Funded Grants

Recent studies have shown that damage to the small blood vessels in the brain (cerebrovascular disease) may increase the risk for Alzheimer’s.

Motor neurons are extremely complex cells. Not only do they have an intricate set of inner workings, but they have a long wire-like portion called an axon that connects the central nervous system to muscles called an axon.

Dr. Peter McPherson, professor at the Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University will receive one year of support to work on the connection between the most prominent known cause of ALS, a mutation in a gene called C9ORF72, and a previously unrelated critical cellular function called endosomal membrane trafficking.

For this project Dr. Sanjay Kalra and his team aims to improve on current techniques to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a readily available way to examine if a potential new treatment is working to slow down progression of ALS.

The project provides state of the art mouse brain imaging to researchers in Canada working on models of neurodevelopmental disorders.

The overarching aim of Ms Morena’s research is to investigate the role of the endocannabinoid system in the modulation of memory processes and its interaction with stress and emotional arousal in animal models of cognition, at a cellular, circuit and behavioural level.

Maternal depression, particularly during pregnancy, has been well established as a risk factor for child socio-emotional problems.

Mr. Little’s current focus is on building computer software that can identify altered brain development patterns in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) using brain images.

Dr.  Hutchison‘s training is in lifespan psychology and her research broadly focuses on children’s cognitive and social development.