Ma Luo, PhD

  • Ma Luo portrait.

  • Adjunct professor

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

    Phone: 204-789-5072
    ma.luo@umanitoba.ca or ma.luo@canada.ca

Cross appointments

Does not hold any cross appointments.

Research achievements

Research summary

Dr. Ma Luo’s research focuses on uncovering the mechanism of resistance and susceptibility to HIV infection, understanding the interplay between host and viruses (HIV, influenza, SARS-CoV-2), and using this knowledge to develop vaccines and therapeutics.

 Currently, there are two major research programs: 1) Evaluation and optimization of a novel HIV vaccine targeting sequences surrounding the 12 protease cleavage sites (the PCS vaccine).

2) Investigate the role of FREM1/TILRR mediated inflammation in susceptibility to HIV infection, and in severe response to SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 infection.

    Research interests

    My major professional interest is to address important questions in the life sciences with the tools of genetic analysis, molecular biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics.

    My major research focus in the recent years has been on uncovering the mechanism of resistance and susceptibility to HIV-1, to understand the interplay between host genetics, including human leukocyte antigens, KIR and other host genetic factors, with HIV virus, and to use this knowledge to develop vaccines and therapeutics.

     

    • Keywords

      • The PCS vaccine
      • TILRR and inflammation
      • HLA and KIR
      • Host and virus interactions
      • Preclinical evaluations of candidate vaccines

    • Research affiliations

      • Research scientist, HIV and Host Genetics, National Microbiology Laboratory

    • Research themes

      • HIV vaccine development
      • Host and virus interactions
      • Host genetics and pathogenesis

    Biography

    Dr. Ma Luo is an adjunct professor in the department of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, at Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba.

    She is a research scientist at HIV and Host Genetics laboratory, National Microbiology Laboratory.  She is also a scientist at Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)

    Education

    PhD, University of Manitoba (1987)

    Master of science, Chinese University of Science and Technology (1982)

    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