Harold L. Atkins, M.D., B.Med.Sc. FRCP(C)
hatkins@ohri.ca
Telephone: 613-737-7700 Ext.70341
Fax: 613-737-8768
Scientist, Cancer Therapeutics and Medical Director, Regenerative Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research InstitutePhysician, The Ottawa Hospital Blood Bone Marrow Transplant Program
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Current Research Projects
Stem Cell Transplantation For The Treatment Of Autoimmune Diseases.
Multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases result from the dysregulation of the immune response in individuals with permissive immunogenetics exposed to poorly identified environmental initiating factors. Thus, the removal of a diseased immune organ using systemic therapy (chemotherapy, antibody therapy and radiotherapy) and replacement with a healthy new organ derived from purified hematopoietic stem cells could be a potentially valuable and curative treatment for patients with autoimmune diseases. This paradigm is currently being tested in clinical studies of patients with Multiple sclerosis.
I have initiated a multicenter trial to study the effects of dose-intensive immunosuppression on the immunological activity of MS using autologous T cell depleted hematopoietic stem cell support. Changes in the immune system are being monitored using both clinical and laboratory assays of immune function. Data on the changes in CNS destruction, lymphocyte subpopulations, repertoire complexity and antigen directed immune cell repopulation are being collected and will be correlated with clinical indicators of immune and MS activity. The alterations detected in the immune system will provide vital information about the immunological changes necessary for disease response and disease control. In the event that this therapy fails to curb recurrent MS activity in a patient, these studies will provide knowledge of the earliest immune alterations in the renewed activity of this disease.
Oncolytic viruses for the treatment of human marrow derived malignancies.
In collaboration with Dr. John Bell, I am looking at the effects of oncolytic viruses on acute leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma cells. Different cell types exhibit variable sensitivity to virus induced cytolytic effects. My current work is examining the spectrum of cytolysis and whether resistance to viral effects can be amplified or selected. Ultimately, the goal is to examine the molecular/genetic basis of the resistance. Coincident with this work, preclinical studies are being completed that will guide the use of oncolytic viruses in the clinical setting.
Most Recent Publications (provided by The Ottawa Hospital Library Database)
Darlington PJ;Boivin MN;Renoux C;Francois M;Galipeau J;Freedman MS;Atkins HL;Cohen JA;Solchaga L;Bar-Or A;, (2010 Oct), Reciprocal Th1 and Th17 regulation by mesenchymal stem cells: Implication for multiple sclerosis, Ann Neurol, Vol.68, Issue 4, 540-545 -> view abstract
Le BF;Diallo JS;McCart JA;Thorne S;Falls T;Stanford M;Kanji F;Auer R;Brown CW;Lichty BD;Parato K;Atkins H;Kirn D;Bell JC;, (2010 May), Synergistic interaction between oncolytic viruses augments tumor killing, Mol Ther, Vol.18, Issue 5, 888-895 -> view abstract
De SN;Atkins H;Kirn DH;Bell JC;Breitbach CJ;, (2010 Mar 23), Double trouble for tumours: Exploiting the tumour microenvironment to enhance anticancer effect of oncolytic viruses, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev, Vol.21, Issue 3-Feb, 135-141 -> view abstract
Pasquini MC;Griffith LM;Arnold DL;Atkins HL;Bowen JD;Chen JT;Freedman MS;Kraft GH;Mancardi GL;Martin R;Muraro PA;Nash RA;Racke MK;Storek J;Saccardi R;, (2010 Mar 18), Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis: Collaboration of the CIBMTR and EBMT to Facilitate International Clinical Studies, Biol Blood Marrow Transplant, Vol.16, Issue 8, 1076-1083
Diallo JS;Boeuf FL;Lai F;Cox J;Vaha-Koskela M;Abdelbary H;Mactavish H;Waite K;Falls T;Wang J;Brown R;Blanchard JE;Brown ED;Kirn DH;Hiscott J;Atkins H;Lichty BD;Bell JC;, (2010 Apr 13), A High-throughput Pharmacoviral Approach Identifies Novel Oncolytic Virus Sensitizers, Mol Ther, Vol.18, Issue 6, 1123-1129 -> view abstract
Freedman MS;Bar-Or A;Atkins HL;Karussis D;Frassoni F;Lazarus H;Scolding N;Slavin S;Le BK;Uccelli A;, (2010 Apr), The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation as a treatment for multiple sclerosis: consensus report of the International MSCT Study Group, Mult Scler , Vol.16, Issue 4, 503-510 -> view abstract
Takach S;Yang L;Ho J;Sabri E;Martin L;Halpenny M;Atkins H;Sabloff M;McDiarmid SA;Huebsch LB;Bence-Bruckler I;Giulivi A;Allan DS;, (2010), Monoclonal B cells detected in autologous PBSC grafts from patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma: impact on relapse and survival following transplantation, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Vol.45, Issue 5, 856-861 -> view abstract
McDiarmid S;Hutton B;Atkins H;ce-Bruckler I;Bredeson C;Sabri E;Huebsch L;, (2010), Performing allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic SCT in the outpatient setting: effects on infectious complications and early transplant outcomes, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Vol.45, Issue 7, 1220-1226 -> view abstract
Ho J;Yang L;Banihashemi B;Martin L;Halpenny M;Atkins H;Sabloff M;McDiarmid SA;Huebsch LB;ce-Bruckler I;Giulivi A;Allan DS;, (2009), Contaminating tumour cells in autologous PBSC grafts do not influence survival or relapse following transplant for multiple myeloma or B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Vol.43, Issue 3, 223-228 -> view abstract
Gupta V;Tomblyn M;Pedersen TL;Atkins HL;Battiwalla M;Gress RE;Pollack MS;Storek J;Thompson JC;Tiberghien P;Young JAH;Ribaud P;Horowitz MM;Keating A;, (2009), Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Patients with Hematologic Disorders: A Report from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Vol.15, Issue 7, 864-871 -> view abstract
