MAGIC Clinic - Calgary

MAGIC stands for Metabolics and Genetics in Calgary. We are a medical clinic that specializes in looking after patients (children and adults) with rare diseases that are due to changes in their DNA. Things like Lysosomal Storage Diseases (Fabry disease, Gaucher disease, Pompe disease to name a few), Mitochondrial Diseases, and overall more than 2,000 known different genetic diseases.

We offer 2 basic services: diagnosis and treatment. We use standard methods of diagnosis through the health care system that are available at no extra cost to the patient. We also have developed our own, more advanced ways of diagnosing and treating diseases that may not be available through the public health system – you can decide whether or not you would like to purchase these but you don’t have to. The choice is yours. We will still aim to look after you in the best possible way to achieve the best health care outcome for your rare disease. In some cases, you may be eligible for services through a research study or clinical trial. We are always trying to find ways to give you the highest value in diagnostic testing and treatment. We will work with insurance companies and public resources to help you understand what services are available.

If you choose to do so, you can purchase products like whole genome or exome sequencing (WGS or WES), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Nanopore genome sequencing, pharmacogenomic profiling, non-invasive prenatal (NPS) or testing of individual genes. For example, a certain type of genetic test, called whole genome
sequencing, can take a few months to order and get results on through the public health care system and the cost may not be covered. At MAGIC Clinic, we have the technology to produce a result within 1-2 days. We can send you test kits and interact with you without you having to come in to clinic because of the COVID19 pandemic situation. This allows you to get faster answers on whether or not there is anunderlying genetic disease.

Dr. Khan has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating mitochondrial diseases and published the largest clinical trial in Canada, called MITO-FIND, focusing on using DNA sequencing methods to diagnose mitochondrial disease.  After having performed hundreds of muscle biopsies on children and adults, he worked with his team to develop a mitochondrial DNA sequencing method that can make a diagnosis from a cheek swab using Nanopore sequencing without the need to do a muscle biopsy in the majority of cases.

Dr. Khan was the first physician in the world to treat Fabry disease and Gaucher disease using Gene Therapy, the first in Canada to use Liver Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy to treat Urea Cycle Diseases and is experience in using research drugs injected directly into the spine.