Gillis Lab

Welcome to the Gillis Lab. This lab, led by Dr. Todd Gillis, is focused on the vertebrate heart and the mechanisms that regulate it’s function and ability to remodel in response to a physiological stressor. Ongoing projects include:

  • Examining cardiac remodeling in zebrafish and trout in response to thermal acclimation
  • Characterizing the role of the troponin complex in regulating the function of striated muscle
  • Examining the function of the hagfish heart during prolonged anoxia exposure
  • Characterizing how bitumen exposure of sockeye salmon early life stages influences cardiac development and aerobic fitness.

We use a number of approaches in these studies that integrate functional experiments with molecular and proteomic tools to examine gene and protein expression/phosphorylation. This integration provides insight into the cellular mechanisms that underpin identified functional changes.

There are currently positions in the lab for 2 PhD students. These are detailed in the “Opportunities” page. Please explore our current work via the “Research page” and then contact Dr. Gillis via email regarding your interests.

Ultrasound video of zebrafish heart working in vivo

Barkley sound from Bamfield Marine Station on Vancouver Island

Pulling hagfish trap from ~1000 m off of St. Croix

Barkley Sound from Bamfield Marine Science Center on Vancouver Island, Summer 2022

Pulling hagfish trap from ~1000 m off of St. Croix

Pulling hagfish trap from ~1000 m off of St. Croix

Pulling hagfish trap from ~1000 m off of St. Croix, Summer 2022

Field work, St. Croix, Summer 2022

Field work, St. Croix, Summer 2022

Field work, St. Croix, Summer 2022

Field work, St. Croix, Summer 2022

Field work, St. Croix, Summer 2022

Field work, St. Croix, Summer 2022

Gillis Lab News

 

            Globe and Mail, CTV, CBC

  • February 2017. Calli Freedman is awarded an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Congratulations Calli!
  • November 2016. Invited Review published in the Journal of Experimental Biology entitled: Temperature-induced cardiac remodeling in fish. Authors are Drs. Adam Keen (Oxford), Jordan Klaiman (U Washington), Holly Shiels (Manchester) and Todd Gillis.

Research in the Gillis Lab