Dr. Andrew McArthur: Bioinformatics' Role in Disease Control

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health challenge in which microorganisms develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs. AMR is projected to cause over 10 million deaths by 2050. Antibiotic misuse and overuse are both major contributors to the issue.

Right now, bacteria are developing drug resistance faster than we can discover new drugs. If the drug discovery pace cannot match up with the bacterial resistance pace, then identifying antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) before a disease outbreak occurs, causing secondary infections, would be fundamental. What makes it better is the use of AI to help us in this battle, specifically machine learning. Dr. Andrew McArthur, a scientist who has been working on the surveillance of AMR, will have an “office hour” with us today to tell his stories, and inspire students to build their own scientific journey.

Dr. Andrew McArthur

Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences

Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University

AFFILIATION

Dr. Andrew McArthur is a Professor and Principal Investigator of the McArthur Lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.

ACADEMIC & TEACHING BACKGROUND

Undergraduate and graduate studies:

Dr. Andrew McArthur completed his undergraduate studies with an Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Ontario.

He then completed his PhD at University of Victoria, where his research focused on the field of marine biology.

Postdoctoral training:

Following the completion of his PhD, Dr. McArthur undertook postdoctoral training at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. There, his research focused on invertebrate biology, specifically focusing on the molecular systematics of invertebrates.

Teaching and research career:

In 2006, Dr. McArthur started his own bioinformatics company. In 2014, he joined McMaster University as an associate professor and started the McArthur Lab.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The McArthur Lab focuses on using machine learning to predict ARGs in cultured isolates from samples. Current projects in the lab involve building tools such as CARDShark, which prioritizes papers on relevant topics, as well as databases and algorithms for the genomic surveillance of infectious pathogens.

AWARDS & LEADERSHIP

• Cisco Research Chair in Bioinformatics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Canada (2014-2019)

• McMaster Health Sciences Graduate Student Federation Excellence in Graduate Supervision Award (2018)

• David Braley Chair in Computational Biology (2021 - Present)

• Director of Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization Program (2019–2024)

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this episode, we follow Dr. Andrew McArthur as he discussed his non-linear career journey that led to his current achievements in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University. Furthermore, Dr. McArthur shared his unique career in both Canada and the United States, the role of the McArthur Lab in COVID-19, as well as collaborating with other laboratories to investigate new bioinformatic tools .

INTERVIEW

From YouTube channel of Office Hours: Unplugged