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Welcome to the Graham Lab at Queen's University

Our research explores certain aspects of cancer progression as well as complications of pregnancy and their impact on subsequent health. Over the years, our research in cancer has focused on investigating mechanisms by which the tumour microenvironment contributes to malignant progression, and one of our longstanding interests has been on studying the effects of tissue oxygenation on the acquisition of malignant properties by cancer cells. More recently, our emphasis has been on examining the interactions between cancer cells and immune cells and on how such interactions can either promote survival or elimination of tumour cells. Our pregnancy research focuses on understanding the role of aberrant inflammation in the pathophysiology of pregnancy complications and on how inflammation can increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease later in life in the affected mothers and their offspring.

Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario from Graham Lab in Botterell Hall
Imaging Mass Cytometry
Imaging mass cytometry facilitates preliminary assessment of immune cell complexity and spatial organization in histological sections. Matched human TURBT tissues collected from three patients before and after BCG therapy were stained using a 15-marker human-specific panel. A. Representative pseudocoloured 16-bit images from matched TURBT samples. B. Using this 15-marker panel, immune cell populations can be resolved into 14 clusters using the unbiased ‘PhenoGraph’ algorithm developed by the Bodenmiller Lab (1). C. Assessment of immune cell population shifts associated with BCG therapy. Scale bars in A = 250 mm.
1          Schapiro, D. et al. histoCAT: analysis of cell phenotypes and interactions in multiplex image cytometry data. Nat. Methods 14, 873-876, doi:10.1038/nmeth.4391 (2017).
Ultrasound, Histopathology & Flow Cytometry
Orthotopic MB49 mouse model of NMIBC. A. Orthotopic tumours (T) invading into the bladder lumben (*) are detectable via ultrasound seven days post tumour cell instillation. B. Histopathological assessment of a sagittally sectioned bladdder reveals NMIBC at low and high power (C.). D. Immune complexity of untreated MB49 tumours (n=6) collected on day 7 post tumour cell instillation as evaluated by flow cytometry.

Opportunities

We are not actively recruiting at this time. However, applications from highly qualified individuals will be considered.