Multi-million-dollar support points to new era in neurodegenerative disease research

Researchers in the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease at the University of Toronto have reason to celebrate with the announcement of $8.6 million in funding, which will help catalyze breakthroughs in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The funding was awarded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, for a major project called ‘Systems and precision research in neurodegenerative diseases: toward next-generation diagnostics and therapies.’

"The significance of this support cannot be overstated," says Janice Robertson, a co-lead on the project who holds the James Hunter Family Chair in ALS Research at the Tanz Centre. "With this funding, we can accelerate our research efforts and bring hope to those affected by these debilitating conditions.”

With no known cures and limited therapeutic options, neurological conditions are now the leading cause of ill-health worldwide, affecting 43 per cent of the world’s population.

It is estimated that over 600,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s disease, alone. That number is projected to double to 1.4 million cases by 2031. The combined direct and indirect costs of dementia in Canada already top $33 billion per year, and by 2040 will climb to a staggering $293 billion.

The Tanz Centre is part of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and is housed in the Krembil Research Tower at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. Its close integration of bench scientists and patient-facing clinicians offers a key advantage for translating discoveries into treatments that could curb the impact of neurological disorders.

“We are in the unique position of having full integration of clinical and fundamental science within a single framework, so we can tackle these problems in a meaningful way and work cohesively to bring therapies to the clinic,” says Robertson, who is a professor and co-vice chair of research in Temerty Medicine’s department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology.

“I think we are on the horizon of big changes in the next few years,” she adds.

Project co-lead Ekaterina Rogaeva is also a Tanz Centre researcher, and professor in Temerty Medicine’s  department of medicine. She studies how genetics, aging and lifestyle choices affect the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Her work played a central role in the discovery and characterization of genes responsible for the most aggressive form of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

"This funding ensures that Tanz Centre researchers are equipped with state-of-the-art technology that allows us to delve deeper into the genetic underpinnings of neurodegenerative diseases,” she says.

With the funding, the researchers will access new equipment for genomic and proteomic analysis, along with upgraded imaging technology, as well as an innovative "brain on a chip" organelle suite, which enables the cultivation of neurons derived from skin cells taken from patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

This approach facilitates real-time observations of what’s happening at the molecular levels and holds promise for the development of targeted therapies customized for each patient.

Rogaeva notes that Tanz Centre research has far-reaching impact within Toronto’s health-care system and beyond.

“With improved equipment, our research will have more meaningful impact at local, national and international levels,” Rogaeva says. “This opens the door to opportunities with industry, government and healthcare partners, and supports an ecosystem where people living with these diseases will have the opportunity to participate in research.”

The funding includes $3,451,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and is matched by the Ontario Research Fund and supplemented with $1,725,900 from partner contributions.

Graham Collingridge, director of the Tanz Centre who holds the Krembil Family Chair of Alzheimer’s Research, welcomes the announcement.

“This funding represents a substantial investment in the quest to unlock the mysteries of neurodegenerative diseases, and ensures Tanz Centre researchers and clinicians have the tools they need to make breakthroughs and develop much-needed therapies,” he says.