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Stem Cell Research
Stem cell research has the potential to revolutionize how we treat diabetes, Parkinson's, muscular dystrophies, heart attacks, and many other health conditions. The OHRI's Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, officially opened in November 2006, will ensure that Canadian scientists continue to play a leading role in this rapidly growing field. The facility has room for approximately 120 scientists, trainees, and staff in 30,000 square feet of state-of-the-art research space.
The Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research is named in honour of one of Canada's most successful investors, Eric Sprott, and his wife Vizma. They recently donated $7 million toward the creation of a permanent endowment fund that will allow scientists at the new Centre to further advance their research.
The Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research is the hub of a large interdisciplinary group of stem cell and regenerative medicine researchers at the OHRI. These researchers are also professors at the University of Ottawa, and some are physicians at The Ottawa Hospital. They include:
- Dr. Michael Rudnicki, Director of the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research. Dr. Rudnicki led the team that first discovered adult muscle stem cells and he continues to make ground-breaking discoveries about how these cells are controlled.
- Dr. Lynn Megeney is focusing on adult cardiac muscle stem cells. He is developing small molecule compounds to stimulate the regeneration of cardiac muscle tissue.
- Dr. Duncan Stewart is a cardiologist and physician-scientist interested in regenerative medicine. His group has developed several novel cell and gene therapies for cardiovascular disease and has initiated Canada's first clinical trials in this area.
- Dr. Miguel Andrade is an expert in bioinformatics. His massive stem cell gene expression database, StemBase, is an invaluable tool for investigators in Ottawa and around the world to determine how stem cells are regulated.
- Dr. Marjorie Brand is an expert in proteomics. She dissects the components of protein complexes to understand the function of the molecular machines that regulate stem cell function.
- Dr. Jeffrey Dilworth is studying how genes can be regulated by modifying the way DNA is packaged inside the cell. He hopes to refine techniques for regulating gene expression in stem cells.
- Dr. Harry Atkins is a bone marrow transplant specialist. His experimental bone marrow stem cell transplant therapy has made an enormous difference in the lives of some Ottawa MS patients, and the trial has inspired hope around the world. He is currently involved in clinical trials that aim to mobilize bone marrow stem cells to aid recovery of stroke and heart attack patients.
- Dr. David Allan is also a bone marrow transplant specialist. He is involved in several clinical trials, and he is hoping to define the regenerative potential of bone marrow stem cells at the molecular level.
- Dr. Cathy Tsilfidis is searching for clues to human regeneration in newts. These little amphibians have a unique ability to completely replace missing limbs. This research may reveal ways to boost the regenerative ability of human stem cells.
- Dr. May Griffith specializes in tissue engineering. Her team developed the first biosynthetic corneas to promote corneal cell and nerve regeneration, and they are also collaborating with other stem cell researchers on engineering scaffolds for stem cells to promote cardiac repair and regeneration.
- Dr. Valerie Wallace is studying the molecular pathways that control the development of the eye. Understanding these pathways will be crucial in developing regenerative therapies for various eye diseases.
- Dr. Fraser Scott is an expert in diabetes. He is investigating how regenerative structures in the pancreas might play a role in modifying the course of this disease.
- Dr. Ruth Slack is a neuroscientist investigating how gene therapy and stem cells might be applied to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and stroke.
- Dr. Kursad Turksen is focusing on the study of epidermal stem cells for potential use in burn patients and for the treatment of foot ulcers in patients with diabetes.
The Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research was built and equipped with a total of $17.4 million in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Innovation Trust, the Kresge Foundation, and many generous donors who gave to the project through The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Funding for additional equipment and operations has also been provided by the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund, Genome Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Stem Cell Network.
For more information, please see:
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