JUMPS 2026
Volume 11 | Issue 1 | March 2026
JUMPS 2026
Read the full journal here
Featured Article Abstracts
The Role of IL-13 in IL-33-Induced Protection Against Chlorine-Induced Airway Hyperresponsiveness in a Murine Model
Zoya Hanna1,2, Tomotaka Nishizawa1,2, James G. Martin1,2
1Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University Health Center Research Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Asthma can be classified into the eosinophilic T2-high type and the lesser known neutrophilic T2-low type. Exposure to irritants, such as chlorine, can trigger the latter form with few treatment options available. Recent evidence has shown that certain cytokines, which have previously been regarded as solely pro-inflammatory, may be involved in protection against T2-low airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. One proposed mechanism is that IL-33, produced in response to tissue damage and inflammation, promotes IL-13 production by type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), which in turn biases naive macrophages toward the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. To test this hypothesis, mice were treated for three successive days with recombinant IL-33, receiving either anti-IL-13 or an antibody isotype as a technical control, along with the first administration, then exposed to chlorine. Twenty-four hours later, their airway resistance was measured during a methacholine challenge. Lung and bronchoalveolar fluid samples were used to obtain differential cell counts. Furthermore, flow cytometry and qPCR were used to determine the relative numbers of white blood cells, macrophage polarization, and changes in RNA levels of select genes respectively. Here, we aimed to investigate the mechanism by which IL-33 protects against airway hyperresponsiveness in Cl2-induced asthma. We found that blocking IL-13 exacerbated the airway hyperresponsiveness experienced at 25 mg/mL of methacholine by a twofold increase compared to the control group, reversing some of the protective effects of the IL-33 pretreatment. We also found that both CD206 interstitial macrophages and IL-10 expression were upregulated after IL-13 blockage. However, the role of macrophage polarization in the protection afforded by the IL-33/ILC2/IL-13 axis remains unclear. Elucidating the molecular pathway used for protection may inform the development of therapies for irritant-induced asthma by chlorine.
Advances in Non-Invasive Echocardiography for Detection of Congenital Interatrial Shunts
Medha Srinivasan1
1Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal defects (ASD) are among the most common congenital interatrial shunts and are associated with significant morbidity, including paradoxical embolism, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Early and accurate detection is therefore essential for timely intervention and long-term management of congenital heart diseases. Echocardiography remains a cornerstone of diagnosis, offering real-time structural and hemodynamic assessment without the risk of sedation or ionizing radiation. Furthermore, non-invasive techniques provide a safer alternative and eliminate risks associated with catheterization. A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, incorporating relevant keywords and Boolean operators related to PFO, ASD, and echocardiographic imaging modalities. This review summarizes recent technological advances that have improved the diagnostic performance of non-invasive echocardiography. Key modalities studied include transthoracic echocardiography, speckle-tracking strain imaging, and a novel algorithm for PFO and ASD detection that integrates non-invasive imaging modalities. These innovations show significant improvements in the detection sensitivity of physiological changes due to congenital heart diseases and functional assessment. This review highlights the growing potential of non-invasive echocardiographic tools for early detection, as well as the development of standardized diagnostic pathways for PFO and ASD across clinical settings.
Linking Mutations in Conserved iGluR structures to Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability
Signe Anderson1, Derek Bowie1
1Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and epilepsy frequently occur together and share underlying genetic factors, with ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) genes being implicated in all three conditions. Large-scale sequencing has revealed numerous patient-derived missense mutations in AMPA and NMDA receptor subunits, but it remains a significant challenge to connect these changes to clinical outcomes. Traditional approaches that categorize variants as gain- or loss-of-function often fail to explain the overlapping clinical phenotypes observed in patients. This review argues that focusing on mutations within structurally and functionally critical regions of iGluRs provides a clearer path to understanding disease mechanisms. Prioritizing functional studies in high-impact structures, such as conserved gating machinery, offers a rational strategy for integrating AMPA and NMDA receptor studies and identifying variants most likely to disrupt normal brain development. Drawing from recent functional studies on high-impact structures, we highlight the highly conserved M3 transmembrane helix and its SYTANLAAF motif, a key gating element in both AMPA and NMDA receptors, where many pathogenic variants have been identified. Xu et al. (2024) and XiangWei et al. (2023) are emphasized for their detailed functional analyses linking M3 helix mutations to changes in receptor gating and neurodevelopmental outcomes. This review proposes a structure-guided framework for interpreting iGluR missense mutations, focusing on conserved gating elements to recontextualize receptor dysfunction with shared neurodevelopmental phenotypes.
