ACumming School of Medicine (CSM) researcher, Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta, has been recognized with the prestigious Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship, one of just six in Canada this year. Considered an early stage academic researcher, Arrieta is already internationally known for leading discoveries on the early life microbiome and its role in infant development.
Arrieta, PhD, investigates how the gut microbiome a large community of microbes that live in the intestines interacts with an infant's immune, metabolic and neurological development. The Arrieta Lab research team investigates how the microbiome helps train infant development, and how it can increase the risk of developing diseases like allergies, asthma and obesity.
The Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship is a respected and sought-after award from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) that has served as a springboard to other major national honours for previous recipients. Fellows receive a $250,000 research grant over two years, plus additional funding to support teaching and other duties.
Video Credit: Cody Coates, Office of the Vice President (Research)
Achievements in microbiome study
Arrieta is recognized for shifting the field of microbiome science by revealing how microbial communities, including fungi, shape immune and metabolic programming in early life. Her leadership and scientific contributions have helped create new ways of understanding how living systems interact, bringing together insights from the environment, microbes and biological data.
Arrieta is also a leading international voice in science communication and public engagement who has co-authored the book, Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Our Children from an Oversanitized World. An evidence-based examination of how the oversanitization of children's environments may alter beneficial bacteria in their bodies, the international bestseller has been translated into 14 languages and adapted into a feature documentary. Its vast reach has helped promote discussion about microbial exposure, child health and environmental stewardship on a global scale.
Journey from international student to research leader
Twenty-five years ago, Arrieta left San José, Costa Rica, for Edmonton, to pursue new learning opportunities. As a PhD student investigating gastrointestinal research, she studied the microbiome's role in non-infectious disease. At that time, it was identified as an area of study with significant potential for discovery and possibilities to advance human health and the prospects piqued Arrieta's interest.
"During my postdoc, I realized not only the fascinating aspects of the work, but also its potential for discovery and applications for years to come," she says. "I could do this for decades, I realized at the time, and it was still only the tip of the iceberg. It was, and continues to be, very exciting."
Exploration of the microbiome led to an interest in exploring gut activity during early life. Two decades later, Arrieta is a leader in the field.
Every chronic disease is associated with an alteration in the microbiome, she explains:
"Our lab is really interested in understanding how microbes reach our bodies, how they get established, and, importantly, what type of education it gives to the way our bodies develop, including increased risk of developing diseases like childhood obesity, allergies and asthma," Arrieta says.
A global opportunity in microbiome research
Arrieta says she was fortunate to be gaining momentum in her field at a pivotal moment in its evolution. Universities had been looking for faculties to work in the microbiome space, and an opportunity arose for her to work in Calgary.
The University of Calgary's International Microbiome Centre (IMC) is a cutting-edge translational research facility where world class researchers across many disciplines are investigating the microbiome of humans, plants, animals and the physical environment. It is unparallelled in Canada, with capacity to study the microbiome on a multi-disciplinary scale, and with an emphasis on forming partnerships with government and industry.
"It was clear that what the University of Calgary was doing with the IMC was very unique," Arrieta says.
The IMC includes a germ-free lab where animal models are used to study host-microbiome interactions, the latest technologies in genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, and a large capacity for storing bioinformatics and biobanking. According to its website, the IMC is positioned to make significant impacts in the microbiome-research landscape to improve the health of people and animals around the world.
Arrieta credits the IMC with helping her research flourish beyond her expectations. The facility has provided the expertise, infrastructure and collaborative environment needed for her and fellow scientists to pursue research at the forefront of microbiome science.
"The microbiome field has forced many of us to rethink human biology, how we study it and how we can change it," Arrieta says. "Having a world-class facility with the infrastructure to accommodate this work is a fantastic opportunity."
Advancing discovery, inspiring future scientists
According to the NSERC, Arthur McDonald Fellowships empower researchers to enhance their research capacity, increase their impact and emerge as leaders who inspire the next generation.
Arrieta says she's honoured to receive the support to continue advancing microbiome research, where there's enormous potential for impact. New NSERC funding will help finance Arrieta's existing work and allow her team the freedom to pursue newer high-risk, high-reward projects. Once her research team has harnessed the information they're gathering, she says, they hope to translate those discoveries into preventing diseases that affect millions of people worldwide.
When Arrieta came to Canada as an international student 25 years ago this year, she says she couldn't have imagined that the path would lead here, or that she would be in a position to enable similar opportunities for others.
"I'm now able to provide that support and the environment for some very talented students, from Canada and other parts of the world, so that they can continue thriving, pushing Canadian science forward and becoming scientists themselves," Arietta says. "Being able to shape their journeys is an incredible privilege and one of the most rewarding aspects of my career."
Marie-Claire Arrieta, PhD, is a professor in the departments of Physiology & Pharmacology and Pediatrics at the Cumming School of Medicine. She is a member of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases and the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute. She is a UCalgary Research Excellence Chair and a member of university's Inflammation Research Network.
