Dr. Joaquín (Quim) Madrenas

Dr. Joaquín (Quim) Madrenas is a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, and Medicine at The University of Western Ontario, and Head of Immunology at the Robarts Research Institute. He came to Canada 20 years ago to work with one of the pioneers in kidney transplantation, John Dossetor, and completed his Ph.D. in Immunology at the University of Alberta under Dr. Phillip F. Halloran. He undertook post-doctoral training with Dr. Ronald N. Germain at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda MD, before returning to Canada where he is currently Director of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Society (FOCIS) Centre for Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapeutics in London, Ontario.

Quim and his team are discovering the basic mechanics of the human immune system- how it works, when it doesn’t, and what can be done to prevent disease and ward off threats. As a young researcher and clinician, Quim was driven to understand the key determinants of transplant survival. He saw an opportunity to make a difference in understanding T-cells, the critical cells for the initiation and regulation of immune responses. From this beginning, Quim discovered that T-cell receptors do not act in an on/off state, but rather as a ‘dimmer switch’ that is able to modulate the type and quality of signal that is delivered to the T-cells. The application, as described by Quim was of “tremendous interest for the clinic because that would provide, for the first time, a very specific way to prevent immune responses to a particular antigen without suppressing the immunity of a patient.” His life’s work has been built on this fundamental discovery and has already been used to help people survive organ transplants, respond better to infections and diseases including Rheumatoid Arthritis, MS, and Diabetes.

Quim’s current research is focused on identifying signals that super-antigens deliver, and is expected to lead to new ways to block their lethal effects with vaccines or novel drug regimes. His research on super-antigens has the potential to help ward off serious threats for which there is, as yet, no known cure; toxic shock syndrome (that killed several young women in the late 1980’s), and Flesh-eating disease (which caused former Quebec Premier Lucian Bouchard to lose his leg) are the two most widely recognized diseases resulting from bacterium producing superantigens.

These types of toxins are also potential bioweapons. Dealing with them has become an important priority in preventing bio-terrorism. Thus Quim has generated support from the National Institute of Health for the next phase of his research, and has assembled teams of scientists in Canada, Europe and the US to further his super-antigen research program. The research he produces is also leading to cost savings in the delivery of healthcare services, given that new approaches to treatment regimes help reduce hospital admissions, and allow patients to remain at home.

Quim’s path-breaking work has led companies to approach him about opportunities for commercialization. One focused on drug discovery and development for patients with Multiple Sclerosis; another was developing antibodies which could strengthen the immune system against various diseases such as diabetes. Quim has consciously not pursued a commercialization strategy, preferring to focus his efforts on advancing the basic science of immunology, on bridging that science with the world of the clinician, and on sharing his extraordinary knowledge with students:

“I have been able to accommodate my fundamental research interests with immediate priorities … some of the work that we have done in T-cell signalling is now starting to apply directly to human infections, autoimmune disease and patients on dialysis … some of the molecules that we have studied are actually able to act as predictive tools for the outcome of an infection.” Because Quim is interested in the fundamental mechanisms of the immune system, and in the architecture of the cells and molecules that support it, his work has broad applicability. And because his approach starts at the “bench” but always links to the “bedside,” he has been able to link the workings of the immune system to pragmatic solutions to real-world clinical problems. No systematic attention seems to have been given to the wide range of unexplored applications Quim described to us, beyond contacts with companies that seek him out. The possibilities are fantastic. A proactive look at his portfolio, in combination with others related to it, might uncover a number of significant technology transfer and commercialization opportunities.

* The Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario

For further information, please contact Dr. Joaquín (Quim) Madrenas using the Email contact form or by phone at 514 663-5777 ext 34242