https://www.nygaardlab.ca/lab-news daily 0.75 2022-05-04 https://www.nygaardlab.ca/lab-news/i9ng2pdit7gj1hjrhusffs7i1v12mu monthly 0.5 2022-05-04 https://www.nygaardlab.ca/lab-news/blog-post-four-6rlz3 monthly 0.5 2022-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1651624129639-KLBD3R2T1FNKWMGVYFSF/Nygaard-website-1.jpeg Lab News - The Nygaard and McVicar Labs Receive $3 Million Donation https://www.nygaardlab.ca/lab-news/blog-post-three-hylk3 monthly 0.5 2022-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1651624762330-FOGTTFEEM4AVG68GXRIL/image.png Lab News - UBC lab-created brain cells hold new hope for understanding mechanics of Alzheimer’s disease https://www.nygaardlab.ca/our-research daily 0.75 2024-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/6fa48a79-dcee-4a95-a335-204156e20f25/Screen+Shot+2022-05-03+at+3.34.30+PM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/15f25da2-ab7a-416d-86c3-315e34c7bab9/Composite.jpg Our Research - Stem Cell Models of Dementia Pluripotent stem cells are cells capable of differentiating into any of the three germ layers of the body. Discovered by the lab of Shinya Yamanaka, human induced pluripotent stem cells are a type of pluripotent stem cell that can be produced directly from a somatic cell of an individual. At the Nygaard Lab, we take blood samples from dementia patients who visit the Clinic for Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders and reprogram them to produce induced pluripotent stem cells. From these cells we are able to differentiate neural tissue that is representative of real patients with dementia. Currently, we possess stem cell and neural tissue lines from patients with multiple mutations causing Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Alexander disease. Utilizing these lines we are able to investigate the underlying pathophysiology and test potential drugs in these mostly untreatable diseases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/8718d94c-9756-4b4c-bc43-021ddb1a5c79/Screenshot+2023-04-19+at+3.17.57+PM.png Our Research - 3D Bioprinting A major challenge in creating cellular models of dementia is the vast difference in physiological relevance between standard 2D cultured neural cells and dementia as it presents in the human brain. By using hydrogels - 3D networks of hydrophilic, cross-linked polymer chains - it is possible to more closely recreate the mechanical and biochemical properties of the natural cell extracellular matrix. At the Nygaard lab we are working to adapt hydrogel methods with 3D bioprinting, allowing us to precisely control placement of cells within a 3D hydrogel structure. Through these methods we can recreate the unique interconnections found in the brain, recreating patient-specific 3D Alzheimer’s models. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1656968744509-WQXKHHIZT4VH5LFJ8BC1/unsplash-image-yo01Z-9HQAw.jpg Our Research - Clinical Research As director of the Centre for Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases, Dr. Nygaard heads a number of clinical trials and investigations involving patients who visit the clinic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/afad5ffb-9627-4db6-995e-1f5035a90382/APP+d90+zoom.png Our Research - Organoid Modelling Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be clustered and directed to form tissue that recapitulates different regions of the brain, which are called organoids. In the Nygaard lab, we generate organoids with cortical structures that contain many of the same cell types as that of the cortex in the developing brain. By using iPSCs derived from patients with AD, we can study the mechanisms underlying the disease while investigating how the various cell types are implicated in an environment similar to that of the real brain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/be83b3e2-400c-4729-a19d-8b7c04f81d40/Screenshot+2023-05-04+at+9.41.05+PM.jpg Our Research - Animal Models Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common form of dementia in young individuals, characterized by impairments in social cognition, language processing and executive function. Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the progranulin gene (GRN) are well-known as a major genetic cause of the TDP-43-positive subtype of FTD (FTD-GRN). The role of progranulin in the pathogenesis of FTD is not fully understood but has been shown to be associated with lysosomal dysfunction, impaired neuronal survival, and neuroinflammation. At the Nygaard lab, we are using rodent models of FTD-GRN to investigate how PGRN deficiency causes FTD-related neurodegeneration and perform drug screening. https://www.nygaardlab.ca/publications daily 0.75 2023-05-05 https://www.nygaardlab.ca/internal daily 0.75 2023-05-16 https://www.nygaardlab.ca/dr-haakon-nygaard daily 0.75 2023-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/12e3f3e4-676a-4c50-abc6-fed55f1168b0/Nygaard-Haakon-scaled-e1625758220845.jpeg Dr. Haakon Nygaard - Haakon Nygaard MD, PhD Appointments: Associate