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Smaller TextCanada Research Chair in Membrane Biogenesis
David Andrews
Professor, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences
Email: andrewsd@mcmaster.ca
Research Involves
The involvement of proteins in the control of cell death
Research Relevance
Cancer research — developing new drugs that target membranes; bioengineering therapies
Understanding Cell Death
Imagine. If scientists could learn why healthy cells die prematurely, or if they could discover how to accelerate the death of cancerous cells, they could make major strides in the treatment of cancer. But that’s just the beginning. Once they’ve unlocked the key to the mysteries of the cells at the root of cancer, they could do the same for a wide variety of diseases.
This research chair at McMaster University will provide David Andrews with the resources to continue experiments that will involve the proteins that regulate cell death—also known as apoptosis. It will also allow Andrews to take a closer look at alterations in cell membranes, and deficiencies in the way that those membranes are involved in the trafficking of proteins within and to the outside of cells—and how they contribute to a wide variety of diseases. Unlocking the way these mechanisms work could provide key information to combat cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, and certain types of encephalitis.
Over the last 10 years, more than 30,000 papers have been published involving cell death and ways to prevent it. Researchers believe that understanding apoptosis is critical to making further progress on developmental biology, immunology, drug resistance, and the development of the damage done by carcinogens. Andrews’ work on the relationship of proteins and cell death could provide important answers for both tumour progression and acquired drug resistance.
Andrews’ studies involve the way proteins are targeted to membranes, what the consequences are of targeting to the wrong membrane and whether they reach their correct destination or degrade before getting there. His previous research involving signalling between cells has laid the groundwork for his current studies—and his efforts to figure out how cell death is regulated.
Andrews’ consulting work in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom ensures him of practical links to the biotech industry, links that could prove advantageous as his work advances and takes on increasingly practical implications.
