Scientists at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics work together and build partnerships locally, nationally, and internationally to understand disease and find ways to help children, families, and communities lead healthier lives.
FOCUS DISEASES
The following diseases receive substantial time and attention from our investigators.
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs)
We aim to identify genetic markers that can predict severe ADRs and implement them in cost-effective diagnostic screening programs.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
We are at the forefront of ALS research. Recently, we led an international team of researchers which discovered a gene that causes juvenile ALS.
Aniridia
We are working to characterize gene regulatory networks in the developing eye, focusing on efforts on two key genes—PAX6 and NR2E1—that play a crucial role in the formation of aniridia.
Asthma
We aim to uncover the underlying genetic causes of asthma by focusing on how changes in chromatin structure can influence its onset, progression, and severity.
Atherosclerosis
Following our discovery a gene critical in preventing atherosclerosis, we are working to develop genetics-based therapeutic options to treat this disease.
Bipolar Disorder
We were the first to discover an association between the gene NR2E1 and bipolar disorder with the help of a mouse model with bipolar-like symptoms.
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Developmental Disorders
We study both single gene and more complex developmental disorders using an integrated experimental model system.
Frontotemporal Dementia
With the help of transgenic mice, we are working to discover the underlying genetic causes of frontotemporal dementia and similar neurodegenerative diseases.
Huntington's Disease
We are a leader in Huntington's disease research in Canada. We were the first to develop a mouse model for Huntington's disease, and the first to develop an intervention to arrest its progress in mice.
Hyperlipidemia (Tangier Disease)
By studying ABCA1, a gene critical for the production of HDL, we aim to find ways to increase the body's production of HDL and reduce the effects of hyperlipidemia.
Mental Health
With multiple research groups dedicated to disorders of the brain, wea are at the forefront of applying genetics and cellular biology to study the underlying causes of mental illness.
Cancer
We investigate the role of epigenetic factors in the onset and progression of various forms of cancer. |
OTHER DISEASES
In addition to the aforementioned focus diseases, we also directly and indirectly study other important diseases.
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Ataxia-Telangiectasia
- Autism
- Cerebral palsy
- Chorea-Acanthocytosis
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Cohen's Syndrome
- Congenital Cataracts Facial Dysmorphism Neuropathy
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Corticobasal Degeneration
- Dementia
- Diabetes
- Dystonia
- Epilepsy
- Essential Tremor
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FAS, FASD)
- Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS)
- Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome
- Lew Body Dementia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Multiple System Atrophy
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
- Schizophrenia
- Seckel Syndrome
- Strabismus
- Stroke
