Brain and Mind Research Institute

Two of the top researchers in their fields from the University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute have been announced as recipients of one of the premier accolades in science. Dr. Ruth Slack and Dr. Ian Graham have been elected by their peers to join the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) as Fellows, emblematic of their innovation and renown as the best in their fields. Fellowship includes sitting on panels to advise policy-makers on decisions of great impact such as health care. Already, the two have led advances in patient care in Canada and beyond.

The CNMD is hosting the 4th Ottawa International Conference on Neuromuscular Disease and Biology on September 7-9, 2017.  After three previous successful neuromuscular disease conferences in Ottawa, the 2017 conference promises to offer an outstanding program emphasizing recent breakthroughs in basic and translational research and clinical discoveries in neuromuscular disease.

The Faculty of Medicine and University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Institute (uOBMRI) would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who visited us on Saturday for Doors Open Ottawa. More than 250 members of the public dropped by Roger Guindon Hall to tour several uOBMRI labs and hear from our researchers about their work. 

From the Ottawa Citizen: Two Ottawa research institutes have formed an unusual partnership aimed at raising $20 million to advance dementia research and patient care. 

Dr. Stuart Fogel’s latest work on the relationship between sleep and human intelligence featured in the BBC story: “What Can You Learn From Einstein’s Quirky Habits?” Very interesting read!

This video was presented by Rowan (Grade 4) and Avery (Grade 7) at Elmwood School at their School Student Assembly to over 450 students and teachers to raise awareness for Parkinson's.

Clinical trial shows that minocycline, an oral acne medication, can slow the progress of relapsing-remitting MS

A common oral acne medication could provide new, affordable treatment options for Canadians suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, according to the results of a Canadian clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Phase 3 trial showed that minocycline could slow the progress of the disease in people who have recently experienced their first symptoms.

As part of the uOBMRI Distinguished Lecture Series, Drs. David Park and Mark Freedman will be hosting Dr. Frauke Zipp from the University Medical Centre fo the Johannes Gutenberg University (Germany) on Tuesday, May 16th 2017 

André Longtin and Leonard Maler have combined their expertise in physics, mathematics and neurobiology to uncover the neural code that underlies the operation of the brain. The University of Ottawa researchers use electric fish to trace the journey of signals as they move through the entire sensory process, observing the hidden traits of brain activity in moments of focus. Their research expands our understanding of neuroscience and benefits the development of artificial intelligence and treatments for neurological disorders. Dr. Longtin and Dr. Maler won NSERC's Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering in 2017.

The importance of a good night’s sleep is widely accepted, but what actually goes on in our brains while we’re sleeping remains shrouded in mystery. While students debate whether to pull an all-nighter or hit the hay before a final exam, scientific investigators are debating the link between sleep and memory. 

We are excited to share Dr. Gardner’s latest publication in The New England Journal of Medicine. The paper “Out of Sight, Out of Mind — Behavioral and Developmental”

From the Globe and Mail: This year’s Gairdner Awards, announced Tuesday, honour pioneering work on vaccines, stroke, pediatric care and a range of fundamental discoveries that have advanced medical research. The winners come from around the globe but they share a common passion for discovery. Dr. Hakim was one of the 7 honoured. 

Bullying derails potential, a cost that is borne by all Canadians. Bullying creates physical and mental health problems, academic difficulties, and impacts productivity. My research helps identify ways to reduce bullying in schools and communities, thus improving the health and well-being of Canadians.

Nerve cells in our brains work together in harmony to store and retrieve short-term memory, and are not solo artists as was previously thought, Western-led brain research has determined.

The research turns on its head decades of studies assuming that single neurons independently encode information in our working memories.

The NISE (Neuroimmunology, Stress and Endocrinology) Lab is investigating the neurochemical mechanisms underlying the interaction between exposure to an immune challenge and gonadal hormones during the prenatal and pubertal periods on brain functioning and behavior. Recent findings from Nafissa Ismail’s lab suggest that adult males display more sickness symptoms, greater changes in body temperature and take longer to recover compared to females following the same infection.

Join us to learn more about the exciting initiatives at the research institute and how you can be involved.

Poster Presentations | Oral Presentations | Group Symposia. We welcome research related to psychology coming from all academic disciplines!
 

From the Ottawa Citizen: Richard Naud wants to be a mind reader, wants to understand the many tiny signals of your brain cells, but there’s one problem.

University of Ottawa physics professor and member of the uOBMRI Andrew Pelling has been named TED2017 Senior Fellow, joining a group of only 10 change-makers from around the world selected among TED’s 414 Fellows for their extraordinary work and contributions to the TED community. 

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the uOttawa Centre for Neuromuscular Disease (CNMD) Scholarships in Translational Research (STaR) Awards (2016-2017).

The STaR Awards recognize excellence in research at the master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral levels, for trainees working in CNMD basic science laboratories on any aspect of neuromuscular function or dysfunction.

Stroke patients often spend days or weeks recovering in hospital, and while some rehabilitation services are available during this crucial time, many spend hours each day alone and inactive. 

But now, some stroke patients at The Ottawa Hospital are using this time for speech and language therapy using a mobile tablet-based platform developed by stroke specialist Dr. Dar Dowlatshahi and colleagues. The platform, which is believed to be the first of its kind, is called RecoverNow. It allows clinicians to select various publicly-available stroke recovery apps from the Google Play store and monitor patients’ progress in real-time. 
 

From the Ottawa Citizen: A new research study from Dr. Zemek suggests that light aerobic exercise may speed recovery from a concussion. 

The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, has the potential to turn conventional wisdom on its head since most doctors now recommend that patients avoid any kind of exercise in the immediate aftermath of a concussion.