Contact
Associate Professor, School of Public Health
- pch1@ualberta.ca
- Phone
- (780) 492-5210
- Address
-
3-57F South Academic Building
11328 - 89 Ave NWEdmonton ABT6G 2J7
Overview
About
Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by the adult stage of digenetic trematodes of the Genus Schistosoma (Schistosoma mansoni, S. hematobium and S. japonicum). It afflicts more than 200 million people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 600 million more at risk.
Transmission of schistosomiasis to humans occurs in fresh water. Infected snails release cercariae, which are small motile forms of the parasite that are attracted to human secretions and are able to penetrate through the skin.
My primary research interests focus on developing strategies to limit or prevent the transmission of schistosomiasis from the snail intermediate hosts to humans. To address this central question, I utilize a combination of lab-based immunological techniques to characterize the interactions that occur between the snail host and the parasite, and field-based public health and environmental health approaches to test hypotheses related to preventing parasite transmission to humans.
My objective is to be able to apply biological and environmental data relating to parasite transmission towards an applied field project based in areas where schistosomiasis is endemic.
The primary aims of this project rely upon a combination of health promotion and education of people in endemic communities, epidemiology, environmental assessment and modification, as well as lab-based molecular biology and immunology. The goal is to provide relief for acute symptoms, and then facilitate increased awareness within a community.
I believe that by combining various environmental and preventative measures with the current, widely employed treatment strategy, schistosomiasis can be more effectively controlled.
Degrees
Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of New Mexico, 2010
PhD, University of Alberta, 2008
BSc, University of Alberta, 2002
Awards
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), 2008
Andrew Stewart Memorial Prize, University of Alberta, 2007
CGS-D PhD Scholarship, NSERC, 2005
Keywords
biological hazards
environmental health
global health
immunology
infectious disease
parasitology
schistosomiasis
Courses
SPH 200 - Introduction to Public Health
This course will introduce you to fundamental knowledge and concepts related to public health. Starting with the history and evolution of the discipline of public health, onto how the health of populations is protected and measured, you will gain a better appreciation of the importance of the social determinants of health and how health inequities, chronic and communicable diseases, injuries and the environment can impact health are explored. Additional topics include how promotion of healthy communities can be achieved through knowledge translation and advocacy. If you are interested in health then this course will serve as an excellent primer to your future studies in any health field. Topics are covered using a mix of lecture, discussion and interactive case study evaluation.
ZOOL 452 - Topics in Parasitology
Experimental approaches to the study of parasitism, including topics on epidemiology, ecology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, pathology, and immunology of host-parasite relationships. Reading assignments emphasize experimental approaches to study eukaryotic host-parasite relationships. Prerequisite: ZOOL 352 or MMI 426 or consent of instructor. Credit cannot be obtained for both ZOOL 452 and 552.
ZOOL 552 - Advanced Topics in Parasitology
Experimental approaches to the study of parasitism, including topics on epidemiology, ecology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, pathology, and immunology of host-parasite relationships. Reading assignments emphasize experimental approaches to study eukaryotic host-parasite relationships. Lectures are the same as for ZOOL 452, but with additional assignments and evaluation appropriate to graduate studies. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Credit cannot be obtained for both ZOOL 452 and 552.
Featured Publications
Hanington, P.C., Forys, M.A., Dragoo, J., Zhang, S.M., Adema, C.M., & Loker, E.S.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. 2010 January; 107
Hanington, P.C., & Zhang, S.M.
The Journal of Innate Immunity. 2010 January; 3
Hanington, P.C., Lun, C.M., Adema, C.M., & Loker, E.S.
International Journal for Parasitology. 2010 January; 40