Pioneering Research & Impact

Neuroscientists in Canada are pushing the boundaries of knowledge about the brain and nervous system. The discoveries today are the innovations and treatments for tomorrow.

Cutting-Edge Neuroscience Research in Canada

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  Unlocking the impact of early-life adversity on brain function23 November 2023
  Childhood trauma is associated with altered brain responses to stress PUBLISHED: 21 November 2023 – McGill University Do adults with a history of childhood trauma have altered brain responses to psychological challenges? Previous studies indicated that this can occur in laboratory animals, but it has been unclear whether it occurs in humans. Now a team of scientists, led by Marco Leyton at McGill University, have found evidence… Read more: Unlocking the impact of early-life adversity on brain function
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  Why do neurons die from brain injury and how can we save them?30 October 2023
  Published October 25, 2023 on the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health website The swelling of neurons in the brain is triggered by conditions like stroke or traumatic brain injury. Neuron swelling can cause these cells to die, resulting in extensive brain damage and even death. But until now, it hasn’t been clear what causes the death of neurons during injury-induced swelling. Now, in… Read more: Why do neurons die from brain injury and how can we save them?
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  Study opens new frontier for research into neurodevelopmental disorder18 September 2023
  New research could pave a way for pharmacological interventions for a devastating brain abnormality, announces a recent press release by the University of Ottawa. An international team led by Armen Saghatelyan, a newly appointed Canada Research Chair at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine has shed light on the underlying mechanisms of a mysterious brain abnormality that occurs during human fetal development called Perfiventricula Heterotopia… Read more: Study opens new frontier for research into neurodevelopmental disorder
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  Researchers at Western University use AI to predict recovery after serious brain injury15 September 2023
  Two graduate students from Western University have developed a ground-breaking method for predicting which intensive care unit (ICU) patients will survive a severe brain injury, reports Canada’s Western University in Western News. Matthew Kolisnyk and Karnig Kazazian, PhD candidates at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in the lab of renowned neuroscientist Adrian Owen, combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with state-of-the art machine learning techniques to… Read more: Researchers at Western University use AI to predict recovery after serious brain injury
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  A Promising Non-Invasive Therapy to Promote Repair and Remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis14 September 2023
  Summary: Researchers find that a non-drug based treatment approach called acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH), which consists of short periods of reduced oxygen, reduces inflammation, protects nerve fibres, and promotes repair in mice with multiple sclerosis-like disease. While the findings of this study are promising, further research will need to assess whether this treatment has the same effect in people with MS.
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  New mechanism underlying how we see the world in 3D discovered6 September 2023
  The Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit led by Dr. Michel Cayouette at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), and also Full Research Professor, Department of Medicine at Université de Montréal, has identified a key mechanism involved in the growth of nerve cells that are critical to mediate binocular vision, which allows us to see the world in 3D.  The marvel of human 3D vision To see the world in… Read more: New mechanism underlying how we see the world in 3D discovered
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  Identification of a previously unknown mechanism controlling the interaction between astrocytes and blood vessels in the brain14 August 2023
  Title of publication : Astroglial Hmgb1 regulates postnatal astrocyte morphogenesis and cerebrovascular maturation. First author : Dr. Moises Freitas-Andrade A new publication from Dr. Baptiste Lacoste’s laboratory at University of Ottawa identifies a previously unknown mechanism controlling the interaction between astrocytes and blood vessels in the brain. Serving as bridges between neurons and blood vessels in the brain, astrocytes (a type of glial cells) send specialized extensions or ‘endfeet’… Read more: Identification of a previously unknown mechanism controlling the interaction between astrocytes and blood vessels in the brain
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  Researchers succeed in reversing certain signs of Alzheimer’s in an animal model of the disease8 August 2023
  Maintaining an ion pump located in the cell membrane of neurons could slow down or reverse the pathology. Text by Jean Hamann – Université Laval nouvelles A team of researchers led by Dr. Yves De Koninck Professor at Université Laval and researcher at Université Laval’s CERVO research centre, reports in the journal Brain that they have succeeded in reversing certain cognitive manifestations associated with… Read more: Researchers succeed in reversing certain signs of Alzheimer’s in an animal model of the disease
