The Neuro - Press Releases /neuro/channels_item/7 en Open Science project funded for $1.5M /neuro/node/6261 <h2><b>YCharOS antibody characterization platform addresses the “reproducibility crisis” in research</b></h2> <p>An innovative research project led by researchers at The Neuro has been awarded $1.5M by the Government of Quebec through CQDM.</p> <p>YCharOS is an innovative platform led by neuroscientists Peter McPherson and Carl Laflamme that validates antibody reagents for human proteins.</p> Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:51:24 +0000 VRƵ At-home neurological disorder diagnosis project receives major funding /neuro/node/6257 <h2><b>$1M grant from The Weston Family Foundation will pave the way for earlier intervention in REM sleep behaviour disorder and Parkinson’s disease</b></h2> <p>REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is an often debilitating condition that causes people to act out in their sleep, sometimes violently. What’s worse, people with the disorder often go on to develop Parkinson’s disease.</p> Fri, 08 Nov 2024 18:24:32 +0000 VRƵ Gene therapy project receives major funding /neuro/node/6238 <h2><b>$1.14 million from CIHR will resolve treatment roadblocks for rare brain disorders</b></h2> <p> </p> <p>Gene therapy for rare neurological disorders will move one step forward thanks to a $1.14 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).</p> Wed, 23 Oct 2024 14:20:38 +0000 VRƵ Research on new stem cell models receives $2.6 million /neuro/node/6221 <h2><b>Thomas Durcan’s project will </b><b>dissect the role of microglia in degenerative conditions, to identify new therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's treatment</b></h2> <p>An innovative new program based at The Neuro has received $2.6 million from the CQDM and the Brain Canada Foundation.</p> Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:24:27 +0000 VRƵ Bilingualism makes the brain more efficient, especially when learned at a young age /neuro/node/6219 <h2><b>MRI data from large sample shows increased whole-brain connectivity in people with a second language</b></h2> <p>Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to build connections within itself, adapting to the surrounding environment. The brain is most plastic in childhood, forming new pathways in reaction to stimuli such as language.</p> Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:44:32 +0000 VRƵ Recreating a hallmark of Parkinson's disease in human neurons /neuro/node/6213 <h2><b>Scientists use stem cells to follow development of protein bodies characteristic of neurological disease</b></h2> Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:47:43 +0000 VRƵ Alan Evans elected Fellow of the Royal Society /neuro/node/6067 <h2>Honour is recognition for a lifetime of leading research</h2> <div> <div> <p><span><span>Alan Evans, a researcher at The Neuro, James VRƵ Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery and co-director of the <span>Ludmer<span> Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, joining a class of scientists <span>that includes a <span>No<span>b<span>el laureate and a former Chief Medical Advisor to the US President. <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></div></div> Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:34:32 +0000 VRƵ Two Neuro projects funded by international partnership /neuro/node/6061 <h2>Researchers will study how hormones affect brain cancer and the role of neural circuits in social skills</h2> <p>The Paris Brain Institute and the Institut Pasteur have partnered with The Neuro to fund two groundbreaking studies, each receiving more than $440,000. These projects are part of an international collaboration to address future challenges in neuroscience.</p> Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:20:05 +0000 VRƵ $10.6M grant supports innovative autism project /neuro/node/5996 <h2><b>VRƵ Translational Platform in Autism Research will help uncover the disorders’ neural foundations </b></h2> <p> </p> <p>A new project at The Neuro, VRƵ and the Research Institute of the VRƵ Health Centre (RI-MUHC) has been awarded $10.6M in financial support as part of the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) Innovation Fund.</p> Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:27:56 +0000 VRƵ Making AI a partner in neuroscientific discovery /neuro/node/5943 <h4><strong>New paper argues that Large Language Models can reveal breakthroughs humans alone cannot</strong></h4> Fri, 09 Feb 2024 14:54:36 +0000 VRƵ A neurological disease paradigm shift /neuro/node/5893 <h2><b>Researchers propose a new model for classifying Parkinson’s</b></h2> <p> </p> <p>One of the things that makes developing effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease so challenging is its complexity. While some forms are caused by genetics, others have environmental factors, and patients can show a wide range of symptoms of varying severity. Diagnosis of Parkinson’s is also currently made very late, after the disease may have been in the brain for a decade or more.