$125,000 awarded to Dr. Carlos Rodrigo Camara-Lemarroy, University of Calgary, in collaboration with Dr. Minh Dang Nguyen, University of Calgary, and Dr. Deepak Kaushik, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Remote ischemic preconditioning (REIP) is an experimental medical procedure that has been tested as a treatment in cases of heart attack and stroke to try to reduce the severity of injury. REIP involves the use of a blood-pressure cuff to temporarily cut-off blood flow to a limb resulting in ischemia (lack of oxygen) that is often repeated multiple times as part of the procedure.
This “conditioning” activates the body’s natural protective mechanisms against tissue injury and previous studies have shown that REIP in one organ or limb can lead to protection in other areas of the body. The practice of REIP is thought to modulate inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, activate neurotrophic factors (substances thought to support nerve cell repair), and regulate the expression of genes that promote tissue repair.
With this grant, Dr. Camara-Lemarroy and his team will explore the potential of REIP as a treatment for ALS. Researchers will investigate the effects of daily REIP prior to symptom onset in a mouse model of ALS and monitor the effects on motor function, motor neuron degeneration, neuroinflammation and lifespan compared to a control group. The team will also seek to identify the cellular mechanisms that contribute to the effects of REIP, with the aim to uncover specific pathways that may increase the expression of neurotrophic factors and promote motor neuron survival.
If found to be effective, REIP would need to be tested in human clinical trials to confirm the benefits, however, the simplicity of this medical procedure suggest it could easily be translated into the clinic. Additionally, exploration of the underlying mechanisms that play a role in the beneficial effects of REIP, as proposed in this study, may help to uncover new treatment targets for drug discovery.