[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so how many of you here played with bugs
so how many of you here played with bugs
so how many of you here played with bugs or slimy creatures as a kid yeah okay me
or slimy creatures as a kid yeah okay me
or slimy creatures as a kid yeah okay me too and like my daughter I was more
too and like my daughter I was more
too and like my daughter I was more interested in finding fish bait than
interested in finding fish bait than
interested in finding fish bait than actually fishing but as an adult the
actually fishing but as an adult the
actually fishing but as an adult the most you might come across these
most you might come across these
most you might come across these creatures is in your compost when my son
creatures is in your compost when my son
creatures is in your compost when my son started school last year
started school last year
started school last year he was asked what your parents do for a
he was asked what your parents do for a
he was asked what your parents do for a living and he said my dad plays with
living and he said my dad plays with
living and he said my dad plays with worms so there are many things that live
worms so there are many things that live
worms so there are many things that live undetected by us out in your backyard
undetected by us out in your backyard
undetected by us out in your backyard this is my backyard in the soil in the
this is my backyard in the soil in the
this is my backyard in the soil in the compost but out there is an animal
compost but out there is an animal
compost but out there is an animal species that lives a great success and
species that lives a great success and
species that lives a great success and it’s nearly invisible to us all so what
it’s nearly invisible to us all so what
it’s nearly invisible to us all so what am I talking about worms but not
am I talking about worms but not
am I talking about worms but not earthworms that you would use for
earthworms that you would use for
earthworms that you would use for fishing or you will find on the sidewalk
fishing or you will find on the sidewalk
fishing or you will find on the sidewalk after it rains
after it rains
after it rains they’re called nematodes microscopic
they’re called nematodes microscopic
they’re called nematodes microscopic worm species that’s barely visible to
worm species that’s barely visible to
worm species that’s barely visible to your eyes and they’re everywhere it’s
your eyes and they’re everywhere it’s
your eyes and they’re everywhere it’s been said that if you could eliminate
been said that if you could eliminate
been said that if you could eliminate all matter on the planet except for
all matter on the planet except for
all matter on the planet except for nematodes you would still see a ghostly
nematodes you would still see a ghostly
nematodes you would still see a ghostly outline of the world because they’re
outline of the world because they’re
outline of the world because they’re everywhere would you believe that
everywhere would you believe that
everywhere would you believe that playing with things from the compost
playing with things from the compost
playing with things from the compost could help stop brain diseases what if
could help stop brain diseases what if
could help stop brain diseases what if there’s a worm species that could stop
there’s a worm species that could stop
there’s a worm species that could stop you from getting sick the worm that
you from getting sick the worm that
you from getting sick the worm that could do this is called Caenorhabditis
could do this is called Caenorhabditis
could do this is called Caenorhabditis elegans or C elegans – its friends it’s
elegans or C elegans – its friends it’s
elegans or C elegans – its friends it’s very small it’s only one millimetre long
very small it’s only one millimetre long
very small it’s only one millimetre long when it’s fully grown and these are some
when it’s fully grown and these are some
when it’s fully grown and these are some worms in captivity crawling across a
worms in captivity crawling across a
worms in captivity crawling across a dish in the laboratory so barely visible
dish in the laboratory so barely visible
dish in the laboratory so barely visible to your eyes this is the army of tiny
to your eyes this is the army of tiny
to your eyes this is the army of tiny worms that researchers worldwide used to
worms that researchers worldwide used to
worms that researchers worldwide used to answer many big questions things like
answer many big questions things like
answer many big questions things like how do cells develop into whole animals
how do cells develop into whole animals
how do cells develop into whole animals how do cells die
how do cells die
how do cells die they’ve even provided clues into how we
they’ve even provided clues into how we
they’ve even provided clues into how we age and why would people use these worms
age and why would people use these worms
age and why would people use these worms well there are many benefits first
well there are many benefits first
well there are many benefits first silicon’s has rudimentary features in
silicon’s has rudimentary features in
silicon’s has rudimentary features in common with humans has a nervous system
common with humans has a nervous system
common with humans has a nervous system it has reproductive system as muscle
it has reproductive system as muscle
it has reproductive system as muscle cells and intestine things like that
cells and intestine things like that
cells and intestine things like that they also have a really short rapid life
they also have a really short rapid life
they also have a really short rapid life cycle
cycle
cycle which means you can do experiments in a
which means you can do experiments in a
which means you can do experiments in a short amount of time from a couple of
short amount of time from a couple of
short amount of time from a couple of days to a few weeks you can also grow
days to a few weeks you can also grow
