Knowledge & Expertise
Canada’s expertise, knowledge and diverse & skilled workforce are the foundation for developing our knowledge economy. Investing in research means investing in highly qualified personnel who contribute to the economy and drive innovation in Canada.
- Watch the Amazing Brain Science Talks
A collaboration between McGill University’s Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives and the Brain Canada Foundation, the Amazing Brain Science Talks took place at McGill University on October 14, 2023. This event, designed to demystify brain science for a wide audience, featured enlightening talks by Canadian brain health experts and speakers with lived experiences on a variety… Read more: Watch the Amazing Brain Science Talks - Interview: brain surgeon Gelareh Zadeh discusses a new brain cancer therapy that could buy precious time for terminal patientsIn a recent interview published in Best Health Canada magazine, Toronto brain surgeon Gelareh Zadeh discusses a new brain cancer therapy that could buy precious time for terminal patients. Working with a colleague at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, she developed a blood test that can not only detect brain cancer but reveal the type… Read more: Interview: brain surgeon Gelareh Zadeh discusses a new brain cancer therapy that could buy precious time for terminal patients
- How does the brain control your voluntary movements?The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences announced its new cohort of fellows in September 2023 and included in this list is Queen’s researcher and Vice-Dean Research at Queen’s Health Sciences, Stephen Scott. Internationally recognized for his pioneering work at the intersection of neurosciences and limb biomechanics, Dr. Scott is the inventor of Kinarm, an interactive… Read more: How does the brain control your voluntary movements?
- Discovery of a new mechanism to explain the development of neuropathic painChronic pain is a disease that affects nearly 8 million Canadians and that can lead to a wide range of physical, emotional, and social challenges. Nerve injury can sometimes lead to long-lasting pain hypersensitivity, called neuropathic pain, where pain persists beyond the usual recovery period. Research by Shannon Tansley (done while she was a PhD… Read more: Discovery of a new mechanism to explain the development of neuropathic pain
- Moving while thinking: a single neuron investigationIn real-world settings, humans and other primates think and move simultaneously (e.g. answering a text while walking to work). However, for practical reasons, neuroscientists study the neural basis of the primate mind in laboratory contexts where movements are strictly controlled (e.g. subjects cannot walk while in an MRI scanner). It is therefore unknown how neural… Read more: Moving while thinking: a single neuron investigation
- Mechanistic insights on how mice fed a high-fat diet have altered decision making could help define new therapeutical targets.Diet-induced obesity is a major health concern because it is often associated with comorbidities including type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and depression. Studies show that increased consumption of processed foods rich in sugar, fats, and salts can alter an individual’s ability to control their caloric intake, leading to overconsumption and higher body weight. New research… Read more: Mechanistic insights on how mice fed a high-fat diet have altered decision making could help define new therapeutical targets.
- Studying neuron development offers insight into complex brain circuit assemblyMultiple cell and neuron types are essential for the assembly and function of complex nervous systems. Diverse neuron types develop distinct morphologies and functions during development. While morphology is the traditional way of identifying neuron types, a better understanding of how neuronal networks are assembled can now be achieved by relying on experimental and computational… Read more: Studying neuron development offers insight into complex brain circuit assembly
- Understanding the mechanism for high salt taste in fruit fliesSalt is essential for many physiological processes, including neuronal transmission, muscle contraction, nutrient absorption and to maintain optimal electrolyte levels. However, too much salt can have ill effects. To ensure optimal salt consumption, both mammals and insects display a concentration dependent switch in feeding behaviour, where low levels of salt are attractive, but very high… Read more: Understanding the mechanism for high salt taste in fruit flies
- Identifying a gene critical for visionA gene spanning cilia function is critical for vision Cilia are organelles present in most eukaryotic cells and are categorized into discrete groups: motile cilia (such as those found on spermatozoa) are required for locomotion and fluid dynamics whereas non-motile cilia (like those found in photoreceptors of the eye) are required for cell signalling. Paul… Read more: Identifying a gene critical for vision
- Precious preemies: Research on the effects of oxygen therapy reveals mechanisms of brain injury and informs neonatal care practicesLife-saving oxygen therapy administered to preterm infants often leads to a chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). BPD is associated with abnormal neurodevelopment, such as motor and cognitive deficits, yet this association was previously not well understood. Marissa Lithopoulos, PhD student at the University of Ottawa, led a study that established a neonatal mouse… Read more: Precious preemies: Research on the effects of oxygen therapy reveals mechanisms of brain injury and informs neonatal care practices
- With autism, the brain adapts to blood vessel problems by changing how it uses energyDr. Baptiste Lacoste wants to find out what’s going wrong with the blood vessels in the autistic brain. His team was the first to discover that these blood vessels don’t work properly in mouse models of autism, and there’s some cellular evidence that this happens in humans as well. Now, in a new study published in Cell Reports, the team… Read more: With autism, the brain adapts to blood vessel problems by changing how it uses energy
- Identification of sex differences in stress response and major depressive disorder could pave the way to better diagnosis and treatment of depression.Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is more frequent in women than men, and sex differences have been reported in symptoms and treatment response. The fact that individuals with cardiovascular disease or stroke are more prone to depression suggests vascular dysfunction may also be involved. New research by Laurence Dion-Albert, PhD student at Université Laval, shows for… Read more: Identification of sex differences in stress response and major depressive disorder could pave the way to better diagnosis and treatment of depression.
