Dr. Kathleen Mccoy

Biography

Kathy McCoy is a Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Calgary and the Scientific Director of the International Microbiome Centre. She holds the Killam Memorial Chair and is a full member of the Calvin, Phoebe Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases and the Inflammation Research Network at the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. McCoy leads a research group that focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the microbiome regulates host immunity and physiology. Her work examines the dynamic interplay between gut microbiota and innate and adaptive immune systems, particularly the impact of early life exposure to intestinal microbes on the development and regulation of the immune system, and how this influences susceptibility to diseases such as allergies, autoimmunity, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The lab is also investigating how the microbiome affects the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy to identify microbial therapies that can enhance current treatment approaches. Kathy manages a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot germ-free, gnotobiotic facility where researchers conduct studies coupling advanced imaging techniques with human translational studies to explore the relationships between the microbiome and immune response.

Research Interests

Experience