Now on a Heritage fellowship at the University of Washington, Dr. Fischer pursues this new research direction, which raises exciting possibilities about transplantation of living retinal cells into damaged eyes to restore sight. Yet, we need cholesterol and other essential fats, called lipids, to build cells and nerves, make hormones, and send signals. These are basic functions of life, and when they are altered the result can be deadly. Heritage scientists at the University of Alberta try to answer that question by studying the most basic interactions of lipids and cells. What they are gleaning provides the first steps for new therapies, perhaps cures, for a number of diseases.
Mice are much more efficient at getting rid of cholesterol than humans are.
Dr. Luis Agellon has discovered one possible reason why. The gene in mice corresponding to the cholesterol-removing gene in humans reacts differently to regulation by lipids. In fact, the human gene doesn't respond well at all to fats in the diet. Dr. Agellon hopes to find ways to trigger the gene in humans that could be used in cholesterol-lowering drugs. When testing a patient for cholesterol, doctors assess the levels of good and bad cholesterol.