West Research Group

Cardiac Transplantation

Departments of Pediatrics, Surgery, and Immunology, University of Alberta
Simon Urschel

Simon Urschel

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Immunology
Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist
Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Transplant Program
Email: urschel [at] ualberta [dot] ca
(780) 492-3253

Simon is interested in the mechanisms of B-cell tolerance after ABO-incompatible heart transplantation in children with immature immune systems. His research during the fellowship in the West lab has revealed a key role for several B cell phenotypes such as IgM positive Memory B cells in the development of blood group tolerance and better graft acceptance in early childhood. His current research focus is on the impact of B cell receptor signalling and the linkage to the innate immune system on the adaptive immune response towards organ grafts and infectious agents in early childhood.

  • Education

    • MD, 2000, Medical school of Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
    • Clinical Resident (Pediatrics), 2000-2006, Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany (Focus: Congenital and acquired immunodeficiency, pediatric rheumatology and autoimmune diseases, pediatric infectious diseases)
    • Clinical Subspecialty Resident (Pediatric Cardiology), 2006-2008, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany (Focus: Pediatric heart transplantation, echocardiography, cardiac inflammation)
    • Research Fellowship (Transplant Immunology), 2008-2010, Dr. Lori West, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. Mechanisms of B cell tolerance following ABO-incompatible heart transplantation in early childhood, funded by:
      • - The Transplantation Society (TTS), Fellowship Award
      • - German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG), Fellowship Award
      • - Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI), Trainee Research Award

  • Awards

    • Travel Award for the European Society of Immunodeficiencies (ESID) Summer School, 2001
    • Travel Award for Walter Brendel Kolleg, German Society for Organ Transplantation (DTG), 2007
    • Travel Award for the Hesperis Course, European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT), 2007
    • Cardiovascular Research Award, University of Alberta, 2008
    • Travel Award for the Fellows Symposium, American Society of Transplantation (AST), 2008
    • Trainee Clinical Science Award, Canadian Society of Transplantation (CST), 2009
    • Travel Award, International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), 2009
    • Best Clinical Science Abstract Award, Cardiac Research Day, University of Alberta, 2009
    • Distinguished Fellow Award, including Invitation and Travel Award, for the Distinguished Fellows Research Exchange, American Society of Transplantation (AST), 2009
    • 1st Place Oral Presentations, Post Doctoral Fellow Category, Women and Childrens Health Research Institute (WCHRI) Research Day, 2009
    • Young Innovator Award, American Society of Transplantation (AST), 2009
    • Travel Award, Canadian Society of Transplantation (CST), 2010
    • Trainee Clinical Science Award, Canadian Society of Transplantation (CST), 2010