- Revealing how division of labour occurs in the brainHumans have evolved large, costly brains which enable the many cognitive tasks behind everything we think, feel, and do. The division of the brain into two hemispheres is probably one of the brain’s key organizational principles with left and right hemispheres anchoring specific cognitive processes, such as specialization for spatial and facial processing in the… Read more: Revealing how division of labour occurs in the brain
- The role of neurotransmitter receptors in the structure and function of the human brainNeurons in the brain transmit signals to other cells through the release of molecules called neurotransmitters which bind to specific receptors. These receptors effectively mediate the transfer and propagation of electrical impulse from neuron to neuron, which is how brain cells communicate. A new study led by Justine Hansen at McGill University used advanced computational… Read more: The role of neurotransmitter receptors in the structure and function of the human brain
- Identification of early markers of Alzheimer’s disease provides opportunities for preventative treatments.The failure of multiple Alzheimer’s disease (AD) clinical trials highlights the need for early markers that accurately identify individuals at risk during the pre-clinical stage before they develop severe symptoms. Within the last decade, spatial navigation deficits have recently emerged as one of the most sensitive behavioral markers of early AD – patients are frequently… Read more: Identification of early markers of Alzheimer’s disease provides opportunities for preventative treatments.
- Live brain imaging techniques reveal how the primary motor cortex responds to reward to optimize learning.A region of the brain called the primary motor cortex (M1) is a critical site for learning motor skills (such as riding a bicycle). Moreover, reward is known to accelerate and enhance motor learning, however, it is not understood how reward exerts these effects. While reward has previously been shown to activate neurons in M1… Read more: Live brain imaging techniques reveal how the primary motor cortex responds to reward to optimize learning.
- Distinct neural codes underlie long- and short-term memory in different regions of the primate brain.Human memory can be divided into long and short-term according to the time information can remain stored and have been associated to different brain regions. The hippocampus (HPC) has been associated with the formation of long-term memories stored as changes in the strength of synapses that can last decades. On the other hand, the Lateral… Read more: Distinct neural codes underlie long- and short-term memory in different regions of the primate brain.