</p> Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:23:16 +0000 VRƵ Open Science momentum grows stronger in Canada with a new commitment by its largest mental health teaching hospital /neuro/node/5858 <h3>The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) joins the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute alliance in a partnership to open research practices</h3> Tue, 12 Dec 2023 18:40:35 +0000 VRƵ Assessing unintended consequences in AI-based neurosurgical training /neuro/node/5799 <h2><b>Machine learning tutors affect learners in unforeseen ways, both positive and negative </b></h2> <p>Virtual reality simulators can help learners improve their technical skills faster and with no risk to patients. In the field of neurosurgery, they allow medical students to practice complex operations before using a scalpel on a real patient. When combined with artificial intelligence, these tutoring systems can offer tailored feedback like a human instructor, identifying areas where the students need to improve and making suggestions on how to achieve expert performance.</p> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 15:36:17 +0000 VRƵ Neuro researchers receive more than $3.6M in CIHR funding /neuro/node/5780 <h4><span><span>Projects will discover disease genetics, explain cognition/memory formation, improve surgical accuracy and post-concussion diagnosis <span> </span></span></span></h4> <div></div> Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:58:23 +0000 VRƵ New insights into what makes multiple sclerosis worse and how to make it better /neuro/node/5753 <h2><b>Scientists identify the first genetic marker for MS severity, opening the door to treatments for long-term disability </b></h2> <p>A study of more than 22,000 people with multiple sclerosis has discovered the first genetic variant associated with faster disease progression, which can rob patients of their mobility and independence over time.</p> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 02:52:22 +0000 VRƵ New digital consent platform streamlines consent process /neuro/node/5748 <h4><b>Partnership with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. has created a faster, easier way for patients to contribute to research</b></h4> <p> </p> <p>Patients can now digitally consent to be included in The Neuro’s Open Biobank (Clinical Biospecimen Imaging and Genetic Repository) and patient registry, providing a more efficient and easier way to help patients accelerate neurological disorder research and participate in clinical trials. The new platform is financially supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.</p> Tue, 13 Jun 2023 13:24:21 +0000 VRƵ $6M grant for new Open Science patient registry /neuro/node/5722 <h4><b>Goal is to accelerate research and let patients know how their data is helping find treatments</b></h4> <p>A $6M grant from Brain Canada will fund the creation of a new Open Science patient registry, to share data with researchers around the world and let patients see how their data is used to develop new treatments for neurological disorders.</p> Wed, 15 Mar 2023 02:28:54 +0000 VRƵ Study finds obesity-related neurodegeneration mimics Alzheimer’s disease /neuro/node/5702 <h4><b>Thinning in the right temporo-parietal cortex and left prefrontal cortex were similar in both groups</b></h4> <p>A new study led by scientists at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) of VRƵ finds a correlation between neurodegeneration in obese people and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients.</p> Mon, 30 Jan 2023 06:08:59 +0000 VRƵ Neuro director to co-chair new national clinical trial initiative /neuro/node/5692 <div> <div> <h4><span><span>C<span>onsortium brings together hundreds of researchers from 28 networks, 11 trial units<span> across the country<span> </span></span></span></span></span></h4> <p><span><span>Today the <span>Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) <span>announced funding for a new clinical <span>trial<span> consortium co-chaired by Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director of The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Hospital-Institute). <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></div></div> Wed, 18 Jan 2023 20:30:52 +0000 VRƵ Frequent genetic cause of late-onset ataxia uncovered by a Quebec-led international collaboration /neuro/node/5680 <h4><b>Discovery will improve diagnosis and open treatment possibilities for thousands of people with this debilitating neurodegenerative condition worldwide</b></h4> <p>A new study published on Dec. 14, 2022 in the <i>New England Journal of Medicine</i> reports the identification of a previously unknown genetic cause of a late-onset cerebellar ataxia, a discovery that will improve diagnosis and open new treatment avenues for this progressive condition.