Nicol | Sinclair Cancer Research Institute | School of Medicine

Christopher Nicol PhD

Position(s)

Director, CBG Division

Principal Investigator, CBG Division

Contact Info

nicolc@queensu.ca

613-533-6531

Faculty Bio:

BSc (Specialist in Human Biology), PhD (Pharmacology and Toxicology Collaborative Program); University of Toronto.

Research Interests:

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs)

Research in my laboratory is focused on the cell-specific roles of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), of which there are three family members (alpha, delta/beta and gamma), with respect to cancer. PPARs are ligand-activated transcription factors, belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily, that regulate expression of downstream target genes containing specific promoter recognition sequences known as peroxisome proliferator responsive elements (PPREs). PPARs are themselves expressed in a number of cell/tissue types. For example, PPARg expression has been identified in adipocytes (fat cells), and cells of the breast, liver, colon, prostate, and cardiovascular and immune systems. Several synthetic compounds used to successfully treat various human disorders for many years, and now identified as PPAR ligands, helped establish critical regulatory roles for PPARs in lipid and glucose metabolism. Interestingly, in vitro and in vivo studies since the late 1990s have suggested the PPARs may play important roles in carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms linking PPARs to the regulation of cell growth and transformation are only partially understood.

Currently, our goal is to gain a thorough understanding of the processes involved in breast cancer at the genetic, cellular and whole body levels. The laboratory is using state-of-the-art methods to complement in vivo PPAR knockout mouse studies with in vitro and molecular techniques. Ultimately, we aim to develop innovative strategies for identifying those individuals at increased risk for breast cancer, improve the effectiveness of the therapeutic approaches used, and hopefully prevent this disease in susceptible populations.

Publications

Nicol Lab

Faculty

Abraham, Sheela A., Principal Investigator (CBG Division)

Allingham, Dr.John, Prof, Associate member, SCRI

Ashworth, MD, FRCPC, Allison, Assistant Professor

Baetz, Tara, Member, Division of Cancer Clinical Trials

Basta, Dr.Sam, Prof, Associate member, SCRI

Berman, David M., Principal Investigator, CBG Division

Biagi, Jim, Member, Division of Cancer Clinical Trials

Bingshu, Chen, Senior Biostatistician, CCTG

Booth, Christopher, Director, CCE Division

Brundage, Michael, MSc, FRCPC, MD

Chen, Bingshu, Senior Biostatistician, CCTG

Cottrell, Tricia, Senior Investigator, CCTG

Craig, Andrew, Director, Sinclair Cancer Research Institute

Dancey, Janet, Director, CCTG

Davey, Scott K., past CBG Division

Ding, Keyue, Biostatistician, CCTG

Feilotter, Harriet, Senior Scientist, CCTG

Flemming, Jennifer, Principal Investigator, CCE Division

Galica, PhD, RN, CON(C), Jacqueline, Associate Professor

Gaudreau, Pierre-Olivier, Senior Investigator, Investigational New Drug Program, CCTG

Gauthier, Isabelle, Senior Scientist, Business Development & Collaborations, CCTG

Gee, Dr.Katrina, Prof, Associate member, SCRI

Gooding, Robert, Member, Division of Cancer Biology & Genetics

Graham, Charles, Member, Division of Cancer Biology & Genetics

Greer, Peter A., Principal Investigator, CBG Division

Groome, Patti, Professor Emerita, CCE Division

Gyawali, Bishal, Principal Investigator, CCE Division

Hanna, Timothy, Principal Investigator, CCE Division

Hay, Annette, Senior Investigator, CCTG

Izard, Jason, Member, Division of Cancer Care & Epidemiology

Koti, Madhuri, Principal Investigator, CBG Division

Kubes, Paul, Professor, CBG Division

Madarnas, Yolanda, Member, Division of Cancer Biology & Genetics

Mahar, Alyson, Principal Investigator, CCE Division

Massey, Thomas, Member, Division of Cancer Biology & Genetics

Mathews, MBBS, MD, Jean, Assistant Professor, Division of Palliative Medicine

Merchant, Shaila, Associate Professor

Mueller, Christopher R., Principal Investigator, CBG Division

Mulligan, Lois, Principal Investigator, CBG Division

Nanji, Sulaiman, Associate Professor

Nicol, Christopher, Director, CBG Division

O'Callaghan, Chris, Senior Investigator, CCTG

Othman, Maha, Professor, Associate Member SCRI

Panchenko, Anna, Professor, DBMS; Sr. Investigator, OICR

Parulekar, Wendy, Senior Investigator, CCTG

Patel, Sunil, Principal Investigator, CCE Division

Pater, Joseph, Senior Investigator, CCTG

Peng, Yingwei (Paul), Biostatistician, CCE Division

Petitjean, Anne, Member, Division of Cancer Clinical Trials

Petkovich, P. Martin, Principal Investigator, CBG Division

Postovit, Lynne-Marie, Head, Dept. of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences

Raptis, Leda, Member, Division of Cancer Biology & Genetics

Rauh, Michael, Member, Division of Cancer Biology & Genetics

Renwick, Neil, Assistant Professor, Translational RNA Biology

Richardson, Harriet, Investigator, CCTG and CCE divisions

Robinson, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Andrew, Associate Professor

Rushton-Marovac, Moira, Senior Investigator, CCTG

Schreiner, John, Member, Division of Cancer Clinical Trials

Seymour, Lesley, Director, Investigational New Drug Program, the Canadian Cancer Trials Group

Shepherd, Lois, Senior Investigator, CCTG

Siemens, Robert, Member, Division of Cancer Care & Epidemiology

Simpson, Amber, Senior Scientist, CCTG

Szewczuk, Dr.Myron, Prof, Associate member, SCRI

Talbot, Dr.Sebastien, Associate Prof, Associate member, SCRI

Tu, Dongsheng, Senior Biostatistician, CCTG

Tu, Wei, Senior Biostatistician, CCTG

Wijeratne, MSc, MD, Don Thiwanka, Associate Professor

Wilson, MBBS, MSc, FRACP, Brooke, Assistant Professor

Winn, Louise, Member, Division of Cancer Biology & Genetics

Yang, Xiaolang, Member, Division of Cancer Biology & Genetics

Yeates, MPH, MD, Karen, Professor

Ynoe de Moraes, Fabio, Principal Investigator, CCE Division

Team

Faculty Bio:

Research Interests:

Nicol Lab

Faculty