Congratulations Dr. Paul Fernyhough for publishing your paper, Selective antagonism of muscarinic receptors is neuroprotective in peripheral neuropathy, on the Journal for Clinical Investigation!

Dr. Paul Fernyhough is a Principal Investigator in the Clinical Trials and New Therapies Goal Group at Diabetes Action Canada. Dr. Fernyhough has completed his B.Sc. degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Essex and performed his PhD in biochemistry at University of Sheffield in the UK. He also performed postdoctoral research at Colorado State University, Kings College London and as a Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellow at St Bartholomew’s Medical College. Dr. Fernyhough subsequently worked as a fully tenured lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences (now the Faculty of Life Sciences) at the University of Manchester. Dr. Fernyhough’s general research interest is in the cell biology underlying neurodegenerative disorders of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

His recent paper on the Journal for Clinical Investigation focuses on the identification of a novel endogenous pathway in adult neurons that regulates nerve fiber growth. Normally this pathway suppresses growth of nerve fibers but by the use of antagonist drugs against a key receptor in the pathway, fibers can be released from this constraint and permit higher levels of growth. This allows specific drugs to drive nerve fiber regeneration and repair in disease states such as diabetes and chemotherapy where there is irreversible nerve damage. An exciting aspect of the work is that the drugs being used are old drugs for new uses. These drugs have been used in humans for over 20 years with no serious side effects. This class of drugs is currently being used to treat myopia in children, highlighting the excellent safety profile of these compounds. Therefore, phase 1 trials are expected to progress smoothly; phase 2 trials have been arranged and are already funded for 2017. Also, an interesting component of this drug development work is that these drugs can be applied in a topical formulation. This approach restricts side effects and permits application via patch or cream. Commercialization is proceeding rapidly with a company, WinSanTor Inc, supporting drug development through extensive NIH funding and preparing for clinical trials in 2017-2018.

To read more about Dr. Fernyhough’s paper, please click here: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/88321

Once again, well done Dr. Paul Fernyhough. Diabetes Action Canada wishes you all the best in your future endeavours!