John White

John White serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology at McGill University, based at the McIntyre Medical Sciences Building in Montreal. His leadership role as department chair positions him at the forefront of physiological research and education within one of Canada's premier academic institutions.

• B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Carleton University
• MSc. in Chemistry from Carleton University
• Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University

White's research centers on nuclear receptor signaling with exceptional focus on the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and its role in gene transcription regulation. His laboratory pioneered large-scale genomic studies of vitamin D signaling, identifying over 1,000 vitamin D target genes. Key discoveries include VDR's regulation of cell proliferation through cMYC suppression, induction of antimicrobial peptides for innate immunity, and critical connections between vitamin D signaling and thymic function in autoimmune prevention. His work bridges molecular mechanisms with clinical implications for infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent focus on vitamin D's immunomodulatory functions, particularly its role in thymic development and autoimmune prevention through AIRE-VDR interactions. His research demonstrates evolutionary conservation of vitamin D pathways across species while highlighting cell-type specific responses. The work increasingly connects basic molecular mechanisms (FBW7-mediated cMYC degradation, SIRT1-FoxO activation) with clinical applications in tuberculosis defense, Crohn's disease, and asthma management.

White has secured significant research funding supporting his investigations into vitamin D's non-classical physiological actions, particularly through his Vitamind Lab (www.mcgill.ca/vitamindlab). His laboratory has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who frequently appear as co-authors on his high-impact publications in journals like Science Advances, PNAS, and Journal of Immunology.

His laboratory maintains active research programs in thymic biology, cancer signaling pathways, and vitamin D's role in infectious disease defense, with several ongoing clinical trials including the PROTECT study on vitamin D supplementation for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.