Andras Kapus

The overarching current focus of our work is the basic cell and molecular biology of organ fibrosis. We are interested in the role of the cytoskeleton – as a cell fate-determining device - in regulating cellular structure and function, including gene expression, intercellular contacts, the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the development of profibrotic epithelial phenotype (PEP). We study the nuclear transport of fibrogenic and mechanosensitive transcription factors (MRTF, TAZ, YAP), and the role and regulation of these proteins in various disease entities (e.g. kidney fibrosis, polycystic kidney disease, etc). We also investigate the effect of cytoskeletal changes and the associated signaling on organellar structure/function, including the remodeling of mitochondria and the primary cilium.  The studies are organically linked to our previous and continuing interest in cellular stress signaling, particularly as pertains to pH and volume regulation (e.g. osmotic stress). Taken together our studies have a dual aim: to understand fundamental mechanisms underlying structure-dependent regulation of normal and pathologic cellular functions, and to explore key cellular evets whereby these processes contribute to the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis, a major and silent killer (45% of all death), affecting all organ systems.

Other Appointments & Affiliations

• Scientific Director, Organ Injury & Repair Pillar of Excellence, Unity Health Toronto
• Scientist, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital
• Full Professor, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
• Member of the Basic Science Committee, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital
• Associate Vice Chair of Research, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
• Former grant review panel member, Kidney Foundation of Canada
• Member, Banting Foundation Grant Panel
• Member of the research committee, Department of Surgery
• Regular Member, Institute of Medical Science (IMS), University of Toronto
• Member of the Appointments Committee, Institute of Medical Science (IMS), University of Toronto
• Course Coordinator: Cell Migration Course, Human Biology Program
• Seminar leader (biochemistry for medical students)
• Reviewer at several international journals including Amer. J. Physiol., Amer. J. Pathol., Amer. J. of Respiratory Cell and Mol. Biol., Biochem. J., J. Cell Science, EMBO J, Exp. Cell Research, FEBS letters, J. Biol. Chem., J. Leukocyte Biol., Oncogene, PNAS, Thrombosis and Hemostasis and others