</p> Tue, 13 Dec 2022 16:15:03 +0000 VRƵ A one-stop-shop for brain imaging /neuro/node/5624 <h3>Software tool brings together multiple brain maps in one place</h3> <p>The brain is a complex organ, and no one imaging mode can catch everything that’s going on inside it. Over the years, multiple “brain maps” have emerged, each focusing on different brain processes, from metabolism to cognitive function. While these maps are important, using them in isolation limits the discoveries researchers can make from them.</p> Thu, 06 Oct 2022 14:12:31 +0000 VRƵ Quebec study on long COVID seeking participants /neuro/node/5574 <h4><b>Purpose is to understand post-COVID symptom evolution and impact on patients’ lives </b></h4> <p>As of Sept. 20, 2022, there have been more than 1.1 million cases of COVID-19 in Quebec. It is estimated that 10 to 30 per cent of cases will have lingering symptoms after the acute illness. This means that as many as 330,000 Quebecers may experience what’s become known as long COVID, or post-COVID-19 syndrome.</p> Mon, 19 Sep 2022 04:50:29 +0000 VRƵ Two Neuro faculty inducted into The Royal Society of Canada /neuro/node/5550 <p><b>Society recognizes </b><b>distinguished Canadians who have made remarkable contributions to their academic fields and public life</b></p> <p>Two faculty members at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) have been inducted into The Royal Society of Canada (RSC), recognizing their contributions to our understanding of neuroscience and the human brain.</p> Tue, 23 Aug 2022 04:24:32 +0000 VRƵ Changing how we value research /neuro/node/5486 <h2>The Neuro joins two other VRƵ-affiliated organizations in signing The Declaration on Research Assessment</h2> <p>The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) has joined the Douglas Research Centre (DRC) and the Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform (CONP) in signing the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), an agreement that seeks to change how scholarly research contributions are valued in hiring, promotion, and funding decisions.</p> Mon, 20 Jun 2022 20:06:35 +0000 VRƵ Boris Bernhardt wins CAN's 2022 New Investigator Award /neuro/node/5419 <h2>Together with Dr. Birgit Frauscher, Bernhardt co-directs The Neuro’s new Centre of Excellence in Epilepsy</h2> <p>Since joining The Neuro in 2016, Boris Bernhardt, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, has published pioneering research on the organization and development of the healthy brain. His achievements have been recognized this week by the Canadian Association for Neuroscience, who have awarded him the 2022 New Investigator Award.</p> Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:10:12 +0000 VRƵ Douglas Research Centre joins The Neuro in Open Science /neuro/node/5381 <h2><b>Five-point strategy will maximize the impact of research and maintain leadership in mental health research and care</b></h2> <p>Today the Douglas Research Centre (DRC) joins The Neuro’s Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI) as a partner in research data sharing and collaboration through the adoption of a set of institutional Open Science principles.</p> Mon, 07 Mar 2022 17:48:56 +0000 VRƵ Largest ever psychedelics study maps changes of conscious awareness to neurotransmitter systems /neuro/node/5387 <h4><b>Applying machine learning to a database of testimonials uncovers how drug-induced changes in subjective awareness are mechanistically rooted in the human brain</b></h4> <p>Psychedelics are now a rapidly growing area of neuroscience and clinical research, one that may produce much-needed new therapies for disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. Yet there is still a lot to know about how these drug agents alter states of consciousness.</p> Mon, 14 Mar 2022 15:22:31 +0000 VRƵ Open Science antibody characterization project receives $4-million grant /neuro/node/5389 <div> <div> <h2><span><span>YCharOS<span> <span>is <span>an<span> independent quality assessment <span>initiative to improve research results<span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h2> </div> <div> <p><span><span>An a<span>ntibody characterization project<span> with partners at The Neuro will be able to expand thanks to funding from G<span><span>é<span><span>nome<span> Qu<span><span>é<span><span>bec. <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></div></div> Mon, 14 Mar 2022 19:56:23 +0000 VRƵ Artificial intelligence tutoring outperforms expert instructors in neurosurgical training /neuro/node/5357 <h2>Machine learning algorithms enhanced technical performance and learning outcomes during simulated brain tumor removal</h2> <p>The COVID-19 pandemic has presented both challenges and opportunities for medical training. Remote learning technology has become increasingly important in several fields. A new study finds that in a remote environment, an artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring system can outperform expert human instructors.</p> Fri, 18 Feb 2022 18:24:18 +0000 VRƵ Neuro Genomics Partnership aims to drive neurological disease research /neuro/node/5330 <h2><b>Academia and industry collaborate to find new targets for neurological disease treatment</b></h2> <p>A new research collaboration between The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. and Roche will enable large-scale analysis of patient data to potentially find promising targets for drug development in neurological diseases.