Professor, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Fipke Professor in Alzheimer’s Research Director, UBC Hospital Clinic for Alzheimer and Related Disorders (UBCH-CARD) Board-certified in Neurology and Behavioural Neurology Biography: Haakon obtained his Bachelor of Science at Creighton University in the US where he was the top player for their NCAA Div 1 tennis team. He stayed at Creighton for his medical degree, followed by Neurology Residency at Yale University where he was also Chief Resident. He stayed at Yale following his residency for a PhD in Investigative Medicine under the mentorship of Stephen Strittmatter. He studied the role of cellular prion protein as a high affinity receptor for amyloid-beta, and the downstream signaling pathway of this interaction. His work led to a large translational program using the src family kinase inhibitor saracatinib as a novel, repurposed therapy for Alzheimer’s. The project culminated in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with AD. He has been the PI on several other clinical studies, including ongoing work using ketogenic approaches in AD, and a novel use of ambulatory sleep EEG, combined with machine learning strategies, to stage sleep in Alzheimer’s. The major focus of the Nygaard lab is novel target discovery in Alzheimer’s and Frontotemporal dementia, using human induced pluripotent stem cell models (hiPSC). The lab is at the forefront of 3D tissue engineering, using both existing protocols for 3D constructs as well as novel 3D printing methodology. The work aims to better understand basic mechanisms not previously characterized in dementia syndromes using these emerging technologies, and develop new therapies. Personally, Haakon is married to Linda Nygaard, and has two boys aged 9 and 11. When not in the lab he enjoys tennis, skiing, biking, and anything else amazing BC has to offer. https://www.nygaardlab.ca/home daily 1.0 2024-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/b643a0e5-19c0-4be3-bfb1-63e66890e129/briannekent_2018_pjoseph.jpeg Home - Lab Members View and connect with the staff, postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate researchers that make up the Nygaard Lab. See lab alumni and the current positions they hold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/da138058-7cfc-4013-ab32-0095de126517/Nygaard-website-1.jpeg Home - Principle Investigator - Dr. Haakon Nygaard Dr. Haakon Nygaard, Fipke Professor in Alzheimer’s Research and director of UBC Hospital Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, is working towards a cure for Alzheimer’s. He’s also tackling the challenge from another angle: prevention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1651652283439-TIS3HGS2IV6IKGZC2RYH/unsplash-image-XknuBmnjbKg.jpg Home - Opportunities The Nygaard Lab is always looking for intelligent and passionate individuals who are motivated to pursue dementia research. https://www.nygaardlab.ca/facilities daily 0.75 2023-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/66afc126-815e-48d6-99a9-016f5a173b18/Screen-Shot-2014-06-05-at-11.19.47-PM.png Facilities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/7e785fac-05ce-4cc4-8839-3cd37b444a2c/Screenshot+2023-04-19+at+4.43.10+PM.jpg Facilities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/e288b195-d645-4473-98bf-0465d61d56af/D9A9265A-79D0-40CF-A259-35B0654108B4.JPG Facilities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/90f4b7ac-68a1-42ba-850d-9a85274be7c8/WellA2spikesort.jpg Facilities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/9f380c50-adb7-4d34-822b-1216d9467801/Screenshot+2023-05-04+at+10.16.08+PM.jpg Facilities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/c9eea467-f20f-4bb4-8af1-82201a3f9c70/25415B26-A7B1-4980-AC43-E127250B98C7.JPG Facilities https://www.nygaardlab.ca/lab-members daily 0.75 2024-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1651620918561-C2BVLD0T8IAZTZ34KBO4/1644196665013.jpeg Lab Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1651621114641-DC8HCHKXMQKQPGBLGI0H/87933460-qmb9tihw27-img_0589_small.jpeg Lab Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1654727872438-TEC6PL3Y49DPZOZI862I/SorensenStefano.jpg Lab Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1655413238575-E6CZ8KDT9P5LWFDXTG68/NakitaCai.jpg Lab Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1655413625444-U9VYVQCWA4C1NN9EG1LQ/ShelleyWu.jpg Lab Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/1657070094129-1WUONOBYJFA54E94HUY3/24F041B5-6E26-40C6-8951-EA62B7665865.JPG Lab Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/4fcb8608-7699-4244-8cc2-4f33add0f082/Adaw.png Lab Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/0d18ca2d-037d-43ba-afb6-4b403ee5bffd/Stefan+Headshot_Compressed.jpg Lab Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62706776630ee056de7a0587/6a83d492-e98c-45d3-900f-ccc36ec0f0b0/Declan+Headshot+Compressed.jpg Lab Members https://www.nygaardlab.ca/contact daily 0.75 2023-05-09 https://www.nygaardlab.ca/opportunities daily 0.75 2023-05-09