Dr. Richard Rozmahel, PhD
Children’s Health Research Institute
Scientist, Molecular Genetics Program
Lawson Health Research Institute
Scientist, Children’s Health Research Institute
University of Western Ontario
Assistant Professor, Departments of Biochemistry, Paediatrics, and Oncology
Other Appointments
Scientist, London Regional Cancer Program
Contact Information
Tel: (519) 685-8500 Ext. 58637
Fax: (519) 685-8641
E-mail: rrozmahe@uwo.ca
Web: http://www.biochem.uwo.ca/fac/rozmahel/rozmahel.html
Brief Biography
Dr. Richard Rozmahel received his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology at the University of Toronto in 1991. He then pursued his doctorate in Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui’s laboratory in the Department of Genetics and Genomic Biology at the Hospital for Sick Children and the Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics at the University of Toronto, which was completed in 1996. He then went on to do postdoctoral research work on cystic fibrosis at the Hospital for Sick Children, and trained in Alzheimer’s disease research in Dr. Peter St. George-Hyslop’s laboratory at the Centre for Research of Neurodegenerative Disease in Toronto.
Dr. Rozmahel accepted his first appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Toronto in 1998. He then went on to take up a position in the Department of Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2001. In 2003, he assumed his current positions at the Children’s Health Research Institute, London Regional Cancer Program, Lawson Health Research Institute and the University of Western Ontario.
Research Interests
• Dr. Rozmahel’s primary research interest is the application of engineered mouse models coupled with genetic analysis to gain insight into the underlying mechanisms, variability, and potential therapeutics for human diseases.
• The major focus of Dr. Rozmahel’s lab is on the genetic modifiers of cystic fibrosis, inflammatory airway disease, and gamma-secretase activity that could contribute to multiple disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and different cancers.
Research Activities
The major research focus of Dr. Rozmahel’s lab is the molecular biology and genetics of cystic fibrosis, specifically the identification of secondary genes that can influence the course of this disease. The principal research animal is the laboratory mouse. Dr. Rozmahel has previously shown that different genes can have a modifying affect on cystic fibrosis that can have a major impact on the intestinal and lung disease lesions in the mouse models, and has mapped the specific position of genes harboring the major intestinal disease modifiers to mouse chromosomes 5 and 7. The human gene similar to the mouse gene that contains chromosome 7 has also been shown to have a prominent role in the presence or absence of early intestinal disease in cystic fibrosis patients. Strong candidate genes for these modifiers have now been identified and are currently being investigated for their potential role in the disease. In addition, Dr. Rozmahel has identified several prominent candidates for modifiers of lung disease in cystic fibrosis mice and is currently in the process of characterizing them and confirming that they have an effect on the severity of cystic fibrosis. The identified genetic modifiers are also being evaluated for their therapeutic potential in mouse models of cystic fibrosis.
Awards and Recognition
Funding in support of "Genetic Applications to the Study of Mouse Models of Human Disease" - Awarded by Canadian Foundation for Innovation
Funding in support of "Genetic Applications to the Study of Mouse Models of Human Disease" - Awarded by Ontario Innovation Trust
Funding in support of "In Vivo Effects of Lipids on the Pathogenesis/Pathological of Alzheimer’s Disease" - Awarded by Alzheimer’s Association
Funding in support of "Investigation of calgranulin suppression on lung inflammation in CF mice" - Awarded by Lawson Health Research Institute
Click here to see Publications