  • Selected Publications

    • S. Urschel, T. Schuster, D. Dunsch, U. Wintergerst, R. Hofstetter, B.H. Belohradsky. Discontinuation of primary Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis after reconstitution of CD4 cell counts in HIV- infected children. AIDS 2001, 15(12):1592-1593
    • S. Bechtold, S. Urschel, R. Dalla Pozza, A. Jansson, B.H. Belohradsky. Reactive arthritis in children- pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde 2002, 150(4):460-470
    • S. Urschel, S. Schmidt, F. Hoffmann, G. Chedville, A. Fischer, R. Roos, K. Schwarz, U. Wintergerst, B.H. Belohradsky. Somatic gene therapy in X-linked severe-combined- immunodeficiency (X-SCID). Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde 2003, 151(8):869-874
    • U. Salzer, A. Maul-Pavicic, C. Cunningham-Rundles, S. Urschel, B.H. Belohradsky, J. Litzman, A. Holm, J.L. Franco, A. Plebani, L. Hammarstrom, A. Skrabl, W. Schwinger, B. Grimbacher. ICOS deficiency in patients with common variable immunodeficiency. Clinical Immunology 2004, 113(3):243-240
    • S. Urschel, J. Ramos, M. Mellado, C. Giaquinto, G. Verweel, T. Schuster, T. Niehues, B.H. Belohradsky, U. Wintergerst and the European PCP-withdrawl Study Group. Withdrawal of Pneumocystis jirovecii prophylaxis in HIV-infected children after immunological reconstitution with highly active antiretroviral therapy. AIDS 2005, 19:2103-2108
    • R. Dalla Pozza, S. Bechtold, S. Kääb, M. Buckl, S. Urschel, H. Netz, H-P. Schwarz. QTc interval prolongation in children with Ulrich-Turner-syndrome. European Journal of Pediatrics 2006, 165:831–837
    • R. Dalla Pozza, D. Hartl, S. Bechtold, S. Urschel, R. Kozlik-Feldmann, S. Pankuweit, B.H. Belohradsky, H. Netz. Recurrent pericarditis in children: elevated cardiac autoantibodies. Clinical Research in Cardiology 2007, 96:1–8
    • R. Dalla Pozza, S. Bechtold, S. Urschel, R. Kozlik-Feldmann, H. Netz. Subclinical atherosclerosis, but normal autonomic function after Kawasaki disease. Journal of Pediatrics 2007, 151:239-43
    • R. Dalla Pozza, S. Urschel, S. Bechtold, R. Kozlik-Feldmann, C. Schmitz, H. Netz. Subclinical atherosclerosis after heart and heart-lung transplantation in childhood. Pediatric Transplantation 2008, 12(5):577-81
    • I. Grosch Woerner, K. Puch, R.F. Maier, T. Niehues, G. Notheis, D. Patel, S. Casteleyn, C. Feiterna-Sperling, S. Groeger, D. Zaknun, for the Multicenter Interdisciplinary Study Group Germany/Austria (S. Urschel). Increased rate of prematurity associated with antenatal antiretroviral therapy in a German/Austrian cohort of HIV-1-infected women. HIV Medicine 2008, 9:6-13
    • N. Rieber, A. Graf, B.H. Belohradsky, D. Hartl, S. Urschel, M. Riffelmann, C-H. Wirsing von König, J. Liese. Differences of humoral and cellular immune response to an acellular pertussis booster in adolescents with a whole cell or acellular primary vaccination. Vaccine 2008, 26(52):6929-35
    • R. Dalla Pozza, S. Bechtold, S. Urschel, H. Netz, H-P. Schwarz. QTc interval prolongation in children with Turner syndrome: the results of exercise testing and 24-h ECG. European Journal of Pediatrics 2009, 168(1):59-64
    • S. Urschel, R. Dalla Pozza, M. Loeff, C. Schmitz, R. Sodian, M. Schmoeckel, C. Kowalski, H. Netz. Successful ABO-incompatible heart transplantation in a child despite blood group sensitization after ventricular assist device support. Pediatric Transplantation 2009, 13(6):773-76
    • U. Salzer, C. Bacchelli, S. Buckridge, Q. Pan-Hammarström, S. Jennings, V. Lougaris, A. Bergbreiter, T. Hagena, J. Birmelin, A. Plebani, A.D.B. Webster, H.H. Peter, D. Suez, H. Chapel, A. McLean-Tooke, G.P. Spickett, S. Anover-Sombke, H.D. Ochs, S. Urschel, B.H. Belohradsky, S. Ugrinovic, D.S. Kumararatne, T.C. Lawrence, A.M. Holm, J.L. Franco, I. Schulze, P. Schneider, E.M. Gertz, A.A. Schäffer, L. Hammarström, A.J. Thrasher, H.B. Gaspar, B. Grimbacher. Relevance of biallelic versus monoallelic TNFRSF13B mutations in distinguishing disease-causing from risk-increasing TNFRSF13B variants in antibody deficiency syndromes. Blood 2009, 113(9):1967-76
    • S. Urschel, L. Kayikci, U. Wintergerst, G. Notheis, A. Jansson, B.H. Belohradsky. Common variable immunodeficiency disorders in children: delayed diagnosis despite typical clinical presentation. Journal of Pediatrics 2009, 154(6):888-94
    • S. Urschel, P.M. Campbell, S.R. Meyer, I.M. Larsen, J. Nübel, J. Birnbaum, H. Netz, K. Tinckam, T. Kauke, K. Derkatz, J.Y. Coe, J.L. Platt, L.J. West. Absence of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies after ABO-incompatible heart transplantation in infancy: altered immunity or age?. American Journal of Transplantation 2010, 10(1):149-56
    • S. Urschel, S. Cremer, J. Birnbaum, R. Dalla Pozza, A. Fuchs, G. Jäger, C. Schmitz, B.H. Belohradsky, H. Netz. Lack of serologic immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases in children after thoracic transplantation. Transplant International 2010, 23(6):619-27
    • S. Urschel, L. Altamirano-Diaz, L.J. West. Immunosuppression armamentarium in 2010: mechanistic and clinical considerations. Pediatric Clinics of North America 2010, 57(2):433-57
    • S. Urschel. Otitis media in children with congenital immunodeficiencies. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports 2010, 10(6):425-33
    • R.J. Gajarski, E.D. Blume, S. Urschel, K. Schechtman, J. Zheng, L.J. West, L. Altamirano-Diaz, S. Miyamoto, D.C. Naftel, J.K. Kirklin, M.C. Zamberlan, C.E. Canter, for the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study Investigators. Use of induction therapy and incidence of infection and malignancy following pediatric heart transplantation. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, in press
    • L. Altamirano-Diaz, L.J. West, A. Humar, L. Ely, S. Urschel, J. Gubbay, N. Crowcroft, D. Kumar. Early post-transplant vaccination with pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 vaccine in pediatric heart transplant recipients. Pediatric Transplantation, in press