Dec. 16, Toronto, Ont. – Congratulations to Dr. Mark Erwin D.C., Ph.D who was recently awarded his own “independent laboratory” at Toronto Western Hospital to support his world-class research.
Dec. 16, Toronto, Ont. – Congratulations to Dr. Mark Erwin D.C., Ph.D who was recently awarded his own “independent laboratory” at Toronto Western Hospital to support his world-class research.
This is a monumental achievement for Dr. Erwin and an unprecedented historic milestone for the profession.
Dr. Erwin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine and holds the prestigious “Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRFD) Scientist in Disc Biology” position at the University of Toronto.
Degeneration of the intervertebral disc and associated disability represents an enormous burden to the healthcare system. Dr. Erwin’s laboratory is focused on understanding the key aspects to degeneration that lead to disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and spinal cord embarrassment such as is the case in cauda equina syndrome and cervical spondylotic myelopathy (the leading cause of spine-related neurological disability in persons over 60).
How the disc degenerates, what factors determine who will and who will not experience catastrophic disc disease/injury, how to identify these patients and what is the best mode of intervention represent key areas in his research. Dr. Erwin’s lab explores the profile of inflammatory cytokines and other biomarkers expressed by degenerated/injured discs and facet cartilaginous tissues both under inflammatory-inducing conditions as well as when coupled with potential ‘rescue’ strategies.
His innovative research will further define the leading role and expertise of chiropractors in reducing the enormous economic burdens to Canada’s healthcare system.
Dr. Erwin is funded by a $500,000 partnership that includes CCRF, University of Toronto, Ontario Chiropractic Association, Krembil Neuroscience Center and the Arthritis and Autoimmune Research Center (AARC/MHA). The Disc Biology research program has been funded with operating grants from the Synthes Corp, Skoll Foundation, Gardner Trust, Hansjörg Wyss Foundation and AOSpine.
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