"We are trying to figure out what are the mechanisms that kill off the nerve cells over the long term," John MacDonald said.
With the grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research that covers five years of work, the researchers will focus on cells in the brain -- ion channels -- that are important for communication.
Dr. John MacDonald
jfmacdonald@robarts.ca
Scientists have already discovered the ion channels can be activated after a stroke or with Alzheimer's disease, triggering the death of nerve cells.
"The trick is to figure out which ones are the bad guys and to try to develop methods to block their actions so we can prevent the death of those nerve cells," said MacDonald.
They have found there are two ion channels that are 'bad guys' and interact together.
"Our real hypothesis is that by blocking this interaction and the activity of these two channels together we will be able to save nerve cells following a stroke and hopefully we will be able to save nerve cells in patients that have dementia or (are) beginning to have dementia," MacDonald said.
If that proves to be true, the researchers have identified potential drugs for stopping the interaction.
Work will start on the cell level and then move to tests on animals. If it works in animals, it could be used in clinical trials on people.
"We might be able to provide a therapy for Alzheimer's disease and possibly for people who have a stroke and are at high risk for developing Alzheimer's disease," MacDonald said.
MacDonald will work with researchers in Toronto, Japan and Ireland on the CIHR project. [rc]
john.miner@sunmedia.ca
Copyright © 2008, Canoe Inc.
September 5, 2009
CANADA: Robarts Research Institute awarded $1M to battle Alzheimer's
.
LONDON, Ontario / London Free Press / September 5, 2009
By John Miner
The head of the Robarts Research Institute in London has been awarded more than $1 million to research how to prevent nerve cells from dying and causing Alzheimer's disease.
"We are trying to figure out what are the mechanisms that kill off the nerve cells over the long term," John MacDonald said.
With the grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research that covers five years of work, the researchers will focus on cells in the brain -- ion channels -- that are important for communication.
Dr. John MacDonald
jfmacdonald@robarts.ca
Scientists have already discovered the ion channels can be activated after a stroke or with Alzheimer's disease, triggering the death of nerve cells.
"The trick is to figure out which ones are the bad guys and to try to develop methods to block their actions so we can prevent the death of those nerve cells," said MacDonald.
They have found there are two ion channels that are 'bad guys' and interact together.
"Our real hypothesis is that by blocking this interaction and the activity of these two channels together we will be able to save nerve cells following a stroke and hopefully we will be able to save nerve cells in patients that have dementia or (are) beginning to have dementia," MacDonald said.
If that proves to be true, the researchers have identified potential drugs for stopping the interaction.
Work will start on the cell level and then move to tests on animals. If it works in animals, it could be used in clinical trials on people.
"We might be able to provide a therapy for Alzheimer's disease and possibly for people who have a stroke and are at high risk for developing Alzheimer's disease," MacDonald said.
MacDonald will work with researchers in Toronto, Japan and Ireland on the CIHR project. [rc]
john.miner@sunmedia.ca
Copyright © 2008, Canoe Inc.
"We are trying to figure out what are the mechanisms that kill off the nerve cells over the long term," John MacDonald said.
With the grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research that covers five years of work, the researchers will focus on cells in the brain -- ion channels -- that are important for communication.
Dr. John MacDonald
jfmacdonald@robarts.ca
Scientists have already discovered the ion channels can be activated after a stroke or with Alzheimer's disease, triggering the death of nerve cells.
"The trick is to figure out which ones are the bad guys and to try to develop methods to block their actions so we can prevent the death of those nerve cells," said MacDonald.
They have found there are two ion channels that are 'bad guys' and interact together.
"Our real hypothesis is that by blocking this interaction and the activity of these two channels together we will be able to save nerve cells following a stroke and hopefully we will be able to save nerve cells in patients that have dementia or (are) beginning to have dementia," MacDonald said.
If that proves to be true, the researchers have identified potential drugs for stopping the interaction.
Work will start on the cell level and then move to tests on animals. If it works in animals, it could be used in clinical trials on people.
"We might be able to provide a therapy for Alzheimer's disease and possibly for people who have a stroke and are at high risk for developing Alzheimer's disease," MacDonald said.
MacDonald will work with researchers in Toronto, Japan and Ireland on the CIHR project. [rc]
john.miner@sunmedia.ca
Copyright © 2008, Canoe Inc.
