Christine McCusker, Canada

Christine McCusker has a BSc in microbiology/immunology from the University of Toronto and MSc and MD from McMaster University. She trained in pediatrics and clinical allergy and immunology at McGill University. She is a practicing allergist immunologist and a clinician researcher and educator at the Children’s Hospital. She is a Clinician Scientist and Associate Professor at McGill University and is Division Director for Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Dermatology at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Her fundamental research lab focuses on the role of early life environments in the education of the immune system and the prevention of asthma and food allergies in children. This work has been recognized as one of the top 10 scientific discoveries in Quebec in 2016. Her clinical research in food allergy aims to develop and optimize treatment protocols for children with food allergies through a process known as oral immunotherapy. She is the one of the founders and director of the pediatric center for biotherapeutics at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, McGill University. The goal of this center is to optimize the management of children with complex diseases receiving while minimizing and anticipating/preventing adverse events. She is the recipient of the Prix d’Excellence for Research from the Montreal Children’s Foundation for 2020. She is involved in curriculum development for the McGill Undergraduate Medical Education and is the director for the Defense course.