Monument, Michael

Surgical Oncology

Assistant Professor

MD, MSc, FRCSC

Web Presence:

Biography

Dr. Monument is an orthopaedic oncology surgeon — scientist, who specializes in the diagnosis and surgical management of connective tissue malignancies such as sarcoma and metastatic bone disease. He received his graduate and orthopaedic surgery training at the University of Calgary and completed a combined clinical/research fellowship at the University of Utah – Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Area of Focus

  • Inducible and syngeneic mouse models of bone and soft tissue sarcoma
  • STING pathway activation in sarcomas
  • Anti-fibrotic therapies
  • Ewing sarcoma
  • Surgical outcomes in metastatic bone disease
  • Patient-engaged research in metastatic bone disease

Summary of Research

The Monument lab has expertise in developing inducible and syngeneic mouse models of bone and soft tissue sarcoma using orthotropic Coe-Recombinase mutagenesis. Like human sarcomas, the tumour immune microenvironment of these murine sarcomas is immunologically cold and void of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes. Using these models were developing novel immunotherapy strategies to inflame the sarcoma microenvironment. We have particular interest in  therapeutic approaches to activate the STimulator of INterferon Genes (STING) pathway within sarcomas as a clinically relevant single agent therapy or in combination with other immune-based therapies.

Our clinical research involves patient-engaged research in metastatic bone disease and improving the delivery of multimodal care for these patients. We are building a retrospective and prospective database to accurately capture oncologic and patient reported outcomes in patients with metastatic bone disease who undergo orthopaedic procedures.

Our lab and clinical research group is accepting applications for summer students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Area Of Focus

  • Inducible and syngeneic mouse models of bone and soft tissue sarcoma
  • STING pathway activation in sarcomas
  • Anti-fibrotic therapies
  • Ewing sarcoma
  • Surgical outcomes in metastatic bone disease
  • Patient-engaged research in metastatic bone disease

Summary Of Research

The Monument lab has expertise in developing inducible and syngeneic mouse models of bone and soft tissue sarcoma using orthotropic Coe-Recombinase mutagenesis. Like human sarcomas, the tumour immune microenvironment of these murine sarcomas is immunologically cold and void of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes. Using these models were developing novel immunotherapy strategies to inflame the sarcoma microenvironment. We have particular interest in  therapeutic approaches to activate the STimulator of INterferon Genes (STING) pathway within sarcomas as a clinically relevant single agent therapy or in combination with other immune-based therapies.

Our clinical research involves patient-engaged research in metastatic bone disease and improving the delivery of multimodal care for these patients. We are building a retrospective and prospective database to accurately capture oncologic and patient reported outcomes in patients with metastatic bone disease who undergo orthopaedic procedures.

Our lab and clinical research group is accepting applications for summer students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.