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  Study first to examine how early memory changes as we age at a cellular level6 June 2023
  SickKids researchers discover that a matrix called the perineuronal net may be responsible for why human memories become more specific throughout childhood. How do our brains become capable of creating specific memories? In one of the first preclinical studies to examine memory development in youth, a research team at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) may have identified a molecular cause for memory changes… Read more: Study first to examine how early memory changes as we age at a cellular level
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  Mimicking brain plasticity in children to control post-traumatic stress23 May 2023
  The CHU Sainte-Justine team, led by Graziella Di Cristo, has made an important breakthrough in the treatment of people suffering from symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress. Could we temporarily increase brain plasticity in adults to decrease fear and anxiety responses in people who have experienced trauma? CHU Sainte-Justine Neuroscientist Graziella Di Cristo and her team were determined to find out. In a new study on mice, she was… Read more: Mimicking brain plasticity in children to control post-traumatic stress
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  Krembil Brain Institute scientists identify a  protein-protein interaction that contributes to Parkinson’s disease8 May 2023
  In a study published in Nature Communications, a team led by UHN Krembil Brain Institute Senior Scientists Drs. Lorraine Kalia and Suneil Kalia and University of Toronto (U of T) professor Dr. Philip M. Kim identified a protein-protein interaction that contributes to Parkinson’s disease. In the disease, a protein called α-synuclein (a-syn) accumulates in the brain and leads to cell death. Much research is currently focused on clearing a-syn with antibodies or using… Read more: Krembil Brain Institute scientists identify a  protein-protein interaction that contributes to Parkinson’s disease
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  The latest weapon against Alzheimer’s disease could be as simple as touch5 May 2023
  A study by a team of University of Lethbridge neuroscientists has shown that tactile stimulation shows much promise as a non-invasive method of slowing the onset of dementia in aging mice and could be an additional therapeutic intervention for people with Alzheimer’s disease. January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and the Alzheimer Society encourages everyone to learn more about dementia and its impact on Canadians.… Read more: The latest weapon against Alzheimer’s disease could be as simple as touch
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  Offering a new hypothesis for the cause of Alzheimer’s disease5 May 2023
  Alzheimer’s is a complex neurodegenerative disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Yet despite extensive research, our understanding of why the disease leads to cognitive decline and memory loss remains incomplete. Now, researchers in the University of Victoria’s Division of Medical Sciences have published an article in Nature Communications that could critically improve our understanding of what causes Alzheimer’s disease. Many well-accepted explanations of the disease include oxidative… Read more: Offering a new hypothesis for the cause of Alzheimer’s disease
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  Pain is processed differently in women and men: interview with Michael Hildebrand5 May 2023
  Episode 116 BEaTS Research Radio- Interview with Dr. Michael Hildebrand Nicole Chu from the University of Ottawa speaks with Dr. Mike Hildebrand, Associate Professor at Carleton University in the Department of Neuroscience and Affiliate Investigator at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Tune in to learn more about their recent work published in the Journal Brain which demonstrates for the first time that spinal cord… Read more: Pain is processed differently in women and men: interview with Michael Hildebrand
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  Video: Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health Brainstorm event2 May 2023
  On April 15, 2023, neuroscientists at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health showcased their research in areas such as healthy aging, dementia, mental health, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease and autism, highlighting ways UBC is leading the way in improving the lives of British Columbians and what some of the next discoveries in brain health might be. Speakers:
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  Video: How can understanding the neurobiology of cognition lead to new treatments for brain disorders?2 May 2023
  Lisa Saksida, PhD, holds the Canada Research Chair in Translational Cognitive Neuroscience, Tier 1. She studies the brain’s capacity for learning, memorizing and paying attention. Through mapping the neural pathways in a healthy brain, Saksida and her team can better understand the effects of neurodegenerative disorders. She dares to ask: how can understanding the neurobiology of cognition lead to new treatments for brain disorders?… Read more: Video: How can understanding the neurobiology of cognition lead to new treatments for brain disorders?
