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The 18 regular members and 18 associate members of the CFTRc are drawn from various departments (Physiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Medicine, School of Computer Science, Microbiology and Immunology, Physics, Pediatrics, and Otolaryngology) within ¿´Æ¬ÊÓƵ University,Ìýother Quebec institutions (Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, Université Laval) and the University of British Columbia. The centreÌýfosters interactions with industry, advise members concerning technology transfer and commercial agreements, and promote both preclinical and clinical studies of potential therapeutics.
The CFTRcÌýintegrates:
- Chemical and structural biology
- Biochemical studies of the rescued protein
- DNA sequencing for rare mutations and modifier genes
- Physiological studies of cell cultures
- Isolated tissues
- And whole animals.
In terms of translational research, the laboratories of the members have a large spectrum of activities:
- High throughput screening of libraries of small molecules and natural product extracts,
- NMR studies of CFTR folding and drug binding,
- Identification of potential drug targets such as chaperones and adaptor proteins involved in CFTR folding and quality control,
- Genetic and bioinformatics studies of CF mice lacking the CF gene or bearing the same mutation (ΔF508) found in most CF patients,
- Pre-clinical studies in CF patient primary bronchial epithelial cells and clinical studies of potential therapies.
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The CFTRc is a multidisciplinary research centre that helps coordinate these diverse efforts and accelerate the development of new therapies, and also provides a stimulating training environment so that translational research methods could be acquired by young investigators and applied to CF and other diseases.