Dr. Stephen Ferguson would like to send a signal to neurodegenerative diseases – that he’s fighting back with his effort to better understand how cells communicate with each other. In doing so, he aims to improve treatment of these and other debilitating diseases.
Dr. Ferguson is currently focusing on the investigation of cell signalling in a variety of conditions, such as Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. In studying the activity and interaction of cells’ receptors and proteins, he and his team can advance their understanding of cell signalling — essentially, how cells communicate with each other. Loss of communication between cells explains why these and other neurodegenerative diseases can have such devastating consequences to patients.
By identifying mechanisms contributing to disease processes of these and other diseases, and exploring the potential to manipulate how cells receive signals, Dr. Ferguson is intent on contributing to the improvement of treatments for patients of neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Ferguson’s research falls under the umbrella of the University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute (uOBMRI), Ottawa’s largest collection of basic researchers and clinician scientists focused on brain and mind related health.
Dr. Ferguson is just one more researcher at the uOBMRI working to unlock the healing power of the brain. We invite you to come and celebrate with the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine at our 4th annual Gala – Abracadabra: A Night of Magic & Medicine, where we focus on the uOBMRI and its vast team of world-class researchers.