Brain channelopathies – Target validation and novel therapeutic strategies

MSFHR supported Dr. Terry Snutch’s award as one of five interprovincial teams from across Canada funded through Brain Canada’s Multi-Investigator Research Initiative (MIRI). The MIRI supports the research of multidisciplinary teams and aims to accelerate novel and transformative research that will fundamentally change the understanding of nervous system function and dysfunction and its impact on health. MSFHR committed funding over three years to support the work of Snutch’s BC-based research activities and research led by fellow MIRI recipient Dr. Neil Cashman on the role of protein misfolding in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

MSFHR supported Dr. Terry Snutch’s award as one of five interprovincial teams from across Canada funded through Brain Canada’s Multi-Investigator Research Initiative (MIRI). The MIRI supports the research of multidisciplinary teams and aims to accelerate novel and transformative research that will fundamentally change the understanding of nervous system function and dysfunction and its impact on health. MSFHR committed funding over three years to support the work of Snutch’s BC-based research activities and research led by fellow MIRI recipient Dr. Neil Cashman on the role of protein misfolding in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Additional support was provided by Genome BC, the University of British Columbia (UBC) and University of Saskatchewan.

There are more than 1,000 disorders of the brain, estimated to affect one in three Canadians. Neurological conditions are the most costly of health conditions when accounting for combined direct and indirect costs. The number of individuals living with neurological conditions and the cost of associated care is expected to rise as the population ages.

UBC Neuroscientist Dr. Terrance Snutch and Canada Research Chair in Biotechnology and Genomics-Neurobiology, led a team of researchers from UBC and the University of Saskatchewan studying brain disorders that result from genetic alterations in nervous system calcium channel genes.

To increase the understanding of the molecular and physiological basis of signalling in both normal and diseased nervous systems, Snutch’s research team used several animal models with calcium channel dysfunctions to study how the different genetic alterations in calcium channel genes affect brain functioning.

Calcium regulates many processes in the body including muscle contraction, hormone secretion and how nerve cells communicate in the nervous system. The entry of calcium into cells is regulated by proteins called calcium channels in response to electrical signals. When too much calcium enters nerve cells through calcium channels, a number of neurological disorders can result, including congenital migraines, epilepsy, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.

Calcium channels are known to be targets for some therapeutic agents. Snutch’s research tested several newly developed technical strategies aimed at regulating calcium channel activity, providing new insights into the development of therapeutics to aid in the treatment of a range of disorders.