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  RI-MUHC and McGill researchers make a breakthrough in understanding brain nanoarchitecture, using computer vision16 February 2023
  A new study published in Current Biology reveals the nanostructure of brain cells at an unprecedented level of resolution SOURCE: RI-MUHC. Brain cells are among the most anatomically complex cells in the human body. They create an intricate web of connections that enables the brain to detect, process, encode and respond to diverse information. Importantly, communication breakdown between brain cells leads to disorders and… Read more: RI-MUHC and McGill researchers make a breakthrough in understanding brain nanoarchitecture, using computer vision
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  Krembil Brain Institute Scientist Carmela Tartaglia is finding ways to diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy before its too late3 November 2022
  Traumatic brain injuries are considered to be an invisible condition. We can’t often see the effects and 50% of patients experience personality change, irritability, anxiety, and depression after concussion. Repeat traumatic brain injuries may increase your risk for a condition called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Dr. Carmela Tartaglia’s research looks to identify diagnostic tools to predict if an individual could develop CTE after sustaining… Read more: Krembil Brain Institute Scientist Carmela Tartaglia is finding ways to diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy before its too late
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  Saving more stroke patients21 September 2022
  Approximately 20,000 Quebecers suffer a cerebrovascular accident every year. Nearly 90% are caused by a blood clot that blocks the brain’s blood vessels and, by the same token, its supply of oxygen and nutrients. Deprived of oxygen, some 1.9 million nerve cells die every minute following a stroke. While no treatment can restore brain function, there is a therapeutic approach that helps limit the damage. It… Read more: Saving more stroke patients
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  Exoskeleton robot helps researchers shed new light on learning and stroke recovery8 June 2022
  UCalgary clinical trial maps how we learn motor skills, and the results could be a game-changer for stroke rehabilitation. This morning, you probably reached out of bed to turn off your alarm clock, and later brushed your teeth or buttoned a shirt. Those movements are routine; mundane, even. You are long past the point of wondering how you learned to do any of those… Read more: Exoskeleton robot helps researchers shed new light on learning and stroke recovery
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  Focused ultrasound for the delivery of therapeutics to the brain1 June 2022
  Public lecture recorded Wed, May 11, 2022 – 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM EDT Learn from experts about focused ultrasound, a revolutionary technology with the potential to transform the treatment of brain diseases. Focused ultrasound is a revolutionary technology with the potential to change medicine and transform the treatment of brain diseases. The innovative procedure aims to do away with traditional invasive brain surgeries… Read more: Focused ultrasound for the delivery of therapeutics to the brain
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  Discovery reveals blocking inflammation may lead to chronic pain12 May 2022
  Findings may lead to reconsideration of how we treat acute pain Using anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids to relieve pain could increase the chances of developing chronic pain, according to researchers from McGill University and colleagues in Italy. Their research puts into question conventional practices used to alleviate pain. Normal recovery from a painful injury involves inflammation and blocking that inflammation with drugs could lead… Read more: Discovery reveals blocking inflammation may lead to chronic pain
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  CIHR Health Research in Action: Better sleep may lead to a better fight against Alzheimer’s disease7 May 2022
  Research team at Université de Montréal offers insights that may help both detect and treat the disease among patients in the future Issue More than 750,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This complex neurodegenerative condition destroys brain cells and causes a gradual deterioration of memory and thinking. Research A key feature of AD is the development of plaques composed of amyloid beta… Read more: CIHR Health Research in Action: Better sleep may lead to a better fight against Alzheimer’s disease
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  Researcher and inventor Stephen Scott, from Queen’s University explores the impact of his robot, Kinarm, which is changing the way we understand the brain28 April 2022
  In a research 5 à 7 presented by Queen’s University, Dr. Stephen Scott, Professor and Incoming Vice Dean Research for Queen’s Health Sciences, presents his invention: Kinarm. Trained in systems designs engineering, and with a background in physiology, Dr. Scott has combined two areas of expertise into something incredible. Kinarm is used to assess neurological impairments related to stroke, MS, ALS, Transient Ischemic Attacks,… Read more: Researcher and inventor Stephen Scott, from Queen’s University explores the impact of his robot, Kinarm, which is changing the way we understand the brain
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  Promising new treatment for ALS goes to clinical trials4 April 2022
  After 12 years of research, Dr. Richard Robitaille is hopeful that we’ll soon have a treatment to help people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) regain mobility. A new clinical trial is set to start soon, thanks to a $1-million grant from the American ALS Association announced just before Christmas. “I’m still in shock! For me, this grant is recognition of years of hard work,”… Read more: Promising new treatment for ALS goes to clinical trials
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  UCalgary researchers use computer modelling to simulate impact of Alzheimer’s on the brain10 March 2022
  New way to model neural disease could lead to better understanding Author: Shea Coburn, Hotchkiss Brain Institute A deep neural network is a computerized brain-inspired machine learning model, which uses many layers of simulated neurons to mimic the function of the cerebral cortex. Each layer in the network creates more complex activity, which simulates the way information is processed in the human brain. These… Read more: UCalgary researchers use computer modelling to simulate impact of Alzheimer’s on the brain
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  U of T research linking music to brain function could lead to promising therapies: CNN11 November 2021
  A University of Toronto and Unity Health Toronto study found that listening to songs with special meaning for the listener improves brain function in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment, CNN reported. Senior author Michael Thaut, director of U of T’s Music and Health Science Research Collaboratory and a professor in the Faculty of Music and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, told the U.S.… Read more: U of T research linking music to brain function could lead to promising therapies: CNN