Breadcrumb

null Jeremy Van Raamsdonk, PhD, M.Sc

Scientist, RI-MUHC, Glen site

Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program

Centre for Translational Biology

Associate Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University

 

Keywords

aging • biological resilience • neurodegeneration • Parkinson's disease • Huntington's disease • mitochondria • animal models • C. elegans • stress resistance • oxidative stress • reactive oxygen species

Research Focus

My research focuses on the genetics and biology of aging and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. I am also highly interested in biological resilience and how that contributes to longevity and neurodegeneration. Much of my work focusses on the mitochondria as it is highly involved in lifespan, resilience and neurodegenerative disease. To complete these studies, I primarily use a simple genetic model organism, the worm C. elegans. My work in geroscience aims to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying longevity and biological resilience and apply that knowledge to promote healthy aging and develop novel treatments for neurodegenerative disease. I use a translational approach in which we perform initial experiments in C. elegans in order to prioritize subsequent experiments in mammalian models.

Selected Publications

Click on Pubmed to see my current publications list

  • Mild activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response increases lifespan without increasing resistance to stress. Di Pede A, Ko B, AlOkda A, Tamez González AA, Zhu S, Van Raamsdonk JM. Open Biol. 2025 Apr;15(4):240358. doi: 10.1098/rsob.240358. Epub 2025 Apr 2. PMID: 40169016.

  • Intestine-specific disruption of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase extends longevity. Liontis T, Senchuk MM, Zhu S, Jacob-Tomas S, Anglas U, Traa A, Soo SK, Van Raamsdonk JM. Free Radic Biol Med. 2025 Mar 1;229:195-205. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2025.01.032. Epub 2025 Jan 17. PMID: 39827921.

  • Developmental disruption of the mitochondrial fission gene drp-1 extends the longevity of daf-2 insulin/IGF-1 receptor mutant. Traa A, Tamez González AA, Van Raamsdonk JM. Geroscience. 2025 Feb;47(1):877-902. doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01276-z. Epub 2024 Jul 19. PMID: 39028454.

  • Overexpression of mitochondrial fission or mitochondrial fusion genes enhances resilience and extends longevity. Traa A, Keil A, AlOkda A, Jacob-Tomas S, Tamez González AA, Zhu S, Rudich Z, Van Raamsdonk JM. Aging Cell. 2024 Oct;23(10):e14262. doi: 10.1111/acel.14262. Epub 2024 Jul 2. PMID: 38953684.

  • Biological resilience and aging: Activation of stress response pathways contributes to lifespan extension. Soo SK, Rudich ZD, Ko B, Moldakozhayev A, AlOkda A, Van Raamsdonk JM. Ageing Res Rev. 2023 Jul;88:101941. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101941. Epub 2023 Apr 29. PMID: 37127095.