Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG)

The Scleroderma Society of Ontario has been a generous supporter of the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG). 

The goal of the CSRG is to increase the capacity to perform research in Canada by creating a multidisciplinary, cross pillar team to perform high impact scleroderma research. They work with scientists from inside and outside the field of scleroderma (mainly rheumatologists, cardiologists, lung specialists, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, dentists, psychologists, and epidemiologists) and train new scientists in relevant scleroderma research.  Currently, the CSRG's main focus is to develop more sensitive classification criteria, create subsets of disease using, among other things, autoantibody profiles, and develop a disease activity index and a damage index.

Over the next three years, the Scleroderma Society of Ontario has made a commitment of $100,000.00, per year, in support of the following CSRG projects:

• Dr. Marc Servant is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Quebec. Dr. Servant’s interest is to compare the reactivity of cells of the vasculature (endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts) to auto antibodies present in the serum of patients with scleroderma. Following their activation, these cells might have the capabilities to generate a proper microenvironment leading to fibrosis. Specific targets include the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor, the Angiotensin II type I Receptor and the Endothelium Receptors.

• Dr. Mark Trifiro is Acting Chief of the Endocrinology Division at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, where he has developed expertise in the study of the molecular structure of genes.  His research seeks to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlining inherited diseases by taking a new approach to studying blood vessels. Using a new technique called laser capture microdissection, Dr. Trifiro has been able to isolate and remove individual blood vessel cells from scleroderma skin and study those cells isolated from the other tissue around them. Further genetic analysis will help identify if protein abnormalities are present on the surface of those cells. This could prove to be an important clue to why the vessels are so abnormal.

• Dr. Andrew Leask is a professor and scientist at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.  His research involves using a combination of transgenic and gene knockout approaches to uncover the processes involved in progressive fibrotic disease. In particular, Dr. Leask is working on the growth factors and signaling cascades resulting in fibrogenesis with an aim in identifying specific target points for drug intervention in fibrotic disease, using scleroderma as a model.

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