John McNeill
About the Principal Investigator
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Training
| Degree: | B.Sc. Pharmacy |
| Institution: | University of Alberta |
| Period: | 1960 |
| Degree: | M.Sc. Pharmacy |
| Institution: | University of Alberta |
| Period: | 1962 |
| Degree: | Ph.D. Pharmacology |
| Institution: | University of Michigan |
| Period: | 1967 |
Previous Positions
| Position: | Assistant Professor |
| Institution: | Michigan State University |
| Period: | 1967-1971 |
| Position: | Associate Professor and Chairman |
| Institution: | Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, UBC |
| Period: | 1972-1975 |
| Position: | Professor |
| Institution: | Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| Period: | 1975-2004 |
| Position: | Dean |
| Institution: | Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| Period: | 1985-1996 |
Current Position
| Position: | Professor and Dean Emeritus |
| Period: | 2004 - Present |
Major Awards
| Name: | Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences |
| Period: | 2005 |
| Name: | Janssen-Ortho Pharmaceutical Research Award / Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada |
| Period: | 2004 |
| Name: | Killam Teaching Award (University of British Columbia) |
| Period: | 2003 |
| Name: | Fellow of International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences |
| Period: | 2002 |
| Name: | Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada |
| Period: | 2000 |
| Name: | Ken Bowman Research Award (International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences) |
| Period: | 1999 |
| Name: | Friend of Pharmacy (B.C. Pharmacy Association) |
| Period: | 1997 |
| Name: | Outstanding Alumnus Award (University of Michigan) |
| Period: | 1996 |
| Name: | Parke Davis Distinguished Lecturer (Ferris State University) |
| Period: | 1996 |
| Name: | Killam Research Prize (University of B.C.) |
| Period: | 1994 |
| Name: | MRC Visiting Professor, Queen's University |
| Period: | 1992 |
| Name: | Jacob Biely Prize (University of B.C.) |
| Period: | 1985 |
| Name: | McNeil Award (Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada) |
| Period: | 1983 |
| Name: | Upjohn Award (Pharmacological Society of Canada) |
| Period: | 1983 |
About the Lab
Please Note: Dr. McNeill is no longer training new graduate students.
My research has centered on the effects of drugs on the heart. In particular, I have attempted to elucidate the biochemical mechanism of action of a number of drugs that produce a positive inotropic effect. In addition, I have been interested in the mechanisms of action of drugs that interact with cardio stimulant agonists to enhance or block their effects. These investigations have been at least partially successful in that I have contributed data leading to theories of drug action in the heart. We are also actively involved with studies on hypertension in animal models.
I have also investigated the effect of diabetes on the hearts of rats. Our investigations have revealed several biochemical, structural, functional and pharmacological differences in hearts from diabetic animals. We have also found ways of treating the diabetes and preventing the cardiac changes in addition to insulin treatment. More recently, our particular interest has been our discovery that vanadium containing compounds lower blood glucose and prevent the secondary complications of diabetes in diabetic rats. We have recently synthesized and patented several compounds which have potential to be therapeutic agents. The finding that vanadium deposits in bone has led us to investigate if vanadium has positive or negative effects on bone structure. In the past several years we have studied the positive effects of beta blockade on the diabetic heart.
We have developed rat animal models for the study of the metabolic syndrome, a syndrome characterized by hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and hypertension. We have shown that insulin-enhancing drugs will reduce all three of the above. These studies may lead to better treatments of hypertension by treating the root cause. We are currently studying how the syndrome increases blood pressure by examining changes in vasoactive factors such as endothelin and thromboxane (TXA2) and the effect of sex hormones.
Training Environment
My training philosophy had been to take good trainees and ground them in the science that we are investigating and then turn them loose. The reward is that I have learned from them and their successes, perhaps even more than I have managed to teach them.
Please Note: Dr. McNeill is no longer training new graduate students.
Projects
Diabetes produces deleterious changes in cardiac function in rats. There are significant alterations in cardiac metabolism, calcium handling and cell signaling that continue to be investigated. In addition, reactive oxygen species are increased in the diabetic state and contribute to the decrease in function. The cardiac muscle itself is damaged, a condition known as cardiomyopathy. Our lab is investigating both the pathology and potential treatments for the cardiomyopathy.
Our model of the metabolic syndrome is the Fructose Fed Rat. Feeding rats a high fructose diet results in insulin resistance and hypertension which appear to be related. Our work has shown an increase in activity of the sympathetic nervous system as well as in endothelin, angiotensin, thromboxane A2 and inflammatory factors. The presence of testosterone is also important in the development of the hypertension. We are attempting to understand these complex relationships as well as to investigate possible treatments.
I have also taught and had an interest in both therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse, including alcohol. I have been recognized by the courts of British Columbia and elsewhere as an expert in these areas.
Selected Publications
Most Cited Paper
Recent Papers (manuscripts)
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