Jason Kindrachuk, PhD, CRC

Research summary

Dr. Kindrachuk’s research focuses on the circulation, transmission and pathogenesis of emerging viruses that pose the greatest threat to global human and animal health. These have included ebolaviruses, coronaviruses and influenza viruses. Past and present findings from his investigations will help inform therapeutic treatment and development strategies, outbreak prediction and preparedness efforts. He is also actively involved in emerging virus surveillance efforts through the Consortium for Intercepting Emerging Diseases in Africa (CIEDA).

Research themes

Emerging virus circulation, transmission and preparedness

Research interests

• Emerging virus pathogenesis
• Kinome analysis
• Host-pathogen interactions
• Virus surveillance
• One health

Keywords

• Emerging viruses
• Host-pathogen interactions
• Filoviruses
• Coronaviruses
• Kinome
• Blood-tissue barriers
• Public health

Research affiliations

• Investigator, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)
• Visiting scientist, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)
• Visiting scientist, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
• Visiting scientist, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Research groups

Consortium for Intercepting Emerging Diseases in Africa (CIEDA)

Dr. Jason Kindrachuk is an associate professor in Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba. He is also Canada Research Chair in the molecular pathogenesis of emerging viruses.

His research expertise and experiences have focused on emerging virus pathogenesis and outbreak preparedness with a focus on low- and middle-income countries, including outreach activities in Sierra Leone, Gabon and Kenya.

He completed his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Saskatchewan and held postdoctoral fellowships at the University of British Columbia and US National Institutes of Health, where he also held multiple senior research scientist positions.

Dr. Kindrachuk has served on multiple national and international expert committees and working groups on emerging viruses, including with the World Health Organization. He is active in international outbreak response efforts, including the West African Ebola virus disease epidemic and, most recently, COVID-19.

Education

PhD, Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan (2007)

Bachelor of Science, University of Saskatchewan (2001)

Awards

2018:

• Department of Medical Microbiology Faculty Educator Award
• National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Merit Award

2017:

• Tier 2 Canada Research Chair Award

2015:

• National Institutes of Health Director’s Award
• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Summer Internship Program Best Mentor Award

2013:

• University of Maryland Integrated Life Sciences Honors College Mentor Award

2010-2013:

• National Institutes of Health Visiting Fellow Intramural Research Training Award