Dr. Greg Hammond, Executive Director, MMSF
Dr. Renee Douville, Assistant Professor, University of Winnipeg, Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex
Dr. Jino Distasio, Associate VP of Research and Innovation, University of Winnipeg, photo credit – Elaine Halpert
WINNIPEG, MB – The Manitoba Medical Service Foundation (MMSF) and Manitoba Blue Cross are proud to recognize Dr. Renée Douville, UWinnipeg’s Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, as one of the 2012 MMSF awardees, and recipients from the 2012 MMSF Competition for Funds, awarded last night at the Awards Recipient Reception. Douville received $20,000 for research in The Transcriptional Regulation of Human Endogenous Retrovirus-K in Neurodegenerative Disease.
“Dr. Douville is a fine example of a very bright, hard-working and young researcher who is destined to make a difference in medical research,” expressed Dr. Danny Blair, UWinnipeg’s Associate Dean of Science. “It is exceptionally gratifying to see that the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation and Manitoba Blue Cross have clearly recognized Dr. Douville’s talents and her potential to make important discoveries.”
Douville’s team plans to evaluate whether inflammatory transcription factors drive or repress Human Endogenous Retrovirus-K (HERV-K) levels in brain cells. They will also determine whether these inflammatory transcription factors are over-expressed in the HERV-K positive cortical neurons of patients with ALS, using advanced tissue imaging techniques. Their findings will provide insight into the development of antiviral therapies which could prevent the onset of central nervous system damage and symptoms triggered by endogenous retrovirus activity in ALS.
“MMSF is delighted to recognize our deserving award recipients and the 18 investigators who were successful in our 2012 MMSF research competition,” says MMSF Executive Director Dr. Greg Hammond. “As an organization committed to improving the health and well-being of Manitobans, we are excited to support such a high-caliber group of researchers as they endeavour to make advances in a diverse range of health-related areas.”
For a detailed description of all 2012 awards and funded research projects or for more information on the Foundation, please visit Manitoba Medical Service Foundation’s website at www.mmsf.ca
