Backgrounder
September 18, 2008
ADVANCED HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES AND PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
University of Waterloo
Dr. Jamie Joseph
Developing new approaches for diabetes treatment by studying insulin secreting beta cells
Provincial funding: $251,487
Lack of, or dysfuntional insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells is a major contributing factor in the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Transplantation of islets (clusters of cells in the pancreas that make insulin) is a viable treatment for type 1 and possibly type 2, but there’s a limited supply of human islet donors. At a new Islet Cell Biology Laboratory at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Jamie Joseph is using advanced tools to study insulin secreting beta cells with the ultimate goal of discovering new approaches for creating cells or cell lines that can be used for transplantation. His work may well lead to improved treatment for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Kam Chiu Tam
Laboratory for Physical and Thermodynamic Characterization of Novel Nanostructures for Applications in Chemical and Biological Systems
Provincial Funding: $146,000
Nanotechnology research being conducted by Dr. Tam at the University of Waterloo is focused on two technology platforms: gene delivery technology and separation processes using magnetic nanoparticles. His research will contribute to two critical areas: the advancement of targeted drug delivery to treat serious diseases such as cancer and the development of an inexpensive and effective solution for the removal of many toxic contaminants found in lakes and rivers. It may also lead to spin-off companies and help Ontario stay at the forefront of an important emerging technology.
Dr. Zoya Leonenko
Advancing our knowledge of amyloid-related diseases like Alzheimer’s
Provincial Funding: $180,000
At an advanced scanning probe microscopy facility at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Zoya Leonenko is leading a team of researchers in nanoscale and single biophysics research. Their focus is on amyloidosis, a disease process involving the deposit of normal or mutated proteins that have become misfolded. In this unstable state, the proteins form hair-like fibres, or fibrils, that are deposited into vital organs like the heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas and brain. This process leads to organ failure – and eventually death. Dr. Leonenko’s research will advance our knowledge of amyloid-related diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and adult-onset (type-2) diabetes, which may lead to methods for early detection and prevention.
Dr. Aimee Nelson
Uncovering the cause of focal hand dystonia
Provincial funding: $40,000
Focal hand dystonia is a painless loss of motor control in one or more fingers in highly practiced movements and occurs in professionals like dentists, surgeons, writers and musicians. It happens only when doing specific tasks, like playing a fast passage on the piano, but it can have devastating effects on careers and there is no cure for it. Using advanced transcranial magnetic simulation (TMS) techniques, Dr. Aimee Nelson at the University of Waterloo aims to investigate what happens in the brain to cause a “crash” in the sensory motor program essential for high practiced movements. The goal of her research is to develop an intervention that will use repetitive TMS to treat the condition.
Dr. James Danckert
Furthering our understanding of how the brain directs behaviour
Provincial Funding: $361,323
James Danckert has spent the last ten years researching the ways in which the brain selects relevant information from the environment to control complex goal-directed behaviours, such as reaching to grasp an object or directing eye movements. But many fundamental questions remain about the role of the human parietal cortex (the posterior and upper part of the brain) in controlling a wide range of goal directed behaviours. Dr. Danckert is exploring these by combining studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with behavioural studies of healthy individuals and patients with cortical brain injuries. It’s research that will increase our knowledge of brain-behaviour and lead to innovative rehabilitation methods for people suffering from these neurological disorders.
See also:
- News Release:
Making Health Research Work For Patients - Backgrounder:
Ontario Research Fund - Backgrounder:
Inventing The Future Of Health Care - Backgrounder:
Lifes Sciences, Advanced Health Technologies And Pharmaceutical Research Projects - Recipients
