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    Canada Research Chair

  • Lorrie Kirshenbaum
  • Professor

    Max Rady College of Medicine
    Physiology and Pathophysiology
    Rady Faculty of Health Sciences 
    R3021 - 351 Tachè Avenue
    University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
    Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2H 2A6

    Phone: 204-235-3661
    Fax: 204-233-6723
    lkirshenbaum@sbrc.ca

    Administrative assistant:
    Kairee Ryplanski
    kryplanski@sbrc.ca
    204-237-2701

Cross appointments

Holds cross appointments with:

Department of pharmacology and therapeutics, Max Rady College of Medicine

Research summary

A major focus of Dr. Kirshenbaum’s laboratory is directed toward understanding the molecular pathways that underlie sex specific difference in heart failure. Dr. Kirshenbaum is investigating mechanisms that regulate cellular quality control mechanisms in heart, a process known as “autophagy” with a focus on mitochondrial metabolism. Dr. Kirshenbaum’s major contributions include discovery of the Bcl-2 family protein Bnip3 and its role in the development of heart failure after heart attack.

Research themes

  • Cardiovascular cell growth 
  • Programmed cell death
  • Mitochondrial metabolism

Keywords

  • Autophagy
  • Cell death
  • Heart failure
  • Mitochondrial metabolism

Research interests

  • Understanding the molecular pathways and genetic factors that underlie the mechanisms of cardiac growth control and heart cell death
  • Sex-specific differences in heart failure
  • Use of advanced techniques in molecular biology with a goal of informing or developing  treatments for cardiovascular diseases

Research affiliations

Research affiliations include:

Professor, department of pharmacology and therapeutics, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba

Director research development, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba

Director, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre 

Principal investigator, cardiac gene biology, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre

Canada Research Chair in Molecular Cardiology
 

Biography

Dr. Lorrie Kirshenbaum is director of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Canada Research Chair in Molecular Cardiology, professor and division head of cardiovascular science and disease, department of physiology and pathophysiology at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Kirshenbaum is internationally recognized for his pioneering work and has published over 300+ research articles in prestigious high-profile journals, such as Nature Medicine, Nature Caner, Journal of Clinical Investigation, as well as several text book chapters, books and has received several prestigious honours and awards for his research and leadership achievements.

Dr. Kirshenbaum serves on many journal editorial boards and international committees, as well as national and international peer review grant panels including Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, American Heart Association and has served as the chair of the National Institute of Health and Centre for Scientific Advancement Study Section in the United States.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Physiology, University of Manitoba (1992)

Master of Science in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba (1988)

Bachelor of Science with Honors in Microbiology, University of Manitoba (1986)

Awards

  • 2021:
    • Naranjan Dhalla Honorary Lectureship Award, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • 2020:
    • Suresh K. Gupta Oration Lectureship Award, International Conference of Cardiovascular Sciences, New Delhi, India
    • Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Research Achievement Award, Ottawa, Canada
  • 2019:
    • James T. Willerson Distinguished Lectureship Texas Heart Institute, Houston, USA
    • Bohuslav Ostadal Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Sciences, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • 2018:
    • Canada Research Chair Tier I in Molecular Cardiology
    • Howard Morgan Award for Distinguished Achievements in Cardiovascular Research, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Smolenice, Slovak Republic
    • Norman Alpert Award for Established Investigators in Cardiovascular Sciences, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Havana, Cuba
    • Lifetime Achievement Award in Cardiovascular Sciences, Cuban Society of Cardiology, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Havana, Cuba
    • Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Dr. Lorrie Kirshenbaum In the news

Contact us

Physiology and Pathophysiology
432 Basic Medical Sciences Building
745 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9 Canada

204-789-3696
204-789-3934