Marc D. McKee
Professor,ÌýDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology
Professor,ÌýFaculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences
PhD - Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Cell Biology
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard University & The Children's Hospital in Boston
Marc McKeeÌýis a full professor at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in Montreal with a joint appointment in the FacultyÌýof Dental MedicineÌýand Oral Health Sciences, and in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology).Ìý He holds theÌýCanada Research Chair in Biomineralization.Ìý He received his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in cell biology, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard University and The Children's Hospital in Boston.Ìý He then held academic appointments at the Forsyth Institute in Boston (1989), and at the University of Montreal (1990), after which he moved to Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in 1998.
McKee has received the following distinctions:Ìý
- 2019ÌýÌýAdele L. Boskey Award,ÌýEsteemed Award from the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research
- 2018ÌýÌýCP Leblond Award, Quebec provincial health research funding agencyÌý(FRQ-S) Network for Oral and Bone Health Research
- 2018ÌýÌýCanada Research Chair in Biomineralization (Tier 1),ÌýGovernment of Canada CRC Chair Program
- 2008ÌýÌýFaculty of Medicine Honour List for Educational Excellence,ÌýÏ㽶ÊÓƵ
- 2006ÌýÌýJames McGill Professor,ÌýÏ㽶ÊÓƵ Internal Chair Program
- 2005ÌýÌýFaculty of Dentistry Howard S. Katz Award for Excellence in Teaching,ÌýÏ㽶ÊÓƵ
- 2003ÌýÌýBasic Research in Biological Mineralization Award,ÌýDistinguished Scientist Award from the International Association for Dental Research
- 2001ÌýÌýWilliam Dawson Scholar,ÌýÏ㽶ÊÓƵ Internal Chair Program
- 1996ÌýÌýYoung Investigator Award,ÌýDistinguished Scientist Award from the International Association for Dental Research
- 1996ÌýÌýQuebec Science (popular magazine) "Top-Ten" Discoveries of the Year, Role of osteopontin in mineralized tissues
- 1994ÌýÌýQuebec Science (popular magazine) "Top-Ten" Discoveries of the Year, Bioactive coating for titanium implants
Research in my laboratory is primarily focused on mineralization (calcification) in extracellular matrices of bones and teeth, in mineralization pathologies, and in other biomineralizing systems such as inner-ear otoconia and eggshells.Ìý In particular, we are investigating the role of mineral-binding proteins, peptides, amino acids and other small molecules in crystal growth during normal hard-tissue mineralization, and in rare hypomineralization (osteomalacia) diseases of bones and teeth such as X-linked hypophosphatemia and hypophosphatasia. We also investigate how enzymes modify these factors to influence their mineralization-regulating activities.Ìý Our work also includes investigating pathologic circumstances and the actions of regulatory molecules where unwanted and debilitating mineral is deposited in soft tissues such as in the kidney (urolithiasis, kidney stones) and in blood vessels (vascular calcification).Ìý The proteins/enzymes that we are currently focusing on are osteopontin and PHEX.Ìý We also examine extracellular matrix organization and composition at cell- and matrix-matrix interfaces, and we examine the nanostructure of mineralized tissues.Ìý To study these processes, a variety of morphological, biochemical, immunochemical, cell biological and molecular techniques are used which include among others: electron microscopy and tomography, focused-ion beam milling, atomic force microscopy, confocal microscopy, immunocytochemistry, in vivo experimentation using normal and transgenic mice, in vitro cell culture and crystal growth systems, and standard biochemical and chemical assays.
