Research summary
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of gastric cancer and other digestive diseases, but its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. As Canada Research Chair in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Dr. Nicola Jones is using patient samples, animal models, and advanced molecular techniques to investigate how H. pylori causes disease.
She and her research team are focusing on vacuolating cytotoxin, a bacterial virulence factor linked to disease severity, with the goal of identifying new ways to treat infection and prevent complications like gastric cancer. In addition to advancing medical research, Jones is leading a cutting-edge training program for the next generation of scientists specializing in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. By improving our understanding of how H. pylori causes disease and advancing research that could lead to new treatments, her work will contribute to better digestive health and cancer prevention for Canadians.