GCB Workshop – Biomarker Discovery for Protein Folding Disease with a Focus on Cystic Fibrosis
Hosted by the SickKids Cystic Fibrosis Centre and sponsored by OGI’s Genomics Capacity Building Workshop program, this workshop brought together leading researchers in protein misfolding diseases from the U.S. and Canada with an eye towards large-scale collaborations. The morning session featured platform presentations from a number of speakers spanning multiple scientific disciplines. The invited U.S. speakers focused on genome and proteome-wide approaches toward understanding the basis for protein misfolding in disease and potential mechanisms for protein repair, followed by presentations from SickKids researchers describing their recent work on Cystic Fibrosis. Altogether, the morning programme spanned multiple experimental approaches toward the study of diseases caused by protein misfolding from a systems biology to a molecular level.
The afternoon session involved round-table discussions of future plans and challenges. Participants in these discussions included both U.S.- and Toronto-based researchers, technology service providers, and representatives from funding agencies (OGI, CIHR, Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation). These discussions reinforced the idea that there is a critical mass of researchers in Toronto with expertise ranging from structural and molecular methods to computational, cell biological, model organism research, proteomic, genomic and clinical research to be leveraged in the study of protein folding and diseases caused by protein misfolding. Further, collaborations between certain members at the round table and Ontario biotechnology companies point to the possibility for future success in commercialization. This session culminated in discussions about the formation of organized consortia with interest in proteostasis and biomarker discovery – near-term plans include formalization of one or both of these consortia with a focus on upcoming opportunities for large-scale research funding.