</p> Thu, 03 Feb 2022 13:17:30 +0000 VRƵ Open science – reflecting upon real-world impact /neuro/node/5315 <p><strong>To support <a href="http://www.openaccessweek.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2021’s International Open Access Week</a>, Pfizer commissioned <a href="https://inspiringstemconsulting.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Inspiring STEM Consulting</a> to record a series of podcast interviews with experts working within clinical and medical disciplines. The objective was to share perspectives on the real-world impact and benefit of open science for patients and key stakeholders.</strong></p> Tue, 25 Jan 2022 12:00:00 +0000 VRƵ New Quebec neuroscience partnership awarded $7M /neuro/node/5292 <h3>The Neuro and the CERVO Brain Research Centre join forces to pave the way for much needed biomarker discovery in brain diseases</h3> Mon, 13 Dec 2021 15:28:08 +0000 VRƵ Saving patients an unnecessary procedure /neuro/node/5278 <h4><b>The “5-SENSE” score can predict who will not benefit from stereo-electroencephalography</b></h4> <p>A new study from The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) and eight collaborating international epilepsy centers has developed a simple web-based application clinicians can use to predict which patients will not benefit from an invasive diagnostic work-up, preventing unnecessary, invasive procedures, saving time for patients and the clinical team, and freeing up overburdened health resources.</p> Fri, 03 Dec 2021 15:08:33 +0000 VRƵ Pandemic worriers shown to have impaired general cognitive abilities /neuro/node/5274 <h4>The impairments observed may explain poor decisions about COVID-prevention measures</h4> <p>The COVID-19 pandemic has tested our psychological limits. Some have been more affected than others by the stress of potential illness and the confusion of constantly changing health information and new restrictions. A new study finds the pandemic may have also impaired people’s cognitive abilities and altered risk perception, at a time when making the right health choices is critically important.</p> Wed, 01 Dec 2021 15:01:50 +0000 VRƵ La Fondation Pour l’Audition awards Robert Zatorre its Grand Prix Scientifique /neuro/node/5212 <h2><b>Honour recognizes his research into asymmetric functioning of the brain for speech and music processing</b></h2> <p>Professor Robert Zatorre has been recognized for his work by <i>La Fondation Pour l’Audition</i>, a research institute and hearing advocacy organization based in Paris, France. He is this year’s recipient of the Grand Prix Scientifique, which recognizes leading research into the human auditory system.</p> Tue, 16 Nov 2021 19:07:44 +0000 VRƵ Dr. Guy Rouleau elected WFN first vice-president /neuro/node/5210 <h2>Federation represents 122 neurological societies around the world</h2> <p>The Neuro’s director, Dr. Guy Rouleau, has been elected first vice-president of the World Federation of Neurology. The first vice-president and other WFN officers are elected by delegates from its 122 neurological societies around the world.</p> <p>The mission of the WFN is to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting global neurological education and training with emphasis placed firmly on under-resourced parts of the world.</p> Tue, 16 Nov 2021 18:40:14 +0000 VRƵ Fueled by philanthropy and institutional partnerships, Open Science grows stronger in Canada /neuro/node/5177 <h4>The Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI) at The Neuro welcomes the Hotchkiss Brain Institute as a new partner to transform brain research through Open Science</h4> Wed, 27 Oct 2021 17:27:12 +0000 VRƵ Sleep disorder linked to neurodegeneration is focus of $35 million USD grant /neuro/node/5143 <h2><b>International team seeks hidden signs of brain damage in REM behavior disorder</b></h2> <p>People with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder act out their dreams. While sleeping safely in bed, for example, they might throw up their arms to catch an imaginary ball, or try to run from an illusory assailant. Such actions are more than just a nuisance. People with the disorder have a 50 to 80 per cent chance of developing a serious neurodegenerative disease within a decade of diagnosis.</p> Mon, 04 Oct 2021 16:48:10 +0000 VRƵ Brain connectivity can build better AI /neuro/node/5095 <h3>Artificial neural networks modeled on real brains can perform cognitive tasks</h3> <p>A new study shows that artificial intelligence networks based on human brain connectivity can perform cognitive tasks efficiently.</p> Fri, 06 Aug 2021 12:37:20 +0000 VRƵ Tony Proudfoot’s legacy lives on /neuro/node/5040 <p><strong>Maria Gobbo is the latest recipient of the ALS fellowship named in his honour</strong></p> <p>In 2010, former Montreal Alouette and VRƵ physical education instructor Tony Proudfoot passed away from ALS. Ten years later, his legacy lives on in a fund that helps train and support the next generation of leaders fighting this disease.