Jim Smerdon believes that in his lifetime, researchers will find a treatment that will stop Parkinson's disease from destroying his ability to walk and talk, work and play.

Matthew Farrer is one of the people most likely to prove Jim Smerdon right.

Smerdon, 37, is one of 11,000 British Columbians with Parkinson's disease. His symptoms are controlled by drugs, some days more effectively than others. But the condition itself progresses inexorably, as he discovers if he's ever late taking his medications.

Farrer is a world expert in the genetic aspects of Parkinson's disease and molecular neuroscience. His appointment as the Dr. Donald Rix B.C. Leadership Chair in Genetic Medicine at the University of British Columbia was announced today by Dr. Moira Stilwell, Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Research and Innovation.

Farrer and his team have helped identify five genes involved in Parkinson's by analyzing DNA from families in more than 20 countries on five continents, collaborating with the doctors who work directly with the patients. His most recent discovery, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics last month, is the identification of a genetic mutation that causes late-onset Parkinson's disease, using DNA samples of a Swiss family where 11 relatives have developed the disease.

This is the first genetic mutation discovery related to Parkinson's led by a Canadian team. Farrer and his team are now developing new therapies based on their findings of the past decade.

To establish the genetic medicine chair, the Province is providing $2.25 million through its Leading Edge Endowment Fund. The chair is co-sponsored by LifeLabs, which is contributing $2 million to the endowment, and the Genome BC Foundation, which is providing $250,000. The chair is named for the late Dr. Don Rix, physician, philanthropist, and community and business leader.

Farrer and his team are based at UBC's faculty of medicine and the Brain Research Centre at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. They will also work with scientists at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, using the latest genetic and computing technologies.

Government established LEEF to attract world-class researchers to B.C., promote economic growth and job creation, strengthen the province's position as a centre of excellence in research, match government funding with money from the private sector and individual donors, and promote the unique roles that B.C. universities and colleges play in innovation in British Columbia.

Quick Facts:

• Parkinson's disease affects nerve cells in the part of the brain controlling muscle movement. Symptoms can include trembling, muscle rigidity, difficulty walking, and problems with balance and co-ordination.
• Symptoms generally develop after age 50, although four per cent of cases affect people under 50, including children as young as seven. Up to half of Parkinson's sufferers develop dementia.
• An estimated 11,000 British Columbians are afflicted with Parkinson's, and more than 100,000 people in Canada suffer from the disease.
• Parkinson's is the second most-common chronic neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's.
• It is estimated that 10 million Canadians - nearly one-third of the country's population - will be affected by brain disease, disorder or injury at some time in their lives.
• It costs Canada's health-care systems an estimated $30 billion a year to treat these conditions.
• The provincial government has invested $56.25 million in the Leading Edge Endowment Fund to create 29 permanently endowed chairs.
• The Dr. Donald Rix B.C. Leadership Chair in Genetic Medicine is the 24th LEEF chair to be named, and the ninth at UBC.
• The chair proposal was developed by Dr. Michael Hayden and his colleagues at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, and Hayden played an instrumental role in recruiting Farrer.

(flickr.com)

Learn More:

Leading Edge Endowment Fund: www.leefbc.ca

LifeLabs BC: www.lifelabs.com/Lifelabs_BC/

Genome BC: www.genomebc.ca

Brain Research Centre: www.brain.ubc.ca

UBC Faculty of Medicine: www.med.ubc.ca

Parkinson's Pacific Research Centre: www.parkinsons.ubc.ca

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute: www.vchri.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Carolyn Heiman
Communications Manager
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 387-2799

Brian Lin
Acting Associate Director
UBC Public Affairs
604 822-2064 (Office)
604 818-5685 (Cell)

Lisa Rostoks
LifeLabs
Communications Consultant
416 675-4530 ext. 2015

Julia White
Communications Officer
Genome British Columbia
604 637-4378

BACKGROUNDER

Aug. 30, 2011 Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
LifeLabs, Genome BC
The University of British Columbia
Matthew Farrer
Dr. Donald Rix B.C. Leadership Chair in Genetic Medicine

Molecular geneticist Matthew Farrer is critically acclaimed for his work on the genetics of Parkinson's disease, including identifying the most important genetic risk factors for the debilitating disease.

In addition to the LEEF chair, Farrer also holds the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neurogenetics and Translational Neuroscience.

Before coming to UBC, Farrer was a professor of molecular neuroscience and director of the neurogenetics division at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He worked on finding new treatments by refining diagnoses and identifying biomarkers of early and progressive disease.

In 2008, Farrer was named Mayo Clinic Distinguished Investigator, the institution's highest award for research excellence. He has studied patient populations and families world-wide, and his molecular insights have led to model systems that are helping to define the biologic processes set off by genetic mutations, laying the foundation for new and effective therapies.

Farrer's research has been funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. He is a member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation's scientific advisory board.

He holds a PhD in human genetics from Imperial College London. He was also a postdoctoral fellow in medical and community genetics at the Kenny Galton Centre, St. Mark's National Health Service Trust, U.K.

LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services

LifeLabs provides laboratory testing services that help physicians and other health-care professionals diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease in patients. LifeLabs employs more than 3,000 professionally trained staff who deliver more than 50 million laboratory tests annually to over 10 million patients and nearly 20,000 physician customers. LifeLabs has operated in Canada for nearly 50 years.

In communities across British Columbia, LifeLabs provides a full range of diagnostic testing services supported by an extensive network of collection, transportation, information technology, and analytical and consultative expertise. Every day, more than 11,000 patients visit one of LifeLabs' 80 service centres across the province. LifeLabs also provides services to more than 500 patients at home and in long-term care facilities in B.C.

Today it is owned by Borealis Infrastructure, a global leader in infrastructure investing, with assets in energy, transportation and infrastructure buildings, including long-term care facilities and hospitals, pipelines and telecommunications.

Genome British Columbia

Genome British Columbia is a catalyst for the life sciences cluster on Canada's West Coast, and manages a portfolio of over $450 million in technology platforms and research projects.

Genome BC works with governments, academia and industry across sectors such as forestry, fisheries, agriculture, environment, bioenergy, mining and human health. The organization's goal is to generate social and economic benefits for British Columbia and Canada.

The Genome BC Foundation was established to support the expansion and enhancement of life sciences education in the province.

Contacts:

Carolyn Heiman
Communications Manager
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 387-2799

Brian Lin
Acting Associate Director
UBC Public Affairs
604 822-2064 (Office)
604 818-5685 (Cell)

Lisa Rostoks
LifeLabs
Communications Consultant
416 675-4530 ext. 2015

Julia White
Communications Officer
Genome British Columbia
604 637-4378