Nous tenons à féliciter les chercheurs du Département qui ont obtenu du financement de la part des IRSC pour les cinq prochaines années :
Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha (principal) et Benjamin Haley (co-chercheur)pour le projet intitulé : « Past history of infection as a trigger of immune reprograming and neuroinflammation in late life » – 1 132 200$ |
| How events in early life influence healthspan remains largely speculative and ill-defined. In the current proposal, we explore this question using age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as a paradigm for diseases of aging. AMD is a major burden of aging populations and leading cause of blindness in Canada, affecting over 1 million individuals. Early AMD is characterized by a heightened immune response and sizeable deposits of fat debris, called soft drusen. Late form or wet AMD is characterized by destruction of photoreceptors and aberrant blood vessel growth at the back of the eye. No single gene can account for development of AMD, suggesting that our environments and previous events in our life may trigger the disease. One potential yet unstudied concept, is that past acute infections from bacteria or viruses could increase the risk of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, stroke, kidney disease and age-related macular degeneration. It is also becoming apparent that acute infections could be playing a determining role in the outcome and severity of these diseases. Although immune cells and vascular cells have distinct functions, they are closely associated with one another. It is well understood that immune cells are implicated in aberrant blood vessel growth during AMD. In the current proposal, we will examine immune cell memory, a process by which an initial infection causes immune cells to modify themselves to better respond the next time this pathogen crosses their path. We will assess whether, following commons infection, immune cells are modified in a way that increases the risk of AMD. Understanding how immune cells respond to acute infections prior to disease onset will allow us to gain insight on mechanisms that cause AMD and potentially lead the way to developing targeted interventions. |
Christos Boutopoulos, May Griffith (principaux) et Isabelle Brunette, Javad Dargahi et Marie-Claude Robert (co-chercheurs)pour le projet intitulé : « Harnessing Laser Bioprinting and Robotics for In-Situ Repair of Corneal Wounds with Regeneration Biomaterials » – 795 600$ |
| The cornea, a crucial part of the eye situated at the forefront, enables clear vision by transmitting light. Loss of transparency due to disease or injury can result in blindness. Although cornea transplantation can address this issue, donor shortages leave millions worldwide waiting. Corneal repair with specialized healing materials emerges as an alternative; however, achieving precise in-situ delivery of these materials remains a challenge, as the physiological corneal curvature must be optimally reconstructed to achieve clear vision. We propose the utilization of our laboratory’s innovative laser-assisted bioprinting for the repair of corneal wounds. Our concept involves using medical images to assess the wound and employing a robotic system to directly print healing materials onto the eye. To assess our approach, we will construct a printing setup and employ a specialized material for corneal healing developed in our labs, known as « Liquid Cornea. » We will test the technology in the rabbit model, evaluating its safety and efficacy while comparing it to the clinical norm, which involves transplantation. An interdisciplinary team consisting of bioprinting, robotics, and biomaterials experts, alongside senior surgeons, will collaborate to develop and validate this approach. Success could offer an alternative to transplantation for patients at high risk of allograft rejection and could propel the field of regenerative medicine forward. |
Aussi sur ce sujet: https://crhmr.ciusss-estmtl.gouv.qc.ca/fr/actualite/quatre-projets-de-recherche-finances-par-les-irsc-des-avancees-prometteuses-en-sante
Et une mention toute spéciale au docteur Sapieha pour l’obtention du Prix pour chercheur en milieu de carrière dans le domaine du vieillissement de l’Institut du vieillissement des IRSC, assorti d’un financemenbt d’un an.
Plus de détails : https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=521794&lang=fr
Bravo à toutes et tous !