Brian K. Coombes, Ph.D., FAAM
Professor and Chair
Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology
Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences
Brian Coombes received his BSc in Biochemistry (1997) and his PhD in Medical Sciences (2002) from McMaster University. From 2002-2006 he was a CIHR and Michael Smith Foundation postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia’s Michael Smith Laboratories in Vancouver working in the lab of Dr. Brett Finlay, a world leader in microbial pathogenesis. There, he trained in molecular and cellular microbiology, investigating the mechanisms by which bacteria use virulence factors to modify the host environment.
In 2006 he joined the Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences and established an active research program in infectious diseases and host-pathogen interactions. The lab's major focus is on drug-resistant bacteria associated with acute and chronic human diseases including Crohn’s disease. He is the past recipient of the CIHR New Investigator Award (2007-2011), the Scientific Merit Award from the Public Health Agency of Canada (2007) and the Fisher Scientific Prize (2012). In 2010, Brian was inducted into Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, in 2016 received the title of University Scholar, and in 2023 was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.
ACHIEVEMENTS
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American Society for Microbiology Young Investigator Award (2006)
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Most Promising Researcher Merit Award, Public Health Agency of Canada (2007)
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CIHR New Investigator Award (2007)
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Early Researcher Award, Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (2008)
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Boehringer Ingelheim Young Investigator Award (2010)
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Canada Top 40 Under 40 (2010)
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Canada Research Chair (2011, 2016)
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Fisher Scientific Award (2012)
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University Scholar (2016)
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Board of Directors, Association of Medical and Graduate Departments of Biochemistry (2019)
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Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (2023)
LAB MEMBERS
Meet the team
Lena Darwish
MSc Student
Lena completed a BSc in Biochemistry and is now a graduate student in the lab studying immunomodulatory host-microbe interactions with adherent invasive E. coli (AIEC) in Crohn's disease models.
Katie Iacobucci
M.Sc. Student
Katie completed her undergraduate thesis in the lab and joined the lab as a graduate student in May 2023. Her project explores how host processes and xenobiotics influence behavior of enteric pathogens in the gut. Outside the lab, Katie is a member of McMaster's recreational dance team and enjoys reading and hiking.
Claudia Rodriguez
PhD Student
Claudia completed her BSc at the University of Havana and worked at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of Cuba. She completed her Masters in Microbiology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she evaluated the protective efficacy of a passive immunization therapy against A. fumigatus.
Yeganeh Yousefi
Research Laboratory Technician
Yeganeh completed her MSc degree in Medical Sciences at McMaster University studying IBD models. After this, she worked at the London Health Sciences Centre as a Research Assistant before returning to McMaster in the Coombes lab. Yeganeh's research interests are in microbiota/host immune system interactions.
Aline Fiebig
Research Technician
Aline is a Research Technician in the Coombes lab who joined the group in 2015. Prior to joining the lab, she worked abroad at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry near Munich and at the Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute at McMaster.
Marie-Ange Massicotte
PhD Student
Marie-Ange completed an MSc at Laval University studying the adaptation of a pathogenic bacteria. In the Coombes lab, Marie-Ange is studying host immune evasion by intracellular bacteria. Marie-Ange holds a Canada Graduate Scholarship from CIHR and a doctoral award from Fonds de recherche du Québec.
Melissa Speagle
MSc Student
Melissa has a BHSc in Biochemistry with a Biomedical Research Specialization. As a graduate student in the lab, she is interested in drug development for invasive non-Typhoidal Salmonella. Outside the lab, Melissa enjoys teaching or taking dance classes, thrifting, and visiting her favourite spots in Hamilton.
Lab Alumni
Daniel Fry
Thesis student
Daniel is in the Biochemistry co-op program. His project focuses on the effects of stress on E. coli in various animal models. Outside the lab, Daniel enjoys swimming, powerlifting, and street photography.
Isha Masood
Thesis Student
Isha is an undergraduate student in the Biomedical Discovery & Commercialization program and joined the lab in the summer of 2023 as part of her fourth-year thesis. Her project focuses on studying E. coli-host-interactions in various cell types. Outside the lab, Isha enjoys swimming, playing football, and watching movies.
Dr. Megan Zangara
Postdoctoral Fellow
Megan is originally from the United States and received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University and Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Her dissertation research examined the role of diet as a modifiable factor of inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis. Outside of the lab, Megan enjoys reading, going to the gym, and hiking.