days to a few weeks you can also grow them a large numbers which means you can
them a large numbers which means you can
them a large numbers which means you can use many animals over and over again and
use many animals over and over again and
use many animals over and over again and many experiments you have confidence in
many experiments you have confidence in
many experiments you have confidence in your results a cool feature of these
your results a cool feature of these
your results a cool feature of these animals is that they’re transparent
animals is that they’re transparent
animals is that they’re transparent which means that the microscope you can
which means that the microscope you can
which means that the microscope you can look directly inside living animals
look directly inside living animals
look directly inside living animals now this transparency is very useful for
now this transparency is very useful for
now this transparency is very useful for color coding experiments where with the
color coding experiments where with the
color coding experiments where with the right animals you can look at individual
right animals you can look at individual
right animals you can look at individual tissues and cells in living aging
tissues and cells in living aging
tissues and cells in living aging animals word experiments are inexpensive
animals word experiments are inexpensive
animals word experiments are inexpensive and when you’re done with them you can
and when you’re done with them you can
and when you’re done with them you can put them in the freezer until you need
put them in the freezer until you need
put them in the freezer until you need them again that’s not something I’d
them again that’s not something I’d
them again that’s not something I’d recommend for other animals like your
recommend for other animals like your
recommend for other animals like your pets if you go on vacation it’s not the
pets if you go on vacation it’s not the
pets if you go on vacation it’s not the same thing so these animals are
same thing so these animals are
same thing so these animals are important component of your backyard
important component of your backyard
important component of your backyard ecosystem but they’ve made important
ecosystem but they’ve made important
ecosystem but they’ve made important contributions to human health as well so
contributions to human health as well so
contributions to human health as well so my laboratory here in Montreal at the
my laboratory here in Montreal at the
my laboratory here in Montreal at the Sierra Shoom University Mario we study a
Sierra Shoom University Mario we study a
Sierra Shoom University Mario we study a degenerative disease called amyotrophic
degenerative disease called amyotrophic
degenerative disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is also known
lateral sclerosis or ALS is also known
lateral sclerosis or ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease you may be
as Lou Gehrig’s disease you may be
as Lou Gehrig’s disease you may be familiar with it from the ice bucket
familiar with it from the ice bucket
familiar with it from the ice bucket challenge it’s past few summers it’s a
challenge it’s past few summers it’s a
challenge it’s past few summers it’s a pretty bad disease where otherwise
pretty bad disease where otherwise
pretty bad disease where otherwise healthy people are quickly struck down
healthy people are quickly struck down
healthy people are quickly struck down what happens is a part of the nervous
what happens is a part of the nervous
what happens is a part of the nervous system that’s required for movement
system that’s required for movement
system that’s required for movement begins to die and with it the patients
begins to die and with it the patients
begins to die and with it the patients and it can happen fast anywhere from a
and it can happen fast anywhere from a
and it can happen fast anywhere from a few months to a few years after
few months to a few years after
few months to a few years after diagnosis and there’s no cure so what
diagnosis and there’s no cure so what
diagnosis and there’s no cure so what does this have to do with worms
does this have to do with worms
does this have to do with worms well worms like people can get sick too
well worms like people can get sick too
well worms like people can get sick too and maybe this can help you or your
and maybe this can help you or your
and maybe this can help you or your family so what do worms do in nature
family so what do worms do in nature
family so what do worms do in nature they work hard to find food and
they work hard to find food and
they work hard to find food and reproduce and they’re very good at it
reproduce and they’re very good at it
reproduce and they’re very good at it but we wanted to give them a new job so
but we wanted to give them a new job so
but we wanted to give them a new job so researchers using modern genetic
researchers using modern genetic
researchers using modern genetic technologies have discovered over a
technologies have discovered over a
technologies have discovered over a dozen genes that when there’s a mutation
dozen genes that when there’s a mutation
dozen genes that when there’s a mutation one of these genes will cause ALS now
one of these genes will cause ALS now
one of these genes will cause ALS now this is good because then they can study
this is good because then they can study
this is good because then they can study what these genes are doing normally and
what these genes are doing normally and
what these genes are doing normally and what goes wrong in ALS patients so our
what goes wrong in ALS patients so our
what goes wrong in ALS patients so our approach is simple since a single
approach is simple since a single
approach is simple since a single mutation one of these genes causes ALS
mutation one of these genes causes ALS
mutation one of these genes causes ALS what happens if we take these human
what happens if we take these human
what happens if we take these human genes put them into the worms and we’ve
