Dr. Darcy Wagner, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Lung Regenerative Medicine at McGill University, has been awarded a prestigious grant from the EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND). As one of only three Canadian researchers selected, she will collaborate with an international team to improve early diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Led by Dr. Oxana Klementieva of Lund University, the project will use advanced molecular imaging and artificial intelligence to detect pathological amyloid structures, which are key indicators of diseases such as Alzheimer’s. This research aims to enhance early detection methods and develop new therapeutic approaches.
Dr. Wagner’s team will contribute by constructing specialized chambers for live imaging of human brain tissue organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. This innovation will enable real-time study of amyloid plaque formation and potential treatments. Building on her previous collaboration with Dr. Klementieva, which introduced a non-invasive method for detecting amyloid plaques, her team in Canada will refine this technique using light-sheet fluorescence microscopy. This work highlights Canada’s leadership in neurodegenerative disease research and strengthens international efforts to advance scientific understanding, diagnostics, and patient care.
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Darcy Wagner awarded prestigious JPND grant. New funding supports an international collaboration to improve early diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The Institute News. March 11, 2025