Immune Regulation of Microglia in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Graduate research project (MSc or PhD)
Fall 2026 or Winter 2027
Program in Clinical Science and Translational Medicine (Concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences, link)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons. More than 30 proteins have been associated with ALS, but most research focuses on only four of them. Our laboratory studies the remaining, lesser-known proteins, which we refer to as the dark ALS’ome.
Through the ALS Reproducible Antibody Platform (ALS-RAP), we collected antibodies from 15 manufacturers and tested their selectivity using knockout cell lines. This work identified selective, renewable antibodies for most proteins in the dark ALS’ome (reference below).
In collaboration with the Early Drug Discovery Unit at the Montreal Neurological Institute, we used these antibodies to examine ALS-associated proteins in iPSC-derived neurons and immune cells. We identified four proteins that are mainly expressed in microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system, and whose expression changes following an immune challenge.
The candidate will investigate how these proteins are regulated in microglia, which immune pathways control their expression and how they may contribute to ALS. The project will use iPSC-derived microglia, immune stimulation, antibodies, and molecular and cellular assays.
The candidate will join the Laflamme Laboratory at the University of Ottawa (link) and become part of the broader YCharOS, Only Good Antibodies (OGA), and Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) research network. The student will receive hands-on training from Dr. Riham Ayoubi, a research associate in the Laflamme Laboratory and the lead of YCharOS-uOttawa. From day one, the student will contribute to antibody-characterization studies, creating opportunities for early publications and strengthening their graduate scholarship applications. Thanks to the Laflamme lab’s numerous industry partners, the successful candidate will also be able to quickly apply for Mitacs funding.
Interested candidates can contact Dr. Laflamme at [email protected].
