Congratulations to Dr. Joanne Matsubara, Dr. Myeong Jin Ju, and Dr. Orson Moritz for receiving the Fall 2024 Project Grants for their groundbreaking research on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinal diseases. Dr. Matsubara and Dr. Ju's project focuses on developing a new drug to prevent the progression of dry AMD and improve treatments for wet AMD by targeting Granzyme B, an enzyme that accelerates retinal damage. Dr. Moritz's team is working on novel animal models using genetically modified frogs to study retinal deposits, aiding the understanding of retinal diseases like pattern dystrophy and Stargardt disease. Additionally, our technical expert Dr. Leonard Foster is leading two important projects: developing the Gemini platform to help the body produce malaria-fighting antibodies for cost-effective malaria treatment, and creating safer, more effective vaccine to offer a new tool in pandemic preparedness.
Awarded Research: Project to Study Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD
Principle Investigaters:
Dr. Joanne Matsubara and Dr. Myeong Jin Ju
Collaborator:
Dr. David Granville
Project Title:
Extracellular Granzyme B Accumulates with Aging and Promotes Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Summary:
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition and can cause loss of vision among the elderly (i.e., people 50 and older). It causes damage to the back of the eye, in an area called the macula, a small spot near the center of the retina and the part of the eye needed for sharp, central vision. AMD can occur in two different forms. In some people, the "dry" form of AMD advances so slowly that vision loss does not occur for a long time. There is no approved treatment for dry AMD in Canada and our research focuses on a new drug to stop the dry form of AMD from developing. The second form of AMD is the "wet" form and in patients with wet AMD, vision deteriorates quickly and vision loss is permanent. Current drugs can only stop the vision loss from progressing. For wet AMD, the current strategy is to block a chemical called "vascular endothelial growth factor" (VEGF) by an injection into the eyeball which may cause side effects and repeated injections are needed for the patient's lifetime. Our research will identify new treatments for wet AMD that can be used in place of or combined with anti-VEGF drugs. We will target an important enzyme called Granzyme B, which accumulates in the eye tissues with aging. We showed that it causes the outer blood-retinal barrier to break down and disintegrate. Our new drug will stop this disintegration of the outer retinal tissues, stopping AMD from developing at the outset. Our team is a world-class group of scientists and experts in eye diseases and enzymes such as Granzyme B. Our project will provide exciting new information on this previously unknown eye enzyme. Our goal is to develop a first-in-class medication to stop AMD, a blinding eye disease of the elderly, from developing. Click for more
Awarded Research: Project to Develop Novel Animal Models for Retinal Diseases with Retinal Deposits
Prinipal investigator:
Dr. Orson Moritz
Project Title:
New animal models of retinal disease with retinal deposits
Summary:
Retinal degenerations are disorders of the retina that cause vision loss and often lead to blindness. There are many genetic and non-genetic causes of these disorders. To study them, researchers often use animal models, but not all models accurately reproduce all the features of the disease. Recently, we have discovered a new animal model in genetically modified X. laevis frogs that have mutations in the PRPH2 gene. These frogs develop deposits in their retina that are similar to those found in human retinal degenerations such as the rare inherited disorders pattern dystrophy and Stargardt disease, and the common disorder age-related macular degeneration, which affects 1 in 3 people over age 70. These deposits are not commonly found in mouse models. We propose a series of experiments to study these deposits and compare them to human pathology. We also plan to model two human different retinal disorders that have deposits, pattern dystrophy and Stargardt disease, and determine if they have the same disease mechanism. These experiments will help us understand these disorders and ultimately lead to better treatments or cures. Click for more
Awarded Research: Project for Developing a Therapeutic Antibody Delivery Platform
Principle Investigator:
Dr. Leonard J. Foster
Project Title:
Innovative Expression Platform for Therapeutic Antibody Delivery
Summary:
Malaria is a severe illness that impacts millions of people annually, especially in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of South America. In 2022, malaria resulted in 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths worldwide, with young children and pregnant women being the most affected. Although there are vaccines like RTS,S/AS01 available, their effectiveness decreases over time, highlighting the urgent need for better treatments. Our project, partially supported by Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics Ltd. and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to address this issue with an innovative approach. Instead of producing malaria-fighting antibodies in a lab and injecting them into patients, which is technically challenging and expensive, we are developing a technology that allows the body to create these antibodies on its own through advanced genetic techniques. This technology, which can be applied to malaria as well as other diseases and ailments, is known as the Gemini platform. It is designed to induce strong and long-lasting protection, reducing the need for frequent treatments. It is relatively cheap to produce; it can be freeze-dried and stored without refrigeration, making it ideal for use in areas with limited access to cold storage-something crucial in malaria-endemic regions with scarce resources. Our primary goals are to develop and test this new treatment to determine if it can effectively protect against malaria in laboratory and animal studies. If successful, this technology could greatly enhance and democratize access to more affordable malaria treatments. Looking ahead, this approach could also be applied to other diseases, offering a new way to improve global health. Ultimately, our aim is to reduce the global burden of malaria and other diseases by providing more durable, cost-effective, and accessible solutions. Click for more
Awarded Research: Project to Accelerate Next Generation Vaccine Development
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Leonard J. Foster
Project Title:
Accelerating Next-Generation Vaccine Development to Combat the Global Mpox Crisis
Summary:
The COVID-19 pandemic and Mpox epidemics have underscored the need for innovative vaccines to enhance public health responses. The currently approved Mpox vaccine in Canada, JYNNEOS (aka Imvamune), is a live attenuated virus vaccine based on a modified Vaccinia virus. While generally safe, JYNNEOS can cause adverse effects such as myocarditis and complications in individuals with skin disorders. The estimated rate of protection against clade IIb provided by existing vaccines is between 60 and 70%, which might be insufficient to prevent spread, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, we are developing and alternative, the first made-in-Canada recombinant Mpox vaccine designed to offer superior safety and immune protection. Our approach utilizes the Gemini platform, a cutting-edge nucleic acid vector, superior to existing mRNA strategies. Gemini is not a virus, reducing potential risks and enabling rapid, cost-effective manufacturing. Our vaccine further uses information from the Jennerator, which is a revolutionary computer-aided design tool that accurately vaccine payloads. Importantly, our vaccine does not require lipid nanoparticles, which enhances its manufacturability and affordability. To ensure the efficacy and safety of our vaccine, we will conduct head-to-head trials comparing our vaccine directly with JYNNEOS, to provide critical data on relative safety, immune response, and effectiveness. Through our partnership with Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, who have licensed the technology from the University of British Columbia, we have a robust plan to accelerate the vaccine's journey from development to clinical trials and eventual commercialization. This proposal aims to advance and validate our innovative vaccine platforms, addressing the urgent need for effective Mpox vaccines and enhancing Canada's preparedness for future pandemics. Click for more