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.

The list includes two ongoing clinical trials designed to test the efficacy of commonly prescribed antifungal drugs in Axial Spondyloarthropathy and in Crohn's Disease, results for which are expected in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

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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: Completion expected in 2023.

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: Completion expected in 2023.

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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: Completion expected in 2023.

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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