Recent Lunenfeld achievements

 

A team led by Dr. Daniel Durocher uncovered a protein called OTUB1 that helps block accumulation of DNA damage in the cell—a discovery that may lead to the development of strategies to improve some cancer therapies. In addition, Dr. Durocher’s discovery improves understanding of familial breast and ovarian cancer, as the research shows that OTUB1 inhibits the action of BRCA1, a DNA repair protein often mutated in these cancers.

 

Drs. Anne-Claude Gingras and Mike Tyers identified the first global ‘road map’ of important protein interactions implicated in cell signaling. A greater understanding of these yeast signaling proteins will help researchers better understand similar systems in human illnesses including cancer, and assist in the development of new therapies.

 

Dr. Rita Kandel and other Lunenfeld researchers including Drs. Marc Grynpas and Andras Nagy launched a new project aimed at developing leading-edge ‘biological replacements’ for damaged joints. The project represents Canada’s first project using stem cells for joint regeneration.

 

Dr. Tony Pawson discovered a technique that may revolutionize the way lab experiments are conductedby allowing scientists to monitor two-way communication between cells. This finding will potentially make lab studies of cancers and other diseases—and the assessment of new drugs that target these illnesses—more insightful by capturing cell–specific information.

 

Dr. Kathy Siminovitch and her team discovered a mechanism by which a genetic mutation can lead to rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders including type 1 diabetes, lupus and Graves disease. The findings represent a key initial step in realizing the full potential of genomics and personalized medicine.

 

The teams of Drs. Jeff Wrana and Andras Nagy discovered new insights into the genesis of stem cells, which will improve the efficiency of stem cell creation for use in tissue regeneration and in the development of new drugs.

 

In the first study of its kind, Dr. Mei Zhen and her team developed a new concept to explain how directionality of movement is achieved in the model organism, C. elegans. The findings will shed new mechanistic insights into how motor circuits generate coordinated behaviours and how their dysfunction may lead to motor disorder illnesses.

 

Recent awards and recognitions given to Lunenfeld scientists include:

 

Senior Investigator Dr. Jim Dennis was awarded a Lloyd S.D. Fogler (QC) Award of Excellence in 2011, for his pivotal research and understanding of protein glycosylation as well as metastasis.

 

Senior Investigator Dr. Daniel Drucker was the recipient of the 2011 Claude Bernard Lecture/Award of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). The lectureship recognizes an individual's innovative leadership and outstanding contributions in the field of diabetes mellitus, and is the highest scientific achievement award of the EASD.

 

The list of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2010 included Principal Investigator Dr. Daniel Durocher, a leading cancer cell researcher who specializes in studies of DNA damage and repair. Dr. Durocher also received the Canadian Cancer Society Young Investigator Prize for excellence in cancer research in 2010.

 

Principal Investigator Dr. Anne-Claude Gingras, known internationally for her expertise in proteomics, was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2011.

 

Dr. Tony Pawson, Distinguished Lunenfeld Investigator, Apotex Chair in Molecular Oncology and Kyoto Prize Laureate, received the 2011 Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) Award for Outstanding Achievements in Cancer Research, adding to a prodigious career marked by milestone breakthroughs in cancer research.

 

Dr. John Roder, Senior investigator and Canada Research Chair in Learning and Memory, was elected into the Royal Society of Canada in 2010, in recognition of his pivotal research in schizophrenia, anxiety, epilepsy, depression, and other brain illnesses.

 

Senior Investigator Dr. Frank Sicheri was inaugurated into the Royal Society of Canada in 2011, in recognition of his innovative research into the molecular bases of cancer, viral infection and diabetes.

 

Dr. Jeff Wrana, Senior Investigator and renowned cancer researcher, was the recipient of a Premier’s Summit Award for Medical Research in 2010. Dr. Wrana is internationally recognized for his cancer research, innovation and leadership in biomedical science.

 

Dr. Bernie Zinman, Director of Mount Sinai Hospital’s Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes, and Senior Investigator at the hospital’s Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, was appointed to the Order of Canada in January 2012, in recognition of his internationally renowned achievements in diabetes patient care and research.