Kelly MacDonald, MD, FRCPC

Cross appointments

Research summary

My research experience spans the basic science realm where I work in small animal, nonhuman primate models and with human samples on immunopathogenesis and prevention research on HIV to the field of clinical epidemiology and clinical research trials where I examine clinical and behavioral correlates of risk factors associated with differential risk of STD and HIV acquisition and disease.

My research focuses on pathogen-driven variation in host immune responses to HIV and its application in vaccine design.

I supervise a research lab at the JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Centre as joint collaboration between the HIV program of the Canadian Public Health Agency and the University of Manitoba.

I also conduct HIV vaccine and STD research in Nairobi, Kenya where I have worked for more than 25 years.

I have two novel vaccine prototypes involving vaccine vectors from the herpes virus family (VZV and CMV) which aim at providing lifelong self-boosting immunity currently under study in non-human primates and humans as part of a CIHR Team in HIV vaccine design.

I also study mucosal factors affecting immunity and vaccine delivery such as the genital microbiome.

Research interests

HIV vaccine development in the SIV macaque model using multi-low dose mucosal challenge, specifically to examine herpesviruses such as varicella zoster virus and cytomegalovirus as lifelong reactivating vectors for HIV vaccine delivery.

Keywords

    • Behavioral correlates
    • Cellular Immunity
    • Epidemiology
    • Female genital tract
    • HIV/AIDS
    • Immunotherapy
    • Innate immunity
    • Microbiome
    • Molecular biology
    • SIV macaque model
    • Vaccine design
    • Varicella zoster virus

  • Research affiliations

    • Adjunct scientist, JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre
    • Public Health Agency of Canada

  • Research groups

    • SARS CoV-2 Cell Mediated Immunity Research Group (JC Wilt)
    • Northern HIV Journey Mapping Initiative Project Team

Biography

Kelly MacDonald is a professor and the H.E Sellers Research Chair in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Manitoba.

She was the head of the division of infectious diseases in the UM Department of Internal Medicine from 2015 to 2020.

She came to Manitoba in 2015 after 20 years in Toronto where she was a microbiologist and held and endowed research chair and was the director of the HIV research program at the University of Toronto.

She is presently a practicing infectious disease specialist and clinician-scientist.

Her research focuses on pathogen-driven variation in host immune responses to HIV and its application in vaccine design.

She supervises a research lab at the JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Centre as joint collaboration   between the HIV program of the Canadian Public Health Agency and the University of Manitoba.

She also conducts HIV vaccine and STD research in Nairobi, Kenya where she has worked for more than twenty-five years.

She has two novel vaccine prototypes involving vaccine vectors from the herpes virus family (VZV and CMV) which aim at providing lifelong self-boosting immunity currently under study in nonhuman primates and humans as part of a CIHR Team in HIV vaccine design. 

She was the inaugural holder of the University of Toronto- OHTN endowed chair in HIV research and was awarded the Ontario Premier’s Research Excellence award.

Dr. MacDonald has served nationally on the Federal Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS, the CIHR HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee and as a member of the Basic Science Advisory Committee for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).

Education and training

  • Psychoanalytic psychotherapy (advanced training program practicum), supervision site: department of psychiatry, Mount Sinai Hospital, total case supervision 240h, Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis, (2009 – 2014)
  • Advanced training program in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, (430h), Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis, (2008 Sep - 2010 June)
  • Year 4, Medical microbiology training program, University of Toronto (1994)
  • Medical Research Council of Canada, Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Supervisor(s): Dr. F.A. Plummer (1992 – 1993)
  • Chief Resident, Year 2, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, University of Manitoba (1991 - 1992)
  • Year 1, Infectious diseases fellowship program, University of Manitoba, (1990 – 1991)
  • Year 2-3, Internal medicine residency program, University of Washington, (1988 – 1990)
  • Year 1, Internal medicine residency program, University of Manitoba, (1987 - 1988)
  • Local
    • William Goldie Prize and Travel Award, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto (2002)
    • Faculty of Medicine Achievement Award, University of Manitoba (1987)
    • Madge Hogarth Scholarship, University of Manitoba (1987)
    • Faculty of Medicine Achievement Award, University of Manitoba (1986)
    • Medical Faculty Women’s Club Scholarship, University of Manitoba (1985)
    • Major James McRattray Scholarship, Queen’s University at Kingston (1983)
    • Centennial Scholarship, Queen’s University at Kingston (1983)
    • Entrance Scholarship (declined), The University of Manitoba (1980)
  • Provincial / Regional
    • Manitoba Medical Students Association Class of 2020 Faculty Mentorship Award, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba. (Undergraduate MD, Year 3) (2019 - 2020)
    • Ethan Rubinstein Memorial Award, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada. (2018 Jan - 2018 Dec)
    • The Premier’s Research Excellence Award, Government of Ontario. (2002 – 2005)
    • Endowed Chair in HIV Research, Ontario HIV Treatment Network (2001 – 2011)
    • Career Scientist Award, Ontario HIV Treatment Network. (1999 – 2004)
    • Research Representative, Board of Directors, Ontario HIV Research and Treatment Network, Ministry of Health of Ontario. (1998 - 2002)
    • Senior Career Scientist Award, Ontario HIV Treatment Network (2016)
  • National
    • Member, Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS to the Honorable Allan Rock, Minister of Health, Government of Canada. (1999 – 2000)
    • Canadian Infectious Disease Society Young Investigator’s Award, Canadian Infectious Disease Society. (1996)
    • Research Fellowship, Medical Research Council of Canada (1992 – 1993)
  • International
    • Association of Commonwealth Universities Scholarship, WHO Collaborating Centre, University of Manitoba, and University of Nairobi, Kenya (1987)

Dr. Kelly MacDonald In the news

View more news and stories

Contact us

Internal Medicine
Room GC430, Health Sciences Centre
820 Sherbrook Street
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9 Canada

intmed@umanitoba.ca
204-787-7772
204-787-4826