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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Holly Jones-Taggart
PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of Health Sciences

Contact information

Shawenjigewining Hall - Room 431
North Oshawa
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5

905.721.8668 ext. 2539

holly.jonestaggart@ontariotechu.ca

Research topics

  • cellular response to external stimuli
  • molecular manipulation techniques
  • technology-enhanced strategies for delivery of health sciences education

Research and expertise

  • Background and interests

    After earning her PhD in Molecular Biology from Western University in London, Ontario, Dr. Holly Jones-Taggart spent three years in a post-doctoral research position at the Ontario Cancer Institute at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Ontario.

    At Ontario Tech University, Dr. Jones-Taggart’s laboratory-based research involves investigating cancer cell responses to extracellular stimuli that are known activators of motility, growth and survival pathways in cells—how environmental toxins and hormones affect gene expression and cell signalling. She is also involved in projects concerning nutritional genomics education and case-study integration into health sciences courses because of her interest in technology-enhanced teaching and learning.

  • Publications
    • Jones Taggart, H and Sanchez, O. (2016). Integrating Basic Sciences in the Medical Laboratory Sciences Curriculum: A Case Study of Strategies and Approaches. AMEE MedEdPublish.
    • Harshman, M, Vogel, E, Jones-Taggart, H, Green- Johnson, J, Castle, D, Austin, Z and Anderson, K (2008). Nutritional Genomics and Dietetic Professional Practice: A Review. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 69(4), 177-82.
    • Jones, DH, Nakashima, T, Sanchez, OH, Kozieradzki, I, Komarova, SV, Sarosi, I, Morony, S, Rubin, E, Sarao, R, Hojilla, CV, Komnenovic, V, Kong, YY, Schreiber, M, Dixon, SJ, Sims, SM, Wada, T, Khokha, R and Penninger, JM (2006). Regulation of Cancer Cell Migration and Bone Metastasis by RANKL. Nature, 440, 692-696.
    • Jones, DH, Li, TY, Arystarkova, E, Barr, KJ, Wetzel, R, Peng, J, Markham, K, Sweadner, K, Fong, G-H and Kidder, GM (2005). Na+, K+-ATPase from Mice Lacking the Subunit (FXYD2) Exhibits Altered Na+ Affinity and Decreased Thermal Stability. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280(19), 19003-11.
    • Jones, DH, Kong, YY and Penninger, JM (2002). Role of RANKL and RANK in Bone Loss and Arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 61 (Suppl 2), ii32-9.
  • Courses taught

    Courses taught (past and present) at the undergraduate level: 

    • Human Genetics in Society
    • Science Bridge
    • Altered Physiology: Mechanisms of Disease I & II
    • Anatomy and Physiology I & II
    • Cell Biology
    • Genetics & Molecular Biology

    Courses taught (past and present) at the undergraduate level: 

    • Research in Applied Biosciences
    • Special Topics in Health Sciences Research
  • Graduate student research
    • Master of Applied Bioscience (MSc) supervisor for Farrah Edun (2015 to 2017).
    • Master of Applied Bioscience (MSc) supervisor for Kyle Dobby (2013 to 2015): Examining Effects of Milk Ferment Components on Endothelial Cell Signaling in Pro-Inflammatory Pathways.
    • Master of Applied Bioscience (MSc) supervisor for Sara Mannan (2009 to 2011): The Effects of Endosulfan on Human MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells.
    • Master of Applied Bioscience (MSc) supervisor for Lisa J. Praetorius (2007 to 2009: The Regulation of RANK and RANKL mRNA Expression Through Activation of the JAK/Stat5a Pathway in Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines.
  • Grants
    • NSERC and Dairy Farmers of Canada. PI: J. Green-Johnson CoPI: H Jones Taggart and J Strap. Investigating the Anti-Atherogenic Potential of Fermented Dairy Products.
      • 2013, $160,600
    • J.P. Bickell Foundation—Medical Research Grant. Jones-Taggart, H and Sanchez, O. Environmental Toxins and Breast Cancer.
      • 2008 to 2011, $68,500
    • Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech) Teaching Innovation Fund—Education Research. Vogel, E, Jones-Taggart, H, Ryan-Harshman, M and Green-Johnson, J. You Are What You Eat.
      • 2008 to 2009, $6,500
    • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)/SYNAPSE Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR) Youth Mentorship Program. Green-Johnson, JM, Smith, W, Forrester, S, Jones-Taggart, H, Vogel, E and Sanchez, O. Ontario Tech’s Science Research for Health Day.
      • 2006 to 2008, $15,000
    • Ontario Tech Teaching Innovation Fund—Education Research. Green-Johnson, J, Vogel, E, Ryan-Harshman, M and Jones-Taggart, H. Virtual Shopping for Functional Foods: An Animated Approach to Nutrition Education.
      • 2007 to 2008, $5,000
  • Education
    • PhD in Molecular Biology, University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario
    • BScH in Biology, Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario