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Exploiting the Achilles’ heel of a severe form of childhood leukemia
March 19, 2018
Drs. Marjorie Brand and Jean-François Couture were awarded $588,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to investigate a new treatment approach for one of the most aggressive forms of childhood leukemia. The current treatment for T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) is chemotherapy, with side effects that include secondary cancers later in life and stunted growth. If the cancer returns after treatment, patients usually die soon after. Dr. Brand’s research team previously reported that a common form of T-ALL called TAL-1 has a weak spot: It needs a partner in crime, an enzyme called UTX, to trigger the production of cancer cells. So when the team used a compound called GSK-J4 to turn off UTX, it completely stopped the growth of TAL-1 type cancer cells. This new funding will allow them to explore treatment methods for T-ALL that exploit this weakness, which may lead to therapies that are less toxic and more effective.
Dr. Marjorie Brand’s research is possible because of generous support for Regenerative Medicine Research at The Ottawa Hospital.
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.
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The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
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Amelia Buchanan
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Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
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ambuchanan@ohri.ca
