Max Rady College of Medicine

Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Welcome to the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Established in 1884, we are dedicated to research and training in the area of infectious diseases of humans. We combine strong basic science research and graduate student training with excellence in clinical microbiology and infectious disease care and postgraduate clinical training. 

Coronavirus close-up

Established in 1896 as the Department of Bacteriology, Pathology and Histology, our department has a rich and evolving history, undergoing several transformations: Bacteriology and Serology (1916), Hygiene and Public Health (1923), Bacteriology and Immunology (1929), and Medical Microbiology (1967). 

In 2016, it became Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (MMID), emphasizing both pathogen research and disease treatment. 

With over a century of history, MMID remains a leader in medical research, integrating robust basic science, graduate student training, clinical microbiology and infectious disease care.

What we offer

The department supports a number of education programs, from undergraduate studies to post-doctoral training in specialty areas of microbiology.

Our story

Established in 1884 as the Department of Bacteriology, Pathology, and Histology, our department has a rich and evolving history.

It underwent several transformations, becoming Bacteriology and Hygiene in 1916, Bacteriology and Serology in 1919, Bacteriology and Immunology in 1929, and finally adopting the name Medical Microbiology in 1967. In 2016, the department evolved into Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (MMID), reflecting a heightened focus on both the pathogen and the patient's disease.

With a legacy dating back over a century, MMID remains at the forefront of medical research and care. The department seamlessly integrates robust basic science research and graduate student training with a commitment to excellence in clinical microbiology, infectious disease care, and postgraduate clinical training.

Watch a brief video to learn more about our department and what we offer.

Student supports

Resident working in a full protective suit.

UM is a community that cares. We offer a wide variety of supports to help you make the most of your time at university and reach your full potential. 

MMCF Jack Wilt Travel Award


Background

The Manitoba Medical College Foundation (MMCF) has established the MMCF – Jack Wilt Travel Award at the Winnipeg Foundation through gifts from Dr. John Charles (Jack) Wilt's friends, family, medical institutions, and conferences. This award aims to assist students with travel expenses for conference participation, funded by the annual income generated from the endowment.

Eligibility

To qualify for the award, applicants must be in good standing and attending a professional meeting or conference to present research results (poster or oral presentation). Eligible candidates are enrolled in either the postgraduate medical education program in the Department of Medical Microbiology at the Max Rady College of Medicine or the Adult or Pediatric Infectious Disease Residency Training Program at the same college. Requests for funding should include evidence of paper or poster presentation acceptance.

Selection procedure

The dean of the Max Rady College of Medicine (or designate) will appoint the selection committee, including the head of medical microbiology and infectious diseases (or designate). The University of Manitoba's board of governors retains the right to modify award terms with complete consultation with the Winnipeg Foundation if changed conditions necessitate adjustments.

Information flow

Financial aid and awards send the award selection form to the PGME awards coordinator.

The PGME awards coordinator forwards relevant award details to the department-based award administrator.

After selecting a candidate, the department-based awards administrator provides the resident's name, student number, and award amount to the PGME awards coordinator.

The PGME awards coordinator sends a signed, completed award selection form back to the Financial Aid and Awards Office for processing.

Award status information cannot be provided by the department or PGME office via email, phone, or in person.

Notification and disbursement

The Financial Aid and Awards Office communicates the award to the recipient through a notification letter. Once the cheque is issued, it goes to the PGME awards coordinator for disbursement to the department-based award administrator, who then forwards it to the successful candidate.

department Research

The department produces excellent research to continually develop our understanding of microbiology and infectious diseases. Some of our research strengths include:

  • Antimicrobial resistance

    • Global priority
    • National surveillance 
    • Resistance mechanisms

  • Host pathogen interactions

    • International research cohorts
    • Immunopathogenesis
    • Vaccine and immune therapeutic development 

  • HIV prevention and control

    • Largest critical mass of HIV public health and HIV academic researchers in Canada
    • Strong international programs
    • Consistently top three in CIHR-funded HIV research grants 
    • SWOP program - HIV prevention and care to 37,000 FSW, MSM

  • Viral pathogenesis

    • Includes high containment pathogens
    • Nationally unique facilities
    • Global leaders
Student working with a test-tube.

Undergraduate Research Awards

Each year, the University of Manitoba provides a multitude of unique learning opportunities through the undergraduate research awards. This program allows undergraduate students to interact with the best minds and research leaders in their fields. This experience opens them up to new possibilities for a research career in either government, academic or industry sectors.

Our researchers

Researcher profiles

Denice Bay

Denice Bay, PhD
Assistant professor

Dr. Denice Bay’s research program explores cationic antiseptic and antibiotic mechanisms of resistance and tolerance in Gram-negative, Gram-positive and Mycobacterial species. The Bay lab applies multi-omics, electron microscopy, and biochemical/ biophysical techniques to examine how efflux pumps, outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), and biofilm formation are altered by prolonged cationic antimicrobial (antiseptics) exposure.
Dr. Bay’s profile
Portrait of Kevin Coombs.

