John R. (Jack) Bend
Affiliations
Scientist, Division of Children’s Health and Therapeutics, Children’s Health Research Institute
Professor, Departments of Paediatrics,Pathology, Physiology & Pharmacology,
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Associate Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute
Member, Ecosystem Health Research Team, Department of Pathology
How my research helps children
Our laboratory is studying how bilirubin causes irreversible damage to the brain in newly born infants who suffer from severe neonatal jaundice. When the mechanisms for this damage to neurons is understood it may be possible to design treatments that can decrease or even prevent this condition.
In collaboration with Michael Rieder, MD, PhD we are also investigating how adverse drug reactions in children being treated for epilepsy can be attenuated or prevented by co-administration with pure constituents of traditional Chinese medicine with proven antioxidant activity and the ability to modulate the immune system.
Research
Current Research Activities
Research in this laboratory is directed towards an understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which endogenous and exogenous (xenobiotic) chemicals cause toxicity, and the mechanisms by which pre-existing pathological conditions such as oxidative stress/infection, dramatically enhance this toxicity. Current investigations are correlating genomic and proteomic endpoints of bilirubin toxicity with intracellular redox status; evaluating the use of compounds of herbal origin to attenuate the adverse drug effects caused by sulphamethoxazole and its electrophilic metabolites; and determining the current exposures of members of the Walpole Island First Nation to environmental contaminants for potential correlation with adverse health outcomes such as the enhanced risk for type 2 diabetes with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and of defective neurodevelopment because of fetal exposures to methylmercury during pregnancy.
Research Team
Current graduate students are Abudi Awaysheh (MSc student), Phaedra Henley (PhD student), Zahra Jahed (MSc) and Lei Zhang (MSc). All are enrolled in Department of Pathology. Phaedra and Zahra are part of the Ecosystem Health Research Team, a multi-disciplinary group that includes Professors from the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Social Science and the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.
Future Research Plans
To continue to be active in participatory, community-based collaborative research that explores relationships between exposures to environmental contaminants and drugs of abuse and the disease burden in partnership with the Walpole Island Board of Education; the Walpole Island Health Centre; and the Walpole Island Heritage Centre at the Walpole Island First Nation and to continue laboratory study of the mechanisms by which oxidative and nitrosative stress modify cell function and cause death.
Awards & Grants
Awards & Grants
Distinguished University Professor – Awarded by The University of Western Ontario
Funding in support of Assembly of First Nations – Health Canada National Environmental Contaminants Program – Awarded by Assembly of First Nations-Health Canada National First Nations
Funding in support of Research Resource Grant – Awarded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Funding in support of London Regional Cell and in Vitro Molecular Imaging Facility – Awarded by CIHR
Funding in support of Reducing Risk of Adverse Drug Reactions in Children by use of Traditional Chinese Medicine – Awarded by CIHR
Funding in support of The University of Western Ontario Biomolecular NMR Facility – Awarded by CIHR
Recent Publications
Publications
Hair methylmercury: a new indication for therapeutic monitoring Schoeman K, Bend JR, Koren G. Ther Drug Monit. 2010 Jun;32(3):289-93
Hair mercury levels of women of reproductive age in Ontario, Canada: implications to fetal safety and fish consumption Schoeman K, Tanaka T, Bend JR, Koren G J Pediatr. 2010 Jul;157(1):127-31.
Global changes in gene regulation demonstrate that unconjugated bilirubin is able to upregulate and activate select components of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response pathway Oakes GH, Bend JR J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2010 Mar;24(2):73-88.
Defining a lowest observable adverse effect hair concentrations of mercury for neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal methylmercury exposure through maternal fish consumption: a systematic review Schoeman K, Bend JR, Hill J, Nash K, Koren G Ther Drug Monit. 2009 Dec;31(6):670-82.
In vitro testing for the diagnosis of anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome: a systematic review Elzagallaai AA, Knowles SR, Rieder MJ, Bend JR, Shear NH, Koren G Mol Diagn Ther. 2009;13(5):313-30.
Patch testing for the diagnosis of anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome: a systematic review Elzagallaai AA, Knowles SR, Rieder MJ, Bend JR, Shear NH, Koren G Mol Diagn Ther. 2009;13(5):313-30.
A surveillance method for the early identification of idiosyncratic adverse drug reactions Etwel FA, Rieder MJ, Bend JR, Koren G Drug Saf. 2008;31(2):169-80
Early steps in bilirubin-mediated apoptosis in murine hepatoma (Hepa 1c1c7) cells are characterized by aryl hydrocarbon receptor-independent oxidative stress and activation of the mitochondrial pathway. Oakes GH, Bend JR. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2005;19(4):244-55
Contact
Contact
Phone: 519-850-2456 x 82456
Fax: 519-661-3370
Email: Jack [dot] Bend [at] schulich [dot] uwo [dot] ca
Website: http://www.uwo.ca/pathol/faculty/bend.html
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