Dr. Matthew Churchward
Assistant Professor, Biology
Education
- PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary
- BSc, Biochemistry, McMaster University
Postdoctoral research
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Neurochemical Research Unit, University of Alberta
Research interests
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology to study the relationship between inflammatory cells in the brain and mental health.
- How modifiable lifestyle factors can impact the cells of the brain (e.g. diet and gut health through the gut-brain axis) and the interaction of brain cells with implanted therapeutic devices (e.g. cochlear implants, intraspinal microstimulation electrodes, and brain-computer interfaces).
Key Courses:
- BIO 201/BES 107 Cell Biology
- BIOCH310/BIOCH320 Biochemistry
- BIO 421 Bioinformatics
- BIO 344 Neurochemistry
Selected Publications:
- Churchward MA, Michaud ER, Mullish BH, Miguens Blanco J, Garcia Perez I, Marchesi JR, Xu H, Kao D, Todd KG. 2023. Short-chain fatty and carboxylic acid changes associated with fecal microbiota transplant communally influence microglial inflammation. Heliyon. 9(6):e16908. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16908.
- Tsui CT, Lal P, Fox KVR, Churchward MA, Todd KG. 2022. The effects of electrical stimulation on glial cell behaviour. BMC Biomed Eng. 4(1):7. doi:10.1186/s42490-022-00064-0.
- Tsui CT, MacGillivray SR, Weber SM, McAllister L, Churchward MA, Dennison CR, Todd KG. 2021. Applying a novel 3D hydrogel cell culture to investigate the activation of microglia due to rotational kinematics associated with mild traumatic brain injury. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 114:104176. doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104176.
- Churchward MA, Michaud ER, Todd KG. 2019. Supporting microglial niches for therapeutic benefit in psychiatric disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 94:109648. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109648.
- Churchward MA, Tchir DR, Todd KG. 2018. Microglial Function during Glucose Deprivation: Inflammatory and Neuropsychiatric Implications. Mol Neurobiol. 55(2):1477–1487. doi:10.1007/s12035-017-0422-9.