Alberta Innovates- Health Solutions

Arthritis is a severe form of inflammation. Doctors know how to treat the symptoms but how do they prevent this often-crippling condition?

Heritage Scholar, Dr. Tim Heslip (at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, studies the molecular origin of this chronic disease.

“If we can identify these genes, and the genes that help the body heal, there may be a way to stop arthritis and joint injury in their tracks,” he explains.

Dr. Heslip uses Drosophila fruit flies to identify the genetic material involved in the progression of arthritis and joint injury. Flies and humans share common growth mechanisms. By studying how the fly uses the genetic means of growing a limb to repair joint injuries, Dr. Heslip hopes to develop techniques, such as gene therapy, to treat arthritis and joint injury.

With Dr. Don Fujita and Dr. William Brooks, he also will apply fly genetics to the growth of cancer cells. Genes that regulate cell growth (cell division) are important in the development of cancer tumors (unregulated cell growth). The fly model is excellent for studying this. “Many genes which control cell growth in mammal were originally discovered in flies,” says Dr. Heslip.

For more information on arthritis, check The Arthritis Society website.