Renée N. Douville, PhD

Research summary

With growing evidence of how human endogenous retrovirus-K (ERVK / HERV-K) proteins deregulate cellular processes and drive pathologic neuronal injury, our research substantially shifts current paradigms on neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and dementia. The molecular changes induced by ERVK have important implications for defining the pathophysiology of virus-mediated motor neuron loss in ALS and warrant further investigation.

The broad long-term objective of this research direction is to lay the biomedical foundation for the use of antiviral therapeutics in ALS, dementia, and other ERVK-associated conditions. Our research translated into innovative therapeutics will give hope to individuals in clear and urgent need of effective treatment for incurable neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Renée N Douville is an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at UM and a principal investigator in the Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders at the St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre. She was formerly a full professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Winnipeg (2011-2023).

Dr. Douville is best known for her expertise on human endogenous retroviruses and their potential roles in neurological disease. During her first postdoctoral fellowship, she published a seminal report on endogenous retrovirus-K (ERVK) activity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Over the last few years, her work has been largely focused on the discovery of a new viral protein in ERVK called conotoxin-like protein (CTXLP) found to be strongly expressed in ALS.

Recently, the Douville lab has also shown the potential benefit of therapeutically targeting the ERVK integrase enzyme as a strategy to treat motor neuron disease. It is our continued mission to investigate whether antiviral drugs targeting ERVK could be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and dementia. 

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship - Lady Davis Institute / McGill University (2010-2011)

Postdoctoral Fellowship - Johns Hopkins University (2008-2009)

Leadership and Management in the Life Sciences Graduate Certificate - Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins University (2008-2009)

PhD in Immunology, University of Manitoba (2002-2007) 

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology (Honours), University of Manitoba (1996-2002)

Awards

Martha Donovan Women’s Leadership Development Award (2024)

Chancellor’s Research Chair in Neuroprogressive Disease, University of Winnipeg (2016-2019)

Postdoctoral Fellowship, McGill Neuroinflammation CIHR Strategic Training Program (2011)

Scholarship, Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins University (2009)

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (2009)