Barbara Triggs-Raine, PhD

  • Portrait of Barb Triggs Raine

  • Professor

    Max Rady College of Medicine
    Biochemistry and Medical Genetics
    Room 338 – Basic Medical Sciences Building
    745 Bannatyne Avenue
    University of Manitoba
    Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9

    Phone: 204-789-3218 
    barbara.triggs-raine@umanitoba.ca

Research summary

The Triggs-Raine laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying human genetic disorders and potential treatments using preclinical models of these disorders.

The laboratory currently has two major projects:

  1. One project focuses on understanding how a deficiency of hyaluronidase 2 (HYAL2) results in syndromic cleft lip/palate in humans using a mouse model with a highly similar phenotype.
  2. The second project is aimed at developing precisely designed preclinical models of GM2 gangliosidoses that can be used to develop therapies.

Therapies developed in partnership with Dr. Brian Mark and other entities will be tested in these models as treatments for these severe lysosomal storage disorders.

Research affiliations

Research interests

  • Mouse model generation
  • Therapies for rare disease

Research groups

  • Lysosomal Storage Disorders Research Group

Research themes

  • Disorders of hyaluronan metabolism 
  • Lysosomal storage disorders

Keywords

  • CRISPR/Cas9
  • Extracellular matrix
  • GM2 gangliosidosis
  • Hyaluronan
  • Hyaluronidase
  • Lysosomal enzyme

Biography

Dr. Triggs-Raine completed a BSc (Hons) in microbiology in 1983 at the University of Manitoba. Fascinated by the new tools becoming popular for characterizing and manipulating DNA, she decided to pursue a PhD in microbiology at the University of Manitoba with an emphasis of molecular genetics.

After completing a PhD in 1987, she transitioned to human genetics by undertaking postdoctoral training at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and subsequently McGill University-Montreal Children’s Hospital Research Institute.

In 1991, she returned to the University of Manitoba as an assistant professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology (now biochemistry and medical genetics).

Education

  • PhD in Microbial Genetics, University of Manitoba (1987)
  • Bachelor of Science (Honors Microbiology), University of Manitoba (1983)

Awards

  • Bachelor of Science in Medicine Supervisor Mentorship Award (2018-19) Manitoba Medical Students' Association (MMSA)
  • Nomination for Best Teaching: Small Group Setting – Class of 2020 (2018)
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry: Best of 2012 Glycobiology and extracellular matrices
  • Rh Award in the Health Sciences (1995)

Contact us

Biochemistry and Medical Genetics
Room 336 Basic Medical Sciences Building
745 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9 Canada

bmgadmin@umanitoba.ca
204-789-3458