genes put them into the worms and we’ve
genes put them into the worms and we’ve done that when put ALS genes into worms
done that when put ALS genes into worms
done that when put ALS genes into worms do they get sick this is not great for
do they get sick this is not great for
do they get sick this is not great for them
them
them but it provides us with a very powerful
but it provides us with a very powerful
but it provides us with a very powerful research tool so what does this look
research tool so what does this look
research tool so what does this look like well here’s a worm on a plate in
like well here’s a worm on a plate in
like well here’s a worm on a plate in the lab minding its own business
the lab minding its own business
the lab minding its own business until a student comes along and caps it
until a student comes along and caps it
until a student comes along and caps it on the head gap and it moves away
on the head gap and it moves away
on the head gap and it moves away because who likes being tapped on the
because who likes being tapped on the
because who likes being tapped on the head this this is normal but when you do
head this this is normal but when you do
head this this is normal but when you do this with one with the ALS worms same
this with one with the ALS worms same
this with one with the ALS worms same experiment tap nothing happens this
experiment tap nothing happens this
experiment tap nothing happens this animal is very sick it’s essentially
animal is very sick it’s essentially
animal is very sick it’s essentially paralyzed and it can just barely move
paralyzed and it can just barely move
paralyzed and it can just barely move its head so as a researcher this sick
its head so as a researcher this sick
its head so as a researcher this sick worm is easy to see and it’s something
worm is easy to see and it’s something
worm is easy to see and it’s something we can work with I mentioned before that
we can work with I mentioned before that
we can work with I mentioned before that in ALS it’s the neurons involved in
in ALS it’s the neurons involved in
in ALS it’s the neurons involved in movement
movement
movement more specifically the motor neurons
more specifically the motor neurons
more specifically the motor neurons these are the neurons that end up dying
these are the neurons that end up dying
these are the neurons that end up dying into patients is this what we see in our
into patients is this what we see in our
into patients is this what we see in our simple animal model well they’re
simple animal model well they’re
simple animal model well they’re transparent so we can look the red
transparent so we can look the red
transparent so we can look the red signals are the are the worms motor
signals are the are the worms motor
signals are the are the worms motor neurons and if you wait long enough it
neurons and if you wait long enough it
neurons and if you wait long enough it takes about a week you will see that
takes about a week you will see that
takes about a week you will see that these neurons do begin to die maybe in a
these neurons do begin to die maybe in a
these neurons do begin to die maybe in a way similar to what happens in ALS so
way similar to what happens in ALS so
way similar to what happens in ALS so what are we trying to do here we now
what are we trying to do here we now
what are we trying to do here we now essentially have a hospital full of sick
essentially have a hospital full of sick
essentially have a hospital full of sick worms right so maybe we can use them to
worms right so maybe we can use them to
worms right so maybe we can use them to find for example drugs to help ALS
find for example drugs to help ALS
find for example drugs to help ALS patients so as you may appreciate
patients so as you may appreciate
patients so as you may appreciate contemporary drug discovery is expensive
contemporary drug discovery is expensive
contemporary drug discovery is expensive takes a long time billions of dollars
takes a long time billions of dollars
takes a long time billions of dollars many years to bring a single drug to
many years to bring a single drug to
many years to bring a single drug to market even testing one molecule and a
market even testing one molecule and a
market even testing one molecule and a good model like a mouse takes a long
good model like a mouse takes a long
good model like a mouse takes a long time and it’s expensive maybe we can use
time and it’s expensive maybe we can use
time and it’s expensive maybe we can use our worms of some sort of advanced scout
our worms of some sort of advanced scout
our worms of some sort of advanced scout system to find drugs and maybe find good
system to find drugs and maybe find good
system to find drugs and maybe find good drugs that have an increased chance of
drugs that have an increased chance of
drugs that have an increased chance of working down the road in patients and
working down the road in patients and
working down the road in patients and we’ve done this using our ALS worms
we’ve done this using our ALS worms
we’ve done this using our ALS worms we developed a rapid drug screening
we developed a rapid drug screening
we developed a rapid drug screening technique where we find drugs that make
technique where we find drugs that make
technique where we find drugs that make the worms healthy again so how does this
the worms healthy again so how does this
the worms healthy again so how does this work well I showed you before that worms
work well I showed you before that worms
work well I showed you before that worms like the crawl that do it outside in the
like the crawl that do it outside in the
like the crawl that do it outside in the soil or in the lab on plates but they
soil or in the lab on plates but they
soil or in the lab on plates but they can also swim if you put them in a bath
can also swim if you put them in a bath
can also swim if you put them in a bath they start moving like crazy these are
they start moving like crazy these are
they start moving like crazy these are regular worms I put them in a bath and
