Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases
The Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases is a research institute at the University of Toronto, under the umbrella of the Faculty of Medicine, with a focus on the spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases.
The Tanz CRND has made a number of important contributions to research in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly on Alzheimer's disease. The association of late-onset Alzheimer's disease with the Epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E was co-discovered there in conjunction with Duke University in a team led by Allen Roses. Two of the genes associated with most aggressive forms of Alzheimer's disease, namely presenilin 1 and presenilin 2, which are both critical for amyloid-beta production, were discovered there. In addition, a robust model organism for the amyloid pathology of Alzheimer's disease was established in the centre as well. The Tanz CRND have also contributed to knowledge about candidate therapies for Alzheimer's disease that are currently under investigation, including amyloid vaccines and scyllo-inositol.
The Tanz CRND was established in 1990 via philanthropic support from the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, a group of private individuals led by Drs. Mark Tanz and Lionel Schipper. The Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegeneration is currently located at the Toronto Western Hospital in the Krembil Discovery Tower. The founding director of the institute was Professor Donald Crapper McLachlan, later the institute was headed by Professor Peter St George-Hyslop. In 2019, Professor Graham Collingridge became the new director of the centre.
