Researcher

Title

• Pediatric Rhumatologist, CHU Sainte-Justine
• Researcher, Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine (2025)
• Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of pediatrics, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal

• PhD, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto 
• Childhood Vasculitis Research Fellowship, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (2025)
• Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship, School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh  (2019)
• Pediatrics Residency, Tufts University School of Medicine (2016)
• MD – Royal College of Surgeons Ireland  (2013)
• BSc – McGill University  (2009)

Dr. Tsoukas’ research program focuses on understanding the molecular, cellular and genetic mechanisms that drive hyperinflammation. His foundational work began during his clinical fellowship, where he characterized the synergistic role of genetic and environmental susceptibility factors in a murine model of viral-induced hyperinflammation. This focus continued through his PhD research on post- infectious hyperinflammation, in particular multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

His lab aims to investigate the mechanisms that contribute to or prevent the development of hyperinflammation in rare rheumatologic diseases. By leveraging ex vivo patient samples and cellular/murine models, his team aim to interrogate the specific pathways involved. A primary goal is to use detailed immunophenotyping to characterize patient endotypes by distinct immunological responses associated with infectious and genetic susceptibility factors.

The ultimate aim of this research is to advance precision medicine. Defining these biological endotypes will enable clinicians to more rapidly identify patients who require aggressive or alternative therapeutic targets, leading to improved patient outcomes.

• Hyperinflammation
• Macrophage Activation Syndrome
• Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
• Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
• Kawasaki Disease

Awards and Distinctions

• Clinician Scientist Training Scholarship  – SickKids (2020)
• Earl J Brewer Research Award – American Academy of Pediatrics (2018)

Presentations

1. Tsoukas. P., Proton pump inhibitors suppress IL-1 mediated carditis in a murine model of Kawasaki disease. International Kawasaki Disease Symposium, Tokyo, Japan - Virtual (2021)
2. Tsoukas. P., Perforin-Deficiency and Excess IL-18 Independently Promote Murine Virus-Induced Hyperinflammation. Histiocyte Society Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN, USA. (2019)
3. Tsoukas. P., Abortive Viral Infection Becomes Macrophage Activation Syndrome in Mice with Chronically Elevated Interleukin-18: Evidence for Synergy with Cytotoxic Impairment. American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, USA (2018)
4. Tsoukas. P., Unbound IL-18 Distinguishes Human Macrophage Activation Syndrome from Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Affects Innate Versus Adaptive Immunity Murine Lymphocytes Differently American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA (2017)

Publications

1. Carol, H.A., Mayer, A.S., Zhang, M.S., Dang V., Varghese J., Martinez Z., Schneider C., Baker J., Tsoukas P., Behrens E., Cron R., Diorio C., Henderson L., Schulert G., Lee Pi., Kernan K., Canna S., et al. Hyperferritinemia Screening to Aid Identification and Differentiation of Patients with Hyperinflammatory Disorders. J Clin Immunol 45, 4 (2025)
2. Mastrangelo, G., Tsoukas P, Mizzi T, Gamulka B, Xu A, Cheng AHH, Yeung RSM J Rheumatology (2025), jrheum.2025-0587; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.2025-0587
3. Tsoukas P, Yeung RSM. Kawasaki Disease-Associated Cytokine Storm Syndrome. Adv Exp Med Biol. (2024);1448:365-383. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-59815-9_25.
4. Tsoukas P, Laxer RM. Finding a Quorum in Deficiency of Adenosine Deaminase 2 Management. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(5):e2315828.
5. Fridman MD, Tsoukas P, Jeewa A, Yeung RSM, Gamulka BD, McCrindle BW. Differentiation of COVID-19-Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome From Kawasaki Disease With the Use of Cardiac Biomarkers. Can J Cardiol. 2023 Jun;39(6):815-823.
6. Tsoukas, P. and Yeung, RSM Kawasaki disease and MIS-C share a host immune response. Nature Reviews Rheumatology 2022 (18) 555-556.
7. Tsoukas P., Rapp E., Van Der Kraak L., Weiss E., Dang V., Schneider C., Kline E., Picarsic J., Salcedo R., C. Andrew Stewart, and Canna S. Interleukin-18 and cytotoxic impairment are independent and synergistic causes of murine virus-induced hyperinflammation. Blood 2020 Nov 5;136(19)
8. Tsoukas P, Laxer RM. Follow the complex bread crumbs: A review of autoinflammation for the general paediatrician. Paediatr Child Health. 2020 Aug;25(5):279-285.
9. Tsoukas P., Canna S., No shortcuts: new findings reinforce why nuance is the rule in genetic autoinflammatory syndromes. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2017 Sep;29(5):506-515.
10. Batu, E., Kara Eroğlu,F., Tsoukas,P., Hausmann, J., Bilginer,Y., Kenna, M. A., Licameli, G., Fuhlbrigge, R., Özen, S. and Dedeoğlu, F.  Periodic Fever, Aphthosis, Pharyngitis, and Adenitis Syndrome: Analysis of Patients From Two Geographic Areas. Arthritis Care & Research, 2016, 68: 1859–1865