Trent University
MyTrent
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Graduate Programs
    • Trent Online
    • Summer Courses
    • Continuing Education
    • Study Abroad
    • Academic Calendar
    • Academic Timetable
    • Academic Skills Centre
    • Academic Advising
    • Library
    • Centre for Teaching and Learning
  • Admissions
    • Undergraduate
    • Thinking of Applying
    • Already Applied
    • Received an Offer
    • Accepted My Offer
    • Graduate
    • International
    • Indigenous
    • Returning to Trent
    • Transfer
  • Services & Support
    • Academic Advising
    • Academic Skills Centre
    • Administrative Departments
    • Alumni Services
    • Athletics
    • Campus Security
    • Careerspace
    • Colleges
    • Communications
    • Conferences
    • Financial Aid
    • Financial Services
    • Health & Wellness
    • Indigenous Services
    • Information Technology
    • International Students
    • Learning Support
    • Parking
    • Printshop
    • Recruitment
    • Registrar's Office
    • Residence & Housing
    • Student Clubs
    • TrentU Card
  • Research
    • Research at Trent
    • Research Centres
    • Find an Expert
    • Resources
  • Give to Trent
  • About Trent
    • About Trent
    • Careers
    • Giving to Trent
    • Governance
    • How to Find Us
    • Media
    • News & Events
    • President's Office
    • Staff Directory
    • Trent Facts
    • Contact Us
  • Campus Locations
    • Peterborough
    • Durham GTA
    • Online
  • Future Students
    • Undergraduate
    • Thinking of Applying
    • Already Applied
    • Received an Offer
    • Accepted My Offer
    • Graduate
    • International
    • Indigenous
    • Returning to Trent
    • Transfer
  • Current Students
  • Alumni
  • Trent Forward: COVID-19 Info
  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Give
  • Map
  • Careers
  • Directions
  • Library
  • Site Map
  • Bookstore
Skip to main content Home
  • Peterborough
  • Durham GTA
  • Online
  • MyTrent
MENU
Trent University
News and Events
  • Latest News
  • Trent Experts
  • For Media
  • For Faculty and Staff
  • Publications
  • Contact Us
  1. Trentu.ca
  2. News and Events

Battling Batten Disease with Outstanding Research

July 31, 2018
Share This Story

Trent’s Dr. Robert Huber wins Discovery Award

Robert Huber alongside Graduate and Undergraduate students wearing their lab coats.
Dr. Robert Huber's lab consists of a combination of Graduate and Undergraduate students from Trent University.

Dr. Robert Huber, a professor in Trent University’s Biology department, has been awarded a $25,000 grant to enhance his groundbreaking research on Batten Disease – a rare but devastating neurological disorder which can affect all ages and ethnicities. 

Winner of the prestigious Banting Research Foundation Discovery Award, Professor Huber’s application was ranked #1 out of 47 applications submitted from across Canada. This one-year grant provides funding to outstanding new investigators in Canada to carry out innovative research projects in the health and biomedical areas.

Research that makes a major difference

Prof. Huber’s research studies the underlying causes of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis —also known as Batten disease. It is the most common form of neurodegeneration in children, and certain regions of Canada have an especially high incidence rate (i.e. Newfoundland). 

“The generous funding provided by the Banting Research Foundation will allow my lab to explore new avenues of research into the mechanisms underlying Batten disease,” says Prof. Huber.

His hope is that his research “will make a positive contribution to our understanding of Batten disease, ultimately allowing us to design effective therapies for patients.” 

Recent genetic advances show similarities between NCL and other neurological diseases like Parkinson’s. This means that Prof. Huber’s research may be able to increase our knowledge of the underlying causes of those diseases, and thereby provide possible new avenues of treatment.

Prof. Huber arrived at Trent in July 2016, and since then his research group has already made significant contributions toward finding the underlying causes of Batten disease. “I’ve been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside some amazing students here at Trent,” he says.

Learn more about Biology at Trent and other faculty members making a difference through research.

 

Find other stories about: Research, Faculty, Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Share This Story

You Might Also Like

Image of Serena Karevich smiling in bata library.

Empowering Leaders in Marginalized Communities

Samantha Herbert at Riverview Park and Zoo working on her community-based research project with squirrel monkeys.

Monkeying Around with Science: Conservation Biology Student Conducts Research Project with Primates

a photo of deb speaking with a person wearing a burgundy shirt

Celebrating Local Career Connections for Trent Graduates

Trent University logo
Challenge the Way You Think

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

Peterborough

1600 West Bank Drive
Peterborough, ON Canada, K9L 0G2

Toll Free: 1-855-MY-TRENT

Campus Map

Durham Greater Toronto Area

55 Thornton Road South
Oshawa, ON Canada, L1J 5Y1

Phone: 905-435-5100

Campus Map

Social Media Directory
  • Contact
  • Directions
  • Site Map
  • Accessibility
  • @ Copyright 2023 Trent University