Constance Finney

Constance Finney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Science. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Imperial College (2003) and a Doctorate in Immunoparasitology from the University of Edinburgh (2007). Her research focuses on understanding immune system decision-making during parasitic infections, particularly using Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Toxoplasma gondii as murine models. Current projects explore wound healing vs. parasite killing dynamics, co-infection impacts, and immune response modulation.

Her teaching includes courses like CMMB 527 Immunology and ZOOL 581 Principles in Parasitism. Notable awards include the Canadian Society of Zoology Public Outreach Award and multiple postdoctoral fellowships from CIHR-CTN and OHTN programs. Research contributions span over 30 peer-reviewed publications since 2005, with recent work emphasizing genomic analyses of parasites, immune signaling pathways, and translational applications in parasitology education.

• Educational Background:
• B.S. Biology, Imperial College (2003)
• Ph.D. Immunoparasitology, University of Edinburgh (2007)

Her lab's publications demonstrate expertise in helminth immunology, malaria-HIV co-infection dynamics, and parasite-induced regulatory T cell mechanisms. Ongoing work investigates tuft cell roles in tapeworm expulsion and genomic innovations in apicomplexan parasites. She collaborates on open educational resources like the 'Parasite Lifecycle Storybook' to enhance public understanding of parasitology.