Dr. Tillie L. Hackett  

Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Associate Director, Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St Paul’s Hospital

Phone Number: (604) 682-2344 x 62563

Fax Number: (604) 806-8351

Email: tillie.hackett@hli.ubc.ca

 

Bio:

Dr. Hackett received her BSc. (2002) in Biochemistry and Pharmacology and her Ph.D. (2006) in Cellular and   Biological Sciences from the University of Southampton, in the UK under the mentorship of Dr. J.A. Warner and Prof. S.T. Holgate. In 2006, Dr Hackett joined the James Hogg Research Centre at the University of British Columbia, Canada funded by a Canadian Institutes for Health, Canadian Lung Association and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research post doctoral fellowships with Drs D.A. Knight and T. Bai. Dr. Hackett then undertook additional postdoctoral training at the University Medical Centre Groningen fundied by the European Respiratory Society, with Prof. D.S. Postma and Dr. H.I. Heijink.

Dr Hackett began her academic appointment at UBC as an Assistant Professor in 2013. Her research program is focused on understanding the disruption of normal repair processes within the epithelial-mesenchymal trophic unit (EMTU) of the lung and how this propagates inflammation and tissue remodeling in patients with obstructive lung disease. Her laboratory uses an innovative and targeted approach to isolate cells from donor lungs guided by Computed Tomography imaging. This resource, The Human Lung Cell Repository, aims to provide highly characterized cells representative of a variety of lung disease states and healthy individuals for use in clinical bio-assays of disease. The goal of this research program is to further understand the airway microenvironment to determine therapeutic targets to prevent the initiation and perpetuation of pathological processes which contribute to obstructive airway diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Areas of Research Interest:

  • The effects of obstructive lung diseases on lung function
  • The roles and interactions of epithelial cells with mesenchymal cells in lung development and repair
  • The uses of stem cell therapy for airway diseases

Awards:

  • Awarded Tier I Canada Research Chair in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Pathobiology and Therapeutics in the Faculty of Medicine competition 2019. Application submitted to CRC in May 2020.

  • Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics Research Day Paper of the Year 2019. Defective fibrillar collagen organization by fibroblasts contributes to airway remodeling in Asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Aug 15;200(4):431-443.

  • American Thoracic Society Fellow (First year of inaugural fellows). The ATS Fellow designation is a mark of distinction, conferring recognition on members for their accomplishments, dedication, and contributions to the Society as well as to the fields of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.
  • Congratulations on Excellence in Student Teaching in Pharmacology, from the Faculty of Sciences Dean.
  • Congratulations by Dean Susan Porter on being name ‘great supervisor” through the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ #UBC #GreatSupervisor campaign, which ran in May 2018.
  • University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award – Excellence in Basic Science 2018. This award recognizes individuals whose performance during the prior review year was exceptionally meritorious.
  • Publication on COPD published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine was named one of UBC’s Faculty of Medicine Top Ten Research highlights in 2018.

  • Congratulations on Excellence in Student Teaching PCTH 400, Faculty of Sciences Dean.

  • Nominated by UBC for the CIHR GOLD Leaf New Investigator Award.

  • Canadian Institutes for Health New Investigator Award.
  • Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar Award.
  • Voted Programming Chair for the Respiratory Structure Function Assembly of the American Thoracic Society.

  • The Peter D. Pare Award of Distinguished Merit. Awarded for an outstanding year of extraordinary dedication, enthusiasm and success. Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia.

  • The Parker B. Francis Foundation Respiratory Fellowship Faculty Transition Award.
  • The American Thoracic Society Ann Woolcock Memorial Award for overall accomplishments and promise of a young investigator in the field of Asthma research.
  • The Alain de Weck Collegium International Allergologicum Award.

  • International Klosterfrau Awardee for Pediatric Asthma Research.

  • National Post Doc Association (USA) Summit on Gender Travel Award, Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • European Respiratory Society Short Term Fellowship, Groningen, The Netherland.

  • UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics Best Published Paper UBC James Hogg Young Investigator of the Year.

  • European Respiratory Society Travel Award Research Award, European Respiratory Society, Switzerland.
  • AllerGen Travel Award Research Award, AllerGen NCE Inc.
  • European Respiratory Society Travel Award Research Award, European Respiratory Society, Switzerland.

  • CLA Research Fellowship Research Award, Canadian Lung Association, Canada.
  • AllerGen Travel Award Research Award, AllerGen NCE Inc. ·
  • AllerGen-CSACI Poster Presentation Award Young Investigator Award AllerGen NCE Inc.

  • D. studentship Research Award, Arakis Ltd, United Kingdom.

  • Summer Studentship Research Award, Arakis Ltd, United Kingdom.
  • Named on Dean’s list of Distinction for High Achievers, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.