regular worms I put them in a bath and
regular worms I put them in a bath and they’re thrashing about very active
they’re thrashing about very active
they’re thrashing about very active healthy worms but when you make the ALS
healthy worms but when you make the ALS
healthy worms but when you make the ALS warm swim they get tired very quickly
warm swim they get tired very quickly
warm swim they get tired very quickly and stop moving I realize this is a
and stop moving I realize this is a
and stop moving I realize this is a movie of worms not really moving but if
movie of worms not really moving but if
movie of worms not really moving but if you look carefully you can see that some
you look carefully you can see that some
you look carefully you can see that some of them are barely twitching in any
of them are barely twitching in any
of them are barely twitching in any event they’re very sick in
event they’re very sick in
event they’re very sick in while so compared to this it’s very easy
while so compared to this it’s very easy
while so compared to this it’s very easy to see or find drugs that make them
to see or find drugs that make them
to see or find drugs that make them better again so these are the ALS worms
better again so these are the ALS worms
better again so these are the ALS worms the same ones treated with a drug and
the same ones treated with a drug and
the same ones treated with a drug and they’re moving like crazy they’re
they’re moving like crazy they’re
they’re moving like crazy they’re healthy they’re essentially been rescued
healthy they’re essentially been rescued
healthy they’re essentially been rescued and this is the basis of the drug
and this is the basis of the drug
and this is the basis of the drug screening technique we’re looking for
screening technique we’re looking for
screening technique we’re looking for this worms that move like crazy so with
this worms that move like crazy so with
this worms that move like crazy so with this approach we can now test many
this approach we can now test many
this approach we can now test many molecules in a short amount of time and
molecules in a short amount of time and
molecules in a short amount of time and it’s cheap it costs $1 to know if any
it’s cheap it costs $1 to know if any
it’s cheap it costs $1 to know if any particular drug is worth investigating
particular drug is worth investigating
particular drug is worth investigating further as a potential therapeutic all
further as a potential therapeutic all
further as a potential therapeutic all right so we went ahead and did this and
right so we went ahead and did this and
right so we went ahead and did this and with this approach we screened thousands
with this approach we screened thousands
with this approach we screened thousands of drugs in our worms and we found about
of drugs in our worms and we found about
of drugs in our worms and we found about 20 molecules that made them healthy
20 molecules that made them healthy
20 molecules that made them healthy again it may be cool to cure worms but
again it may be cool to cure worms but
again it may be cool to cure worms but this is not our goal we want to help
this is not our goal we want to help
this is not our goal we want to help patients but as you can imagine no one
patients but as you can imagine no one
patients but as you can imagine no one is going to take advice from a worm
is going to take advice from a worm
is going to take advice from a worm doctor right there’s no way so we have
doctor right there’s no way so we have
doctor right there’s no way so we have to be very sure of a results before you
to be very sure of a results before you
to be very sure of a results before you get anywhere near people so this means
get anywhere near people so this means
get anywhere near people so this means we have to test these drugs in models
we have to test these drugs in models
we have to test these drugs in models closer to humans so to do this we ask
closer to humans so to do this we ask
closer to humans so to do this we ask colleagues for help but where do you go
colleagues for help but where do you go
colleagues for help but where do you go from worms why not fish so a local
from worms why not fish so a local
from worms why not fish so a local colleague has developed a fish model of
colleague has developed a fish model of
colleague has developed a fish model of ALS specifically a zebrafish model and
ALS specifically a zebrafish model and
ALS specifically a zebrafish model and they tested our group of molecules in
they tested our group of molecules in
they tested our group of molecules in their fish and they found one compound
their fish and they found one compound
their fish and they found one compound which was very potent now this is
which was very potent now this is
which was very potent now this is interesting because this is a drug
interesting because this is a drug
interesting because this is a drug that’s been around for a long time and
that’s been around for a long time and
that’s been around for a long time and it’s been used to treat things like
it’s been used to treat things like
it’s been used to treat things like schizophrenia so we’re happy about this
schizophrenia so we’re happy about this
schizophrenia so we’re happy about this and this we wanted to go on so we’re
and this we wanted to go on so we’re
and this we wanted to go on so we’re eager to test this drug and what’s
eager to test this drug and what’s
eager to test this drug and what’s considered the gold standard animal
considered the gold standard animal
considered the gold standard animal model of ALS it’s a mouse model so again
model of ALS it’s a mouse model so again
model of ALS it’s a mouse model so again with a local colleague they tested this
with a local colleague they tested this
with a local colleague they tested this drug and it worked so now we’re very
drug and it worked so now we’re very
drug and it worked so now we’re very excited this drug now works in three
excited this drug now works in three
