St. Boniface Hospital Research is proud to announce its role in a groundbreaking international collaboration led by the Salk Institute. Supported by an award of up to $41.3 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), the project aims to develop sonogenetics as a noninvasive therapeutic for major medical conditions, including peripheral neuropathy.
Dr. Paul Fernyhough, Director of the Division of Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at St. Boniface Hospital Research and Professor at the University of Manitoba, is leading a key technical track in this ambitious five-year initiative.
What is Sonogenetics?
Sonogenetics is a sophisticated approach that uses low-intensity ultrasound to control cellular activity. By equipping specific cells with ultrasound-responsive proteins, researchers can activate or silence them noninvasively. This technology offers a potential drug-free alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals, providing precise cellular and temporal control over treatments.
The Role of St. Boniface Hospital Research
While the Salk Institute leads the overall project, Dr. Fernyhough’s team provides essential expertise in the biological response to these treatments. His lab is responsible for defining how ultrasound-triggered signals move through cellular machinery to drive nerve repair pathways.
This work is vital for translating the technology from a laboratory concept into a clinical reality. Understanding the exact mechanisms by which these signals encourage repair will help ensure the therapy is both safe and effective for patients suffering from nerve damage.
A Global Collaboration
The project brings together a prestigious group of institutions, including:
- The Salk Institute: Leading the project and developing core biological tools.
- Scripps Research: Engineering ultrasound-sensitive proteins.
- Duke University: Creating delivery vectors for the proteins.
- MIT: Designing wearable ultrasound delivery systems.
- UC San Diego and Calmi2: Validating efficacy in mammalian systems.
This partnership marks a significant step forward in the quest for innovative, noninvasive therapies. For St. Boniface Hospital Research, it represents a continued commitment to world-class science and the development of next-generation treatments that could change the lives of patients in Manitoba and across the country.