Christopher Pascoe, PhD

Cross appointments

Does not hold any cross appointments.

Research summary

Chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are significant health burdens in Canadians. Research shows that both genetic and environmental risk factors are important in the development of these conditions. Although treatments exist to manage the symptoms, individuals with chronic respiratory disease still suffer significant morbidity and mortality. Through an understanding of how the early life environment influences risk for chronic disease, it may be possible to develop strategies and treatments that reduce risk and prevent disease development.

Dr. Pascoe’s team uses animal and cell models, and human clinical samples to address two research focuses: 

1. How lipid mediators regulate normal lung cellular physiology. These signaling molecules, known as oxylipins, are known to regulate a diverse set of cellular functions but their role in regulating lung physiology remains largely unexplored. Dr. Pascoe’s team uses cell based model of airway cells (airway smooth muscle, airway fibroblasts and airway epithelium) to explore both the types of oxylipins produced by cells and how these oxylipins regulate cellular physiology. By understanding what cellular processes these oxylipins influence in the lung, we can begin to understand the importance of these understudied molecules in the respiratory system. 
2. How the environment influences the pathophysiology and developmental origins of chronic respiratory disease. The environment plays a key role in determining risk for and development of chronic respiratory diseases. Exposure to cigarette smoke, maternal diabetes and e-cigarettes are associated with deficits in lung health. Dr. Pascoe’s team uses animal and cell based models, along with clinical samples, to study how the environment changes cell function and lung health. His team measures changes in cellular transcriptomes, lipidomes, and proteomes to determine whether these changes relate to changes in lung function. His team focuses on whether exposure maternal smoking, maternal diabetes or e-cigarettes promote future lung disease.

Research theme

• Pathophysiology and developmental origins of chronic airway disease

Research interests

• Asthma
• COPD
• Airway smooth muscle
• In utero exposure
• Oxylipins
• Amniotic fluid
• Cigarette smoke
• Maternal diabetes
• E-cigarettes

Research groups

Research groups include:

• Biology of Breathing Theme (BoB)
• Canadian Respiratory Research Network

Research affiliation

• Principal investigator, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)