Feb. 18, 2026
Trainee investigates the mechanism behind serious heart condition
Gerardo Balderas is a PhD trainee in the lab of Dr. Scott Ryan, PhD, where researchers study neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson鈥檚 disease. Balderas鈥 own work centers around the heart 鈥 specifically, a little-known and often overlooked condition called transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).
Like Parkinson鈥檚 disease, ATTR-CM is caused by a buildup of misfolded proteins. In this case, the culprit is transthyretin. Under normal conditions, transthyretin circulates in the bloodstream, transporting thyroid hormone and vitamin A. When it misfolds, it can form amyloid deposits in the heart, impairing its ability to function and sometimes leading to heart failure.
鈥淥nce the protein goes rogue, it sticks to the heart,鈥 says Balderas. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to understand the nature of the protein and why it loses its normal structure.鈥
While effective treatments can slow or halt the progression of ATTR-CM, early diagnosis remains a challenge. According to Balderas, symptoms may be overlooked by cardiologists because the condition was long considered rare. As a result, many patients are not identified until significant cardiac damage has already occurred.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why understanding the underlying mechanisms is so important,鈥 says Balderas. 鈥淚f we know what鈥檚 happening early at the molecular level, we can work toward identifying the disease much sooner.鈥
Interest in ATTR-CM has grown rapidly in recent years as researchers have begun to realize the condition is far more common than previously believed. Balderas is interested in the parallels between cardiac amyloidosis and Parkinson鈥檚 disease, both of which involve protein misfolding and accumulation that result in detrimental physiological outcomes in patients.
Balderas earned both his undergraduate and master鈥檚 degrees in biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge. His path into health sciences was shaped early on by his mother, a veterinarian who led prion disease screening in Tlaxcala, Mexico.
鈥淪ome of my core memories come from observing my mom鈥檚 work,鈥 he says. 鈥淪he was a strong proponent of the health sciences, and that really stayed with me.鈥
Balderas recently received a fellowship from the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, in partnership with Pfizer, to support his research. He is grateful.
鈥淚t opens doors 鈥 to connections, collaborations and new research opportunities,鈥 says Balderas.