excited this drug now works in three animal models we know a lot about this
animal models we know a lot about this
animal models we know a lot about this compound and that it’s safe for humans
compound and that it’s safe for humans
compound and that it’s safe for humans this meant there’s a chance we could get
this meant there’s a chance we could get
this meant there’s a chance we could get it to humans in a clinical trial for ALS
it to humans in a clinical trial for ALS
it to humans in a clinical trial for ALS so we attracted lucky they get the
so we attracted lucky they get the
so we attracted lucky they get the attention of a clinical researcher here
attention of a clinical researcher here
attention of a clinical researcher here in Canada as well and his team set up a
in Canada as well and his team set up a
in Canada as well and his team set up a small clinical trial to test this drug
small clinical trial to test this drug
small clinical trial to test this drug in ALS and we waited because he knows
in ALS and we waited because he knows
in ALS and we waited because he knows you may appreciate
you may appreciate
you may appreciate doing this type of stuff in humans takes
doing this type of stuff in humans takes
doing this type of stuff in humans takes longer than playing with worms right
longer than playing with worms right
longer than playing with worms right and it’s a little stressful for
and it’s a little stressful for
and it’s a little stressful for everybody in the lab because you’re
everybody in the lab because you’re
everybody in the lab because you’re waiting what if it doesn’t work whatever
waiting what if it doesn’t work whatever
waiting what if it doesn’t work whatever this drugs only works in these small
this drugs only works in these small
this drugs only works in these small animal models what if our models are
animal models what if our models are
animal models what if our models are wrong but in science when you find
wrong but in science when you find
wrong but in science when you find something interesting it means very
something interesting it means very
something interesting it means very little if others can’t replicate your
little if others can’t replicate your
little if others can’t replicate your work or find something similar in their
work or find something similar in their
work or find something similar in their laboratories so you have to test it also
laboratories so you have to test it also
laboratories so you have to test it also as you may appreciate science is a
as you may appreciate science is a
as you may appreciate science is a collaborative effort but it’s also very
collaborative effort but it’s also very
collaborative effort but it’s also very competitive what if another group
competitive what if another group
competitive what if another group publishes something similar to us before
publishes something similar to us before
publishes something similar to us before us and you know the careers of
us and you know the careers of
us and you know the careers of professors students postdoctoral fellows
professors students postdoctoral fellows
professors students postdoctoral fellows throw that line the balance being first
throw that line the balance being first
throw that line the balance being first is very important but we are patient and
is very important but we are patient and
is very important but we are patient and we waited and after much excellent hard
we waited and after much excellent hard
we waited and after much excellent hard work the results are promising and now a
work the results are promising and now a
work the results are promising and now a large country countrywide clinical trial
large country countrywide clinical trial
large country countrywide clinical trial to test this drug in ALS will go ahead
to test this drug in ALS will go ahead
to test this drug in ALS will go ahead so if you step back it looks like we
so if you step back it looks like we
so if you step back it looks like we basically short-circuited the drug
basically short-circuited the drug
basically short-circuited the drug discovery system we’ve took a drug that
discovery system we’ve took a drug that
discovery system we’ve took a drug that we found in worms and moved it to a
we found in worms and moved it to a
we found in worms and moved it to a clinical trial in two years and it
clinical trial in two years and it
clinical trial in two years and it didn’t cost very much so we’ll wait and
didn’t cost very much so we’ll wait and
didn’t cost very much so we’ll wait and see and even better is the fact that the
see and even better is the fact that the
see and even better is the fact that the results are promising and we’re now
results are promising and we’re now
results are promising and we’re now applying this approach to other diseases
applying this approach to other diseases
applying this approach to other diseases things like Alzheimer’s disease and
things like Alzheimer’s disease and
things like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia so insights into human health
dementia so insights into human health
dementia so insights into human health can come from unlikely places your
can come from unlikely places your
can come from unlikely places your backyard now playing with things taking
backyard now playing with things taking
backyard now playing with things taking risks so this year when when my son
risks so this year when when my son
risks so this year when when my son started school and he was asked what his
started school and he was asked what his
started school and he was asked what his parents did for a living he said my dad
parents did for a living he said my dad
parents did for a living he said my dad makes worm sick then he makes them
makes worm sick then he makes them
makes worm sick then he makes them better again and maybe one day this can
better again and maybe one day this can
better again and maybe one day this can be OK for people to thank
be OK for people to thank
be OK for people to thank [Applause]
”
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