The following research breakthroughs are only a selection of the achievements made by UHN Researchers this year. For more research stories see Net Results and Net Results EXPRESS.

January
People with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) suffer from recurrent, often lethal infections due to a defect in the WAS gene. In 2003, Dr. Katherine Siminovitch (TGRI/TGH) showed that our immune T cells require a functional Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) to successfully fight infections. This year, she's expanded her research to show that critical changes to the molecular structure of WASp must occur before it can "jump start" the T cells to target infected cells (PubMed abstract).

February
A protein called "survivin" was identified as a new target for curbing cancer cell growth. Researchers Drs. Tak Mak (AMDI/OCI/PMH) and Robert Rottapel (OCI/PMH) found that survivin is critical for T cell development and survival, and thus it may be possible to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer by targeting the survivin pathway (PubMed abstract).

April
More specific and effective treatments for Crohn's disease sufferers may soon become a reality with the isolation of a gene that predisposes people to the disease. The finding was made by Drs. Katherine Siminovitch (TGRI/TGH) and Peter St George-Hyslop (TWRI/TWH), and will ultimately lead to treatments with fewer negative side effects (PubMed abstract).

May
Using his pioneering method of studying human stem cells, TGRI/TGH's Dr. John Dick discovered that there are many different types of leukemia stem cells. Since current treatments aren't designed to target them all, this research may explain why 60-90% of leukemia patients suffer a relapse following treatment (PubMed abstract).

May
New methods of treating familial breast cancer may soon become a reality with Dr. Razq Hakem's (AMDI/OCI/PMH) finding that two breast cancer susceptibility genes-namely BRCA1 and Chk2-work together to cause cancer. The research revealed that mutations in both genes led to greater numbers of tumours-many of which were faster growing (PubMed abstract).

May
Ever wonder how our body's internal clock keeps such good time? Research by Dr. Qi Wan (TWRI/TWH) provides evidence of an intracellular mechanism for synchronizing our body's clock-a finding that will be useful for the development of treatments for people with health problems related to insomnia, shift work, and jet lag (PubMed abstract).

June
New treatments for retinoblastoma-the most common form of eye cancer in children-may soon become a reality with Dr. Rod Bremner's (TWRI/TWH) finding that retinal cells exhibit survival patterns that are "cancer-like." The finding may explain why retinoblastoma develops faster than typical adult cancers, and may lead to the development of drugs that interfere with the development of cancer (PubMed abstract).

June
Drs. Razq Hakem (AMDI/OCI/PMH) and Rama Khokha (OCI/PMH) may have discovered a new method of screening people at risk for cancer. The researchers found that a protein called Mus81-thought to be required for processing DNA structures-is actually a powerful tumour suppressor. The next step is to determine if cancer patients have a mutated form of the protein (PubMed abstract).

July
Dr. Tak Mak (AMDI/OCI/PMH) discovers that an immune molecule called IRF4 is critical for regulating the immune system's population of CD4 T cells. CD4 T cells sit on the front lines of the body's disease-fighting army and IRF4 protects these cells from dying too soon-so this finding has implications for an entire host of diseases (PubMed abstract).

August
As any dieter can attest, regulation of appetite is a complex process involving the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. Dr. Dan Drucker's (TGRI/TGH) research further confirmed the complexity of the process with his finding that two proteins (OXM and GLP-1)-which both work to regulate hunger and satiation-actually act through the same cellular pathway (PubMed abstract).

September
A ground-breaking multi-centre study led by OCI/PMH's Drs. Anthony Fyles, David McCready, and Lee Manchul found that the use of the drug tamoxifen combined with radiation therapy to treat breast cancer following surgery reduced the likelihood of cancer relapse to virtually zero at five years in women 50 years of age or older (PubMed abstract).

September
In a landmark paper, OCI/PMH's Dr. Rama Khokha and AMDI/OCI/PMH's Dr. Wen Chen Yeh showed that the gene called Timp3 is important for controlling the body's inflammatory response. The finding has implications for treating a multitude of diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, hepatitis, and cancer to name just a few (PubMed abstract).

September
Research by Dr. Keith Stewart (TGRI/TGH) reveals that people with multiple myeloma have an excess of the HACS1 protein, a protein important for the growth and development of plasma cells. Since people with this type of cancer have too many of these cells, Dr. Stewart's discovery may provide new clues regarding how to slow the growth of these cells (PubMed abstract).

October
A two-year international study involving 1,000 men in 24 countries, and led by OCI/PMH's Dr. Ian Tannock, points to a new standard of treatment for men with advanced incurable prostate cancer. The study proved that the drug docetaxel, when taken in combination with prednisone, improved survival by an average of three months (PubMed abstract).

November
Research by Dr. Pam Ohashi (AMDI/OCI/PMH) into the cause of autoimmunity reveals that most people have genes that protect them from developing autoimmune diseases, and suggests that molecular mimicry-a theory that explains how autoimmune diseases arise-likely doesn't explain it (PubMed abstract).

December
Another potential therapeutic target for Parkinson disease is revealed with Dr. Andres Lozano's (TWRI/TWH) finding that a protein called BAG5 prevents the parkin gene from doing its job. Part of the cell's "disposal system", parkin ensures that damaged proteins are destroyed. If prevented from doing its job, Parkinson disease can develop. The finding may lead to new drugs for treating the disease (PubMed abstract).