MEET THE SCIENTIST

Meet the scientists behind DDI’s research

DR. SARDAR SINDHU

Published on 06/07/2020

Dr. Sardar joined DDI in 2014 and has been serving as Scientist II and Manager of the Animal and Imaging Core Facility since 2016. He received his Ph.D. in Immunology and Virology from the University of Montreal (2005) and holds a diploma in Experimental Medicine from McGill University (2007). He taught Immunology and Microbiology (1987-97) after graduating as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (UAF, Pakistan, 1985) and receiving his M.Sc. Hons. (1987). His postdoctoral research at CHUM (2005-2007) and Montreal Clinical Research Institute (2008-2011) involved studies on HIV-1 immunopathogenesis, identifying the NK and γδT cell impairment in AIDS as well as CD4+T cytocidal potentials of Vpr-primed effectors.

At present, his main research interests include metabolic inflammation, insulin resistance and the role of various co-players such as nutrient sensors of the innate immune system (TLRs), emerging metabolic regulators (IRF5/7, FOXO1), and inflammatory cytokine/chemokines and adipokines inducing oxidative stress and impairment of insulin signaling. Dr. Sardar’s research focuses on pathophysiological role of oxidative and ER stresses to understand the intimate links between metaflammation and insulin resistance. He is also involved in ongoing immunology projects looking at the immunometabolic impairments following feeding high fat diets rich in various saturated fatty acids to C57BL/6 mice lacking critical immune factors such as TNF-α, IL-6, TLR2, or TLR4. He is a member of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) and the American Society for Virology (ASV).