New tools to uncover the roots of common diseases
SAMUEL LUNENFELD RESEARCH INSTITUTE Sophisticated new technologies enable more effective therapies.
Never before has there been such huge volumes of new information about the thousands of genes and proteins that, combined with environmental factors, keep the trillions of cells in our bodies functioning in a healthy way or lead to common, complex diseases. Thefuture of medicine lies in translating this vast trove of vital information from bench to bedside, so that patients receive the best possible and appropriately individualized care. The
Lunenfeld’s Systems Biology Group is a research team devoted to taking a big-picture, “systems-wide” view of illnesses, including the use of innovative new technologies. They are among the best and brightest globally. Working in this area, they see complex illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and arthritis as profound disturbances in the “conversations” – protein interactions – within and between cells in an entire social network.
“These new technologies can help us identify a key set of proteins – the network traffic controllers – that are driving the cancer and devise the optimal combination therapy to stop its progression,” says Dr. Jim Woodgett, the Lunenfeld’s Director of Research.
Dr. Jeff Wrana pioneered the development of a leading-edge robotics facility, which enables researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital and across Ontario to analyze the function of thousands of genes or proteins at a time, and rapidly identify the molecular changes and “conversations” between cells that underlie human diseases. Using robotics and other automated tools, Dr. Wrana and his team can identify new therapeutic targets and ways to help combat cancer and other complex diseases.
Dr. Frederick Roth is using sophisticated new technologies such as Next Generation DNA sequencing to zero in on the genes most likely to cause disease. His work in how genes interact, communicate and influence biological pathways and networks goes to the root of complex and common diseases.
Dr. Anne-claude Gingras has developed specialized computational tools – now used by researchers worldwide – for assessing interactions between proteins. These innovative tools will help other researchers to better analyze basic cellular processes involved in health and disease.
Dr. Dan Durocher is using novel optical techniques to understand the function and interactions of genes and proteins involved in DNA damage and repair, which is helping lead to new cancer therapies. Some of these techniques are among the first of their kind in Canada and worldwide.
Dr. Tony Pawson leverages new technologies to map protein networks to determine whether diseases such as malignant cancers result not only from specific changes to individual genes and proteins, but also from changes in the entire cellular network.