Research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis
We perform basic and applied research on cystic fibrosis and other diseases that affect epithelial tissues. We study the cellular and molecular physiology of transepithelial salt and water transport, explore the regulation of CFTR and other ion channels, characterize folding and misfolding of CFTR mutants, examine the cell biology of CFTR, especially its trafficking, and work with partners to develop new therapeutics for cystic fibrosis.
We have collaborated with five companies on different projects related to cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Airway epithelial-cell primary culture, Patch clamp and microelectrodes, High-throughput electrophysiology using the QPatch platform, Conventional Ussing chamber studies of CF mice, Fluorescence imaging, Luminometry, Molecular biology, Biochemistry
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
Specialized labs and equipment
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Specialized lab |
Equipment |
Function |
|---|---|---|
|
Primary culture |
A dedicated cell-culture facility to isolate and culture lung cells from tissue obtained from donors and CF patients during transplantation |
Cells are used to prepare highly differentiated monolayers in primary cell culture or are placed in cryostorage for future use |
|
Patch clamp and microelectrodes |
Fully equipped manual patch clamp and microelectrode rigs, with fluorescence microscopes, perfusion chambers with automated switching, low-noise amplifiers, computers, pipette pullers and polisher, vibration control |
Detailed characterization of transepithelial, whole-cell and single-channel currents |
|
High-throughput electrophysiology |
QPatch 16X Automated Electrophysiology Platform |
Automated, medium-throughput assays of whole-cell current with Giga-Ohm seal resistance |
|
Conventional Ussing chamber studies for voltage clamp, pH-stat and transepithelial impedance measurement |
18 channels of conventional Ussing chambers with amplifiers and computers for data acquisition and analysis |
Measuring transepithelial ion transport and barrier function using cell monolayers and mouse intestine |
|
CF mice |
F508del-CFTR mice (Cftrtm1Eur) on FVB background from B. Scholte and colleagues, cftr null mice on Balb/c background |
Characterization of CF phenotype and in vivo studies of inflammation and infection |
|
Fluorescence imaging |
Laser-scanning inverted microscope (Zeiss 780), Zeiss spinning disc/TIRF combination, laser scanning upright microscope (Zeiss 700), ratiometric wide-field imaging systems (Olympus/PTI inverted and Zeiss Axioexaminer upright) |
Quantitative imaging of protein and vesicle dynamics, measurement of intracellular and extracellular pH, Ca2+, etc., with fluorescence indicators |
|
Radioisotope facility |
Scintillation counter |
Tracer flux and other isotope studies |
Additional information
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Title |
URL |
|---|---|
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CTV News interview, John Hanrahan |
http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/newsmaker-john-hanrahan-cystic-fibrosis-1.1039923 |
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Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator Function Laboratory - McGill University |
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Tackling genetic disease interview, David Thomas |
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Cystic fibrosis, a paradigm of conformational diseases, Gergely Lukacs |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hCBIOLcSOs
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McGill opens doors wide for cystic fibrosis research (page 12) |
http://publications.mcgill.ca/medinfocus/files/2012/07/MedFocus-Spring2012.pdf |