PROJECTS

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Here you can find a brief outline of the projects supported by the Foundation.

Some are run in-house, while others are run by third-parties and funded through grants.

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Project: MFPRJ_20200713_PHACMR

Amount: 0 CAD

Project lead: Martin Laurence (Malassezia Foundation)

Objective: Obtain risk group classification for Malassezia restricta in Canada (via PHAC).

Outcome: Completed successfully in December 2020, with Malassezia restricta classified as RG1.

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Project: MFPRJ_20210908_FUN

Amount: 120000 USD (2021/09/08) [NB: this study has received additional funding from other sources]

Project lead: Dr. James Rosenbaum (OHSU)

Regulatory Oversight: Oregon Health & Science University IRB - Study #21565

Title: Terbinafine Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthropathy

Objective: Determine if oral terbinafine improves axial spondyloarthritis symptoms (double blind, crossover study). Terbinafine is an inexpensive and widely used antifungal drug.

Outcome: Trial cancelled due to recruitment difficulties (0 patients recruited out of 20) and due to the retirement of the project lead.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05119712

Recruitment Info: Spondylitis Association of America

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Project: MFPRJ_20211110_MRESIST

Amount: 45000 CAD (2021/11/10)

Project lead: Dr. Rebecca Shapiro (UoG)

Objective: Discover mechanisms of drug resistance in Malassezia.

Outcome: Efficacy of artemisinin and isavuconazole reported for the first time (Rathie 2022). Project ended before mechanisms of drug resistance could be studied.

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Project: MFPRJ_20211001_B27AP

Amount: 65830 CAD (2021/11/22)

Project lead: Dr. Rejean Lapointe (CHUM)

Objective: Test if Malassezia proteins are recognized by T cells following HLA-B27 presentation in ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Outcome: Trial cancelled due to recruitment difficulties (0 patients recruited out of 14) after 24 months of recruiting.

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Project: MFPRJ_20210922_CDIT

Amount: 250000 CAD (2021/10/08)  [NB: this study has received additional funding from other sources]

Project lead: Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif (MHI) and Dr. Edmond-Jean Bernard (CHUM)

Title: Evaluation of the Response of Itraconazole and Terbinafine Therapy in Subjects With Crohn's Disease (CD-IT)

Objective: Determine if oral itraconazole and oral terbinafine (taken together) improve Crohn’s symptoms and reduce mucosal inflammation (double blind study). Terbinafine and itraconazole are inexpensive and widely used antifungal drugs.

Outcome: Completion expected in 2024.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05049525