The Leading Edge of Innovation: A Revolutionary Approach to Stem Cell Research

(Photo: Owen Egan)

“I grew up in a small farming community in Quebec,” says Dr. Isabelle Thiffault, MSc’04. “But my mother was always interested in science and encouraged me to go to school.” After considering a medical career, Thiffault soon found her passion: “I fell in love with genetics.”

Now the first recipient of the National Bank Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Experimental Therapeutics, Thiffault is clearly a rising star. Working with renowned scientist Dr. Eric Shoubridge, BSc’74, MSc’77, Thiffault will now be able to devote herself to a revolutionary stem cell research project at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital.

“This is very different from previous stem cell research,” Thiffault explains. Rather than obtaining cells by autopsy or through the controversial use of embryos, she works with skin cells taken directly from patients affected by ataxia (the loss of full control of bodily movements).

“We genetically re-program these cells to become stem cells, then push them to differentiate into brain cells. We will study them to understand how the disease progresses at the cellular level and ultimately test pharmacological molecules on them.”

Thiffault projects the possibility of a new technology which will re-inject corrected cells into the patient’s brain. Her research will also aid the development of new therapies for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Of National Bank’s support which kick-starts her translational research, Thiffault says simply: “It’s a great honour.”