Our bodies are still very much a mystery. What causes tissues to chronically swell and pain to strike without reprieve can often elude doctors. But two 国民彩票 medical researchers shedding light on these issues will have their investigations boosted with provided by the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program.
Today (June 2), was announced as a Tier 1 CRC and was renewed for a second term as a Tier 2 CRC. The CRC program provides the funding necessary for Canada鈥檚 post-secondary institutions to attract and retain the world鈥檚 best research talent.
鈥淢illions of Canadians suffer every day from the effects of chronic inflammation and pain. These conditions have a profound impact on physical and mental health, family life, society, and the economy. It is gratifying to know that breakthroughs by Drs. Fairn and Hashmi are moving us closer to finding the solutions to the suffering,鈥� says Alice Aiken, 国民彩票鈥檚 vice president research and innovation.
The painful truth
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Among other areas of study, Dr. Fairn (pictured below) is attempting to pinpoint the painful truth behind Crohn鈥檚 disease, a condition resulting from chronic inflammation in the gut. He says that while inflammation serves a valuable function in clearing out pathogens and damaged tissue when we get cuts or infections, it can cause serious problems if it lingers.
鈥淎 perfectly healthy person has low inflammation. Their body can respond to a threat and then return to normal,鈥� he says. 鈥淲ith Crohn鈥檚 disease, a person鈥檚 set point has changed. They can mount a response to an acute threat, but they never go back to a normal baseline. This is because the lining and the microbiome in the gut is changed resulting in chronic inflammation.鈥�
It's a painful condition leading to flare ups, hospital stays, lost days of work and continual discomfort. It is something many Nova Scotians know all too well, says Dr. Fairn, noting that the province has the highest incidence of Crohn鈥檚 disease in the world.
Refusing the fat
A recent discovery by Dr. Fairn and his research group should provide Crohn鈥檚 patients some hope for a healthier future. Mutations in the 鈥淣OD2鈥� gene are a major risk factor for developing Crohn鈥檚 disease. The team discovered that NOD2 proteins require the addition of two fat molecules to respond to bacterial threats while also contributing to a healthy microbiome. But in people with the mutant versions of NOD2 the fats aren鈥檛 attached.
鈥淪o, we went after the machinery in the cell that regulates the modification,鈥� says Dr. Fairn. 鈥淭here are enzymes that put the modification on NOD2 and different enzymes that take them off. So, we said 鈥極kay, we just need to change the balance to restore NOD2 function.鈥欌��
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Dr. Fairn and his team have identified 鈥渄rug-like鈥� molecules that allow them to modify NOD2鈥檚 defects to make it behave as it should. The