Qu Biologics Inc., a biotechnology company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs) that aim to restore normal immune function in the targeted diseased organ, has entered into a research collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Bruce Vallance at the Child & Family Research Institute at BC Children’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Vallance’s team will be studying the therapeutic effects of Qu Biologics’ SSI treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD - Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) in a mouse model that mimics the underlying innate immune system defect and chronic bacterial infection associated with these diseases.
Dr. Hal Gunn, chief executive officer of Qu Biologics commented, “We are excited to collaborate with Dr. Vallance, whose research into immune response to gut infections has revealed important information about the underlying causes of inflammatory bowel disease.”
Dr. Gunn added “Qu’s QBECO SSI immunotherapy, derived from inactivated bacterial components, is designed to activate the body’s innate immune response to restore normal immune function in the gastrointestinal tract and clear the chronic bacterial infection and dysbiosis that may be the underlying trigger for these diseases.”
Dr. Vallance completed his PhD training in gastrointestinal inflammation at McMaster University’s Intestinal Disease Research Programme under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Collins and then pursued studies on disease causing bacteria at the University of British Columbia’s Michael Smith Laboratories with Dr. Brett Finlay. Dr. Vallance is well recognised for his expertise in the study and modeling of IBD and enteric bacterial infections and was named the Canada Research Chair in Paediatric Gastroenterology and a Michael Smith Research Scholar in 2004. He has authored more than 60 peer reviewed manuscripts addressing the mechanisms underlying IBD and infectious diseases.