Careers with the School of Pharmacy
School of Pharmacy
10A Victoria St. S.
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 1C5
Phone: 519-888-4499
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Dr. Blay’s main research focus is in understanding the tumour microenvironment of solid cancers, particularly colorectal carcinoma.
His laboratory focuses on mechanisms that lead to the spread of colorectal cancer, and ways to interfere with that dissemination of disease, or metastasis.
Dr. Blay is not currently accepting graduate students.
Contact information
Office: PHR 3002
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext.21375
Email: jonathan.blay@uwaterloo.ca
Website: Dr. Blay’s Research Website
Dr. Blay’s research group applies a range of techniques in molecular and cellular biology to understand how cell behaviour and the action of existing anticancer drugs are affected by the unique physiology of the cancer. This research involves investigations of chemokine pathways, and tumor-initiating cells; as well as the capacity of both synthetic and natural product-derived agents to interfere with the steps that favor metastasis. Researchers in the group identify novel pathways that may be the targets for future anticancer drugs, both derived from natural products and synthesized with the aid of colleagues through molecular design.
Dr. Blay teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Course offerings have included:
PHARM 322 Clinical Application of Pharmaceutical Science
PHARM 613 Principles and Practices in Systemic Treatments for Cancer
These publications illustrate our past research in key areas of interest. Names that are underlined represent trainees in the Blay laboratory.
Apigenin
Lefort EC and Blay J (2013). Apigenin and its impact on gastrointestinal cancers. Mol Nutr Food Res, 57(1) 126-144.
Lefort EC and Blay J (2011). The dietary flavonoid apigenin enhances the activities of the anti-metastatic protein CD26 on human colon carcinoma cells. Clin Exp Metastasis, 28, 337-349.
CXCR4 regulation by PPARγ
Richard CL and Blay J (2008). CXCR4 in cancer and its regulation by PPARγ. PPAR Research, Article ID 769413, 19 pages, doi:10.1155/2008/769413.
Richard CL and Blay J (2007). Thiazolidinedione Drugs Down-regulate CXCR4 Expression on Human Colorectal Cancer Cells in a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-g-Dependent Manner. Int J Oncol, 30, 1215-1222.
Richard CL and Blay J (2007). 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 down-regulates CXCR4 on carcinoma cells through PPARγ- and NF-κB-mediated pathways. Exp Cell Res, 313, 3446-3458.
CD26 regulation by adenosine
Blay J (2012). Adenosine and Tumor Microenvironment. In: Schwab M (ed). Encyclopedia of Cancer, 3rd edn. Springer Verlag: Heidelberg. pp 49-52.
Tan EY, Richard CL, Zhang H, Hoskin DW and Blay J (2006). Adenosine down-regulates DPPIV on HT-29 colon cancer cells by stimulating protein tyrosine phosphatase(s) and reducing ERK1/2 activity via a novel pathway. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 291, C433-C444.
Tan EY, Mujoomdar M and Blay J (2004) Adenosine down-regulates the surface expression of dipeptidyl peptidase IV on HT-29 human colorectal carcinoma cells: Implications for cancer cell behavior. Am J Pathol 165, 319-330.
Adenosine and tumor immunosuppression
Blay J and Hoskin DW (2006) Impaired lymphocyte activation in the presence of adenosine: Mechanism(s) and physiologic relevance. In “Adenosine Receptors. Therapeutic Aspects for Inflammatory and Immune Diseases (Haskó G, , Cronstein BN and Szabó C, eds), Ch 5, pp 69-88 , Taylor and Francis, London.
MacKenzie WM, Hoskin DW and Blay J (2002) Adenosine suppresses α4ß7 integrin-mediated adhesion of T lymphocytes to colon adenocarcinoma cells. Exp Cell Res 276, 90-100.
Blay J, White TD and Hoskin DW (1997) The extracellular fluid of solid carcinomas contains immunosuppressive concentrations of adenosine. Cancer Res 57, 2602-2605.
Other effects of adenosine in the tumour
Richard CL, Tan EY and Blay J (2006). Adenosine upregulates CXCR4 and enhances the proliferative and migratory responses of human carcinoma cells to CXCL12/SDF-1α. Int J Cancer, 119, 2044-2053.
Mujoomdar M, Bennett A, Hoskin D and Blay J (2004) Adenosine stimulation of proliferation of breast carcinoma cell lines: Evaluation of the [3H]thymidine assay system and modulatory effects of the cellular microenvironment in vitro. J Cell Physiol 201, 429-438.
Mujoomdar M, Hoskin D and Blay J (2003) Adenosine stimulation of the proliferation of colorectal carcinoma cell lines. Roles of cell density and adenosine metabolism. Biochem Pharmacol, 66,1737-1747.
In addition to research and teaching, Dr Blay works to promote a wider understanding of science and biology in advancing human endeavour. He is past President of the Nova Scotia Institute for Science (NSIS) and a Fellow of the Society of Biology. He also works to support the roles of libraries in support of science and medicine, particularly through the free dissemination of digital information. He has worked extensively with the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) and was inaugural recipient of the CRKN Ron MacDonald Distinguished Service Award, which is “... intended to recognize an individual within a member institution who has demonstrated vision, dedication and outstanding service in building bridges and collaboration to advance knowledge infrastructure in Canada.”
In addition to his own research efforts, Dr Blay is widely engaged in initiatives to promote relevant cancer research, in areas of discovery, clinical application and support of the cancer patient. He was inaugural Scientific Director of the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, a pioneering effort to bring together these different research perspectives across the Atlantic Provinces of Eastern Canada. He is currently Chair of the emerging Waterloo Cancer Research Network, a collective of researchers focused upon novel and innovative approaches in cancer therapy.
Further activities include:
1981 BSc Medical Sciences (University of Bradford)
1985 PhD Cell Biology (University of Cambridge)
Careers with the School of Pharmacy
School of Pharmacy
10A Victoria St. S.
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 1C5
Phone: 519-888-4499
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office.