DeKoter Lab

Dr. DeKoter is a Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at Western University in London, Ontario. Dr. DeKoter is also cross-appointed to the Department of Oncology. Dr. DeKoter is a Scientist with the Division of Genetics & Development at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute in London, Ontario.

He obtained Bachelors degrees from Redeemer College (1988) and Western University (1990) and a PhD degree in Microbiology & Immunology from Western University (1996). Dr. DeKoter was a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Harinder Singh, working at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Chicago from 1996-2001. He was an Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology at the University of Cincinnati (Ohio) from 2001-2009 before moving to Western University in 2009.

Research:

Dr. DeKoter’s research program is focused on nuclear proteins called transcription factors, and how these proteins regulate gene expression, immune system development, and leukemia. This work is primarily done using mouse models and human patient samples.

Teaching:

Dr. DeKoter coordinates the Honours Thesis Project (HSP) courses for Biochemistry, Anatomy & Cell Biology, and Microbiology & Immunology. The course number for MICROIMM is 4970E.

Dr. DeKoter teaches in MICROIMM 3300B (Immunology) in the winter term each year.

Current Grants:

CIHR 168996 “Mechanisms of driver mutation cooperativity in precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia” (2020-2025). Dr. Parisa Shooshtari (Children’s Health Research Institute) and Dr. Alexandra Zorzi, MD (London Regional Children’s Hospital) are co-PIs for this grant.

NSERC 04749 "Coordination of cell cycle, metabolism, and myeloid differentiation by lineage-specific transcription factors" (2016-2022)

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada "Characterization of driver mutations in a mouse model of B cell leukemia" (2018-2021)