Welcome to the home page of the laboratory of Peter S McPherson, PhD, FRSC.
We are a moderate sized lab ranging from 10-12 researchers based at the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) and McGill University. The lab is part of the MNI’s Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group. The lab is located in the Brain Tumour Research Centre, a modern and active research space. Our studies focus on the molecular mechanisms that regulate membrane trafficking within the endosomal system with an emphasis on such events in the nervous system. In particular, we have focused on the formation and function of clathrin-coated pits and vesicles and the movement of proteins between the various compartments of multiple cell types including neurons. Remarkably, many of the proteins identified and characterized in the McPherson laboratory have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Parkinson disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) and most recently, epileptic encephalopathy, a severe form of intellectual disorder. Moreover, the McPherson laboratory has demonstrated that alterations in endosomal membrane trafficking lead to various forms of cancer including breast cancer and devastating brain tumours called gliomas. The links at the top of the page will tell you more about particular aspects of the lab...Enjoy!
Contact us:
peter.mcpherson [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Peter McPherson)
Tel: 514-398-7355 (Office)
philip.thorne [at] mcgill.ca (Philip Thorne)
Tel: 514-398-6644 ext. 00209 (Laboratory)
linda.michel [at] mcgill.ca (Linda Michel,) Administrative Assistant
Tel: 514-398-1972
Fax: 514-398-8106