Kevin Coombs, BA, MA, PhD
Professor

Dr. Kevin Coombs is a professor in medical microbiology and infectious diseases. His research interests include:
• Using temperature-sensitive mammalian reovirus to analyze virus assembly
• Proteomic and RNAi-mediated analyses of cellular proteins involved in coronavirus, herpesvirus, influenza virus, mammalian reovirus and Zika virus replication and pathogenesis
• Use of harmless mammalian reovirus as a biomarker for waste water and medical device disinfection
• Mechanistic analyses of modes of action of selected anti-viral compounds
Dr. Coomb's profile
Dr. Keith Fowke.

Keith Fowke, BSc, PhD
Department head and professor

Dr. Fowke has established an active research laboratory which is currently focusing on several major areas of research. His research themes include:
• Prevention of HIV infection
• HIV cure
• Immune responses in respiratory virus infection and vaccination
• Immune effects of solvent use
Dr. Fowke's profile

Yoav Keynan, MD, PhD
Head, Section of Infectious Diseases, Associate professor

Dr. Keynan is an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Community Health Sciences. His research interests include:
• Lung infections in HIV
• Viral respiratory infections
• Tuberculosis
Dr. Keynan's profile
Portrait of Jason Kindrachuk

Jason Kindrachuk, PhD
Assistant professor

Dr. Jason Kindrachuk is an assistant professor in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba. His research interests include:
• Emerging virus pathogenisis
• Kinome analysis
• Host-pathogen interactions
• Virus surveillance
Dr. Kindrachuk’s profile
portrait of Julie Lajoie

Julie Lajoie, PhD

Dr. Lajoie's research program focuses on understanding how hormones and biological sex affect the immune response and our susceptibility to infectious diseases especially in HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Dr. Lajoie's profile
Portrait of Linda Larcombe.

Linda Larcombe, MA, PhD

Dr. Larcombe is a broadly trained anthropologist whose work is focused on First Nations history, health and collaborative research. Linda’s experience in archaeology, ancient DNA, history, traditional land use studies, medical anthropology, immunogenetics, and research with First Nation communities, brings a unique perspective to investigating the risk factors for infectious diseases.
/medicine/faculty-staff/linda-larcombe
Portrait of Lyle McKinnon.

Lyle McKinnon, BSc, PhD
Assistant professor

Dr. Lyle McKinnon is an assistant professor in medical microbiology and infectious diseases as well as community health sciences. Dr. McKinnon’s research interests include:
• Cell-mediated immunity
• HIV and STI epidemiology
• HIV transmission
• Inflammation
• Microbiome research
• Mucosal immunology of the female genital, gastrointestinal, and nasal tracts
• Tolerance mechanisms
Dr. McKinnon's profile
Portrait of Barbara Porto.

Bárbara Porto, PhD
Assistant professor

Dr. Bárbara Porto is an assistant professor in medical microbiology/infectious diseases at the Max Rady College of Medicine. Her research themes include:
• Innate immune response to respiratory viral infections
• Neutrophil and macrophage biology during respiratory viral infections
• Mechanisms of innate cell death triggered by respiratory viruses
• Lytic cell death and its role during respiratory viral infections
• Therapeutic targets for respiratory viral infections
Dr. Porto's profile
Portrait of Zulma Rueda.

Zulma Rueda, MD, PhD
Associate professor

Dr. Zulma Rueda is an associate professor in medical microbiology and infectious diseases. Her research focuses on:
• Identifying biomarkers for latent tuberculosis diagnosis
• Understanding risk, markers of exposure and TB progression among HIV infected individuals
• Epidemiological and statistical methods to understand disease acquisition and progression
Dr. Rueda's profile
Portrait of Xiao Jian Yao.

Xiao-Jian Yao, PhD

Dr. Xiao-Jian Yao is a professor in medical microbiology and infectious diseases and director of the laboratory of molecular human retrovirology at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Yao was one of a few scientists who first characterized the anti-HIV compound 3TC in vitro.
Dr. Yao's profile
Portrait of George Zhanel.

George Zhanel, PharmD, PhD, FCCP
Professor

Dr. George Zhanel is a professor in medical microbiology/infectious diseases at the Max Rady College of Medicine and Research Director of the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA). His research themes include:
• Antimicrobial resistant infections
• Diagnostics
• Discovery and development
• Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics
• Treatment and prevention of infection
• Vaccines
Dr. Zhanel's profile
Denice Bay
Portrait of Kevin Coombs.
Dr. Keith Fowke.
Portrait of Jason Kindrachuk
portrait of Julie Lajoie
Portrait of Linda Larcombe.
Portrait of Lyle McKinnon.
Portrait of Barbara Porto.
Portrait of Zulma Rueda.
Portrait of Xiao Jian Yao.
Portrait of George Zhanel.

Our researchers

Explore the links below to learn more about our groundbreaking researchers, including:

Search UM's expert directory

Community and partners

We are proud to partner with organizations worldwide to improve public health in the field of infectious diseases on an international scale.

Faculty and staff

Our team

Our department is run by award-winning faculty and staff who are dedicated and passionate about their contributions to the field of medical microbiology. Contact us to learn more about our department and what we have to offer.

News and stories

View more news and stories

You may also be looking for...

Contact us

Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Max Rady College of Medicine
Room 543 - 745 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9 Canada

MMID1@umanitoba.ca
204-789-3299
204-789-3926