Hugh P. J. Bennett

Biography

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS Professor, McGill University, 1993- Associate Professor, McGill University, 1986-1993 Assistant Professor, McGill University, 1980-1986 Medical Scientist, Department of Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, 1980- Post-Doctoral Fellow, McGill University, 1978-1980 External Post Graduate Research Student, Brunel University, 1973-1977

Research Interest

The zebrafish has emerged as a model organism that is expected to define the mechanisms underlying the development of functions unique to vertebrates including humans (i.e. the heart, blood vessels, and advanced nervous and immune systems). We are using the zebrafish to study the function of a new family of tissue growth factors (the granulins) discovered in the Endocrine Laboratory. In mammals, over-expression of the single granulin gene has been shown to contribute to the progression of certain tumours including those of the breast and prostate. In contrast granulin gene under-expression resulting from the loss of one allele has been shown to lead to a form of frontotemporal dementia in human patients. We have shown that in the zebrafish, the granulins are members of a multi-gene family that are critically involved in early embryonic development. Knockdown of granulin gene expression leads to a profound disruption of organ formation including interference in normal development of the central nervous system, internal organs, blood cells and blood vessels. Our research focuses upon defining the mechanism of action of the granulins and ultimately uncovering the role that they play in human biology and the pathophysiology of certain cancers.