- Identification of sex-specific differences in pain signaling could lead to better treatmentFemale chronic pain patients far outnumber males; however, most of the foundational preclinical pain research has been conducted in male rodents only. This has resulted in two barriers to translating basic science findings into new effective clinical treatments: a fundamental lack of knowledge of female pain physiology, and possible species differences between the rodents used… Read more: Identification of sex-specific differences in pain signaling could lead to better treatment
- Exercise in a pill to treat a rare diseaseSpinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) is a rare inherited disease that leads to degeneration of the cerebellum, a part of the brain that coordinates movement. The disease has no cure so the identification of novel therapeutics is of high priority. Graduate student Anna Cook led a study that identified two novel therapeutic strategies for SCA6,… Read more: Exercise in a pill to treat a rare disease
- Drs. Arkady Khoutorsky and Bratislav Misic win 2023 CAN New Investigator AwardsThe Canadian Association for Neuroscience presented Dr. Arkady Khoutorsky, Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences at McGill University, and Dr. Bratislav Misic, leader of the Network Neuroscience Lab at the Montreal Neurological Institute 2023 CAN New Investigator awards. Dr. Arkady Khoutorsky is making disruptive contributions… Read more: Drs. Arkady Khoutorsky and Bratislav Misic win 2023 CAN New Investigator Awards
- UWinnipeg researcher receives funding to advance ALS researchA University of Winnipeg professor is hoping to make an important breakthrough in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) treatment. We’re really excited about the prospect of bringing new therapeutics to patients with ALS. DR. RENÉE DOUVILLE Dr. Renée Douville, Department of Biology, and collaborators Dr. Jody Haigh, University of Manitoba, and Dr. Domenico Di Curzio, St.… Read more: UWinnipeg researcher receives funding to advance ALS research
- Video: Postpartum depression and tackling sex bias in researchIn this episode of Brain Bytes we meet with Aarthi Gobinath, PhD. She was curious about what depression looks like in the female brain and how postpartum depression manifests itself. She hopes her work can tackle the issue of researchers commonly using only male test subjects in their studies. Links: Voluntary running influences the efficacy… Read more: Video: Postpartum depression and tackling sex bias in research
- Video: The realities of women’s mental health | The Social CTVWith 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental illness, Dr. Liisa Galea explores how women are disproportionately affected, and how we can help. Co-hosted by Melissa Grelo, Cynthia Loyst, Lainey Lui and correspondent Jess Allen, THE SOCIAL, airing on CTV, brings a fresh, daily perspective on the up-to-the-minute news, pop culture, and lifestyle topics that matter… Read more: Video: The realities of women’s mental health | The Social CTV
- Video: How can understanding the neurobiology of cognition lead to new treatments for brain disorders?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… Read more: Video: How can understanding the neurobiology of cognition lead to new treatments for brain disorders?
- Gelareh Zadeh wins a 2023 Canada Gairdner Momentum Award“For advancing the molecular and genomic understanding of brain tumours, leading to better ways of discriminating, classifying and managing brain tumour subtypes with potential to transform the clinical care of the disease.“ Gairdner Foundation Congratulations to Dr. Gelareh Zadeh, MD, PhD, FRCS(C), FAANS, who is the Dan Family Chair and Professor of Neurosurgery, University of… Read more: Gelareh Zadeh wins a 2023 Canada Gairdner Momentum Award
- Researcher Profile: Phil TibboDr. Phil TibboProfessor, Dept of PsychiatryProfessor, Dr Paul Jansen Chair in Psychotic Disorders Director of Research, Dept of Psychiatry, Dalhousie. Clinical Director, Early Psychosis Intervention Nova Scotia, NSHealth. Dr. Tibbo’s work in schizophrenia and psychosis is the main focus with early intervention the goal. Hence youth and young adults tend to be the target population.… Read more: Researcher Profile: Phil Tibbo
- A look inside some of the labs at the Brain Repair CentreThe Brain Repair Centre (BRC) is a world-class research centre home to academics and partner organisations dedicated to reversing the epidemic of illness and injuries to the brain and nervous system. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the centre was founded by scientists and clinicians at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK Health… Read more: A look inside some of the labs at the Brain Repair Centre
- Watch University of Calgary’s Lecture of a Lifetime 2022 with Dr. Samuel WeissSustaining a career that includes making two major scientific discoveries, winning a Gairdner Award, founding the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and a foray into health policy requires fuel — lots of it — and Dr. Samuel Weiss, PhD’83, knows how to find it. From being dragged back to school by his mom for the third year of… Read more: Watch University of Calgary’s Lecture of a Lifetime 2022 with Dr. Samuel Weiss
- Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 CAN- CIHR-INMHA Brain Star Awards!The Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN) and the Canadian Institutes of Health’s Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR-INMHA) are proud to announce the winners of the 2021 Brain Star Awards. The CIHR-INMHA Brain Star awards, administered for 2021 by the Canadian Association for Neuroscience, are awarded to students and trainees who have published high impact discoveries in… Read more: Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 CAN- CIHR-INMHA Brain Star Awards!
- CIHR Faces of Health Research 2022: Dylan SmithAll humans require sleep daily to be physically and mentally healthy. Sleep is known to play a role in solidifying new memories and learning. However, researchers do not fully understand the processes in the brain that underlie the consolidation of newly acquired information and skills during sleep. With the support of a CIHR Fellowship, Dr.… Read more: CIHR Faces of Health Research 2022: Dylan Smith
