Christine E. Bear

Biography

Dr. Bear’s laboratory has  a major interest in understanding the molecular basis for ion channel activity. She pursued postdoctoral training in patch clamp electrophysiology because of its power to provide insight into mechanisms underlying single ion channel activity. Her laboratory together with Dr. Jack Riordan, provided the first direct evidence that the CFTR protein functioned as a cyclic AMP regulated chloride channel. Since this discovery, the work in her laboratory led to key findings that underpin the current understanding in the field regarding the mechanism of action of this protein and the intrinsic defects induced by disease-causing mutations of the CFTR genes. Her laboratory has also contributed to the larger field of membrane protein assembly and function through the development of novel methods for membrane protein purification and functional reconstitution. These methods have also been successfully applied to discover the mechanisms underlying the correction of mutant CFTR protein by emerging small molecule therapeutics and in discovering new lead compounds targeting the major CF causing mutant protein. Currently, in collaboration with the stem cell community in Toronto, her laboratory has been successful in developing methodology suitable for measuring channel function in epithelia differentiated from iPS cells.

Research Interest

Research in Cystic Fibrosis and Kidney Disease