ongoing research in the area. 

One word that best describes how you work: Thoughtfully!

What technology can’t you live without?

The microscope.  In the words of the American scholar Theodore Roszak  “Nature composes some of her loveliest poems for the microscope and the telescope.” By interpreting those poems we can be of benefit to humanity.

How do you envision your research benefiting the “public at large” ?

Medical research benefits “the public at large” by enhancing health and/or preventing or curing disease.  A key premise in this context is a comprehensive understanding of the disease in question.  By delineating different subsets of Merkel cell carcinoma different causative factors have been unveiled which could, in time, serve to diminish the incidence of the disease. Moreover, informed by the “molecular fingerprints” of different disease subsets there is the potential for accurate deployment of novel targeted therapies. These have already begun to make a positive impact on the treatment of patients worldwide with Merkel cell carcinoma.