The Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) is pleased to announce it has awarded $2.9 million to 29 researchers across the country to advance research related to all forms of dementia and find more effective means to diagnose, treat and eventually stop the disease, as well as improve day-to-day life and care.
“Dementia is one of the most complex diseases of our times and only through research will we be able to find the breakthroughs we need,” says Nalini Sen, Director of the Research Program at the Alzheimer Society of Canada. “Fortunately, Canada has some of the best and brightest minds working in this field who are already making significant contributions, so we’re proud to support them.”
Manitoba Researchers receiving funding this year include:
Developing Treatments
Jun-Feng Wang
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Project: Txnip as a potential novel therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s
$149,900 – Biomedical, grant
“The protein Txnip contributes to inflammation and brain damage in Alzheimer’s disease. If we’re able to establish Txnip as a promising site for early treatment, then, we’ll be able to explore a variety of drugs and treatment options. Some of these could be effective in slowing the progress of Alzheimer’s and/or alleviating the symptoms for those living with the disease.”
Therapy
Michael Jackson
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Project: Cell signalling cascades that direct microglial activation outcome in Alzheimer’s disease
$150,000 – Biomedical, grant
“We are researching how brain immune cells, called microglia, contribute to memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease. By identifying potential approaches for harnessing the beneficial functions of microglia while preventing their detrimental actions, our research provides hope that new therapies can be developed that are able to halt, or altogether prevent, Alzheimer’s disease progression.”
Click here for complete details on all Canadian researchers funded through the ASRP program in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.