From Antivirals to Gene Editing: The New Era of HIV-1 Treatment
A mini review for a lay audience
Reuben Portugese1
1Journal of Undergraduate McGill Physiology Students, Montreal, QC, Canada
Alumni Profiles
Science and Service: Dr. Scott E. Hadland on his Path from McGill Physiology to the Forefront of Young Adult Addiction Medicine
By Jathin Rao1,2 & Simone Dhingra1,2
1Journal of Undergraduate McGill Physiology Students, Montreal, QC, Canada
2 Physiology Undergraduate League of Students, Montreal, QC, Canada
From McGill Physiology to the Frontlines of Transplant Medicine: The Story of Dr. John Yee
By David Choi1,2, Simone Dhingra1,2, Jathin Rao1,2
1Journal of Undergraduate McGill Physiology Students, Montreal, QC, Canada
2 Physiology Undergraduate League of Students, Montreal, QC, Canada
Our Journal Authors
Signe Anderson
Signe Anderson completed her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Physiology and a minor in Philosophy at McGill University in 2025. During her undergraduate studies, she became involved with the Bowie Lab, where she used patch-clamp electrophysiology to investigate the link between missense mutations in AMPA receptor subunits and autism and intellectual disability. She is currently a first-year master’s student in the Prescott Lab at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary, where she is examining how dysfunctional homeostatic regulation of cortical neurons contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders. When she’s not in the lab, Signe enjoys listening to music, walks along the Bow River, and trying out new recipes.
Zoya Hanna
Zoya Hanna is a U3 student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Honours Physiology at McGill, with particular academic interests in the field of neuroscience. She currently works in Dr. James Martin’s lab at the RI-MUHC, where she studies chlorine-induced asthma. She used myriad in vivo and in vitro techniques to determine IL-33 induced pathways responsible for reducing airway hyperresponsiveness following chlorine exposure. For her Honours Thesis, she works in Dr. Mark Brandon’s lab at the Douglas institute, where she studies the anchoring properties of head direction cells via in vivo behavioral recording and analysis. Beyond academic pursuits, Zoya contributes to her community through her service as the VP sustainability on the Physiology Undergraduate League of Students (PULS), as well as the Co-VP Events of The Women’s Network McGill (TWN).
Medha Srinivasan
Medha Srinivasan is a U3 student at McGill University pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Honours Physiology with a minor in Neuroscience, graduating in April 2026. Her academic interests focus on neurodevelopment, electrophysiology, and the application of imaging techniques in scientific research. She is currently working under Dr. Massimo Avoli, researching the role of parvalbumin positive neurons in estrous cycling. In addition to her academic pursuits, Medha is involved with several clubs and organizations, including serving as the director of outreach for McGill Women in Leadership, bereavement volunteering at NOVA West Island, and working with senior citizens at the Jewish General Hospital’s HELP Program. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, singing, and swimming.
Reuben Portugese
Reuben is a U2 Biochemistry student who is passionate about biomedical research, and particularly interested in the communication of science across all academic backgrounds. Reuben brings a molecular biology perspective to JUMPS, focusing on how physiological processes become dysregulated at the molecular level in disease. He has been involved in a diverse portfolio of undergraduate research at McGill, including working on the protein structure of muscles in the Schöck lab and studying dysregulated DNA repair in the context of intellectual disability in the Cuella Martin Lab. Reuben has also been conducting research in the Sonenberg Lab at the Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, where he studies the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and glioblastoma. Outside of academics, Reuben can be found playing volleyball or tennis, cooking, reading, and never missing a Liverpool FC game.
Our Cover Artist
Grace Champagne
Grace Champagne is a U3 Honours Physics student at McGill University with research experience in nuclear physics and medical physics. She is currently investigating the matter–antimatter asymmetry of the universe and testing novel radiation therapy shields for use in radiation oncology. On the creative side, she previously served as a graphic designer for the Science Undergraduate Society of McGill University for two years and currently works as Director of Public Relations for the McGill Students’ Cancer Society. Grace has long enjoyed artistic expression in many forms, from dance to visual arts such as painting and sketching, as well as creative writing and poetry. Her favourite medium at the moment is acrylic on canvas, and she particularly enjoys painting landscapes inspired by photographs from her travels.
