Spencer Freeman
PhD
Virtually all human organs and tissues have specialized, sentinel cells (macrophages) that are dedicated to protecting the body from infection, damage, or toxins. These cells are part of the innate immune system.
The innate immune system protects us from infection, orchestrates wound healing, and eliminates cancer, even in the absence of obvious infection or injury. Macrophages support these functions by maintaining homeostasis and supporting tissue metabolism. They do so by turning over and rejuvenating components of tissues by specialized types of endocytosis, preventing the accumulation of damage. This requires an enormous capacity for these cells to handle the internalized cargoes/solutes from their microenvironment. Defects in these pathways contribute to a wide segment of congenital and acquired diseases including storage disorders, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.
We are working to understand cellular and subcellular mechanisms underlying the everyday surveillance functions of macrophages. Read more at our lab website.
Appointments, Cross Affiliations, Memberships
Canada Research Chair in Immune Surveillance - Tier 2
Courses Taught
BCH 2127H Advances in Optical Microscopy: From Single Molecules to Four-Dimensional Imaging