</p> Mon, 28 Jun 2021 15:34:04 +0000 VRƵ YCharOS forms key industry advisory committee and releases first open data /neuro/node/5035 <p><b>Leading antibody reagent and knockout cell line manufacturers team up to address life science reproducibility crisis</b></p> <p>YCharOS Inc., an open science company with the mission of characterizing commercially available antibody reagents for all human proteins, is pleased to announce the publication of its first characterization data and formation of its Industry Advisory Committee (IAC).</p> Tue, 22 Jun 2021 13:11:31 +0000 VRƵ Study shows how our brains sync hearing with vision /neuro/node/4989 <p><strong>To make sense of complex environments, brain waves constantly adapt, compensating for drastically different sound and vision processing speeds</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Every high-school physics student learns that sound and light travel at very different speeds. If the brain did not account for this difference, it would be much harder for us to tell where sounds came from, and how they are related to what we see.</p> Mon, 10 May 2021 14:02:28 +0000 VRƵ A sweet solution to hard brain implants /neuro/node/4982 <p><strong>Study uses sugar to make and deliver pudding-like brain implants that reduce foreign body response</strong></p> <p>Brain implants are used to treat neurological dysfunction, and their use for enhancing cognitive abilities is a promising field of research. Implants can be used to monitor brain activity or stimulate parts of the brain using electrical pulses. In epilepsy, for example, brain implants can determine where in the brain seizures are happening.</p> Tue, 04 May 2021 13:34:26 +0000 VRƵ More than $1.8M to support open EEG data /neuro/node/4944 <p><b>Brain Canada grant will aid research into </b><b>neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders</b></p> <p> </p> <p>Electroencephalography (EEG) is an important tool in understanding the mechanism of brain disorders. Research in the field has gotten a major boost thanks to a $1.85M grant from Brain Canada to support EEGNet, an open repository for EEG data that helps scientists investigate neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders.</p> Thu, 01 Apr 2021 13:43:42 +0000 VRƵ Study links genes with function across the human brain /neuro/node/4935 <p><strong>Comparing two neural maps reveals the roles of genes in cognition, perception and feeling</strong></p> <p>Many psychiatric disorders have genetic causes, but the exact mechanism of how genes influence higher brain function remains a mystery. A new study provides a map linking the genetic signature of functions across the human brain, a tool that may provide new targets for future treatments.</p> Wed, 24 Mar 2021 19:19:19 +0000 VRƵ Neurological disease and brain plasticity research gets major funding boost /neuro/node/4929 <p><strong>The Canada Foundation for Innovation supports innovative projects that tackle global challenges</strong></p> <p>Exciting initiatives involving researchers at The Neuro are among the latest getting support under The Canada Foundation for Innovation’s Innovation Fund competition.</p> Fri, 19 Mar 2021 17:42:53 +0000 VRƵ Major funding announced for brain imaging at The Neuro /neuro/node/4913 <p><strong>$4.67M from Brain Canada will help probe the brain’s mysteries and create international research links</strong></p> <p>Research at The Neuro’s McConnell Brain Imaging Centre (BIC) of VRƵ will receive a major boost thanks to a $4.67M grant from Brain Canada’s Platform Support Grant (PSG) program.</p> Tue, 02 Mar 2021 17:22:13 +0000 VRƵ Multiple ALS projects at The Neuro awarded funding /neuro/node/4890 <p><b>Program brings together multidisciplinary teams with expertise in various areas of neurodegenerative disease</b></p> <p> </p> <p>Researchers at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) make up a large part of eight projects funded by ALS Canada and the Brain Canada Foundation as part of their 2020 Discovery Grant Program, which brings together multidisciplinary research teams with expertise in various areas of ALS and neurodegenerative diseases to investigate critical areas of disease processes and clinical care.</p> Mon, 15 Feb 2021 15:24:42 +0000 VRƵ Scientists show what loneliness looks like in the brain /neuro/node/4762 <p><strong>Neural “signature” may reflect how we respond to feelings of social isolation</strong></p> <p>This holiday season will be a lonely one for many people as social distancing due to COVID-19 continues, and it is important to understand how isolation affects our health. A new study shows a sort of signature in the brains of lonely people that make them distinct in fundamental ways, based on variations in the volume of different brain regions as well as based on how those regions communicate with one another across brain networks.</p> Mon, 19 Oct 2020 14:19:14 +0000 VRƵ Big data analysis suggests role of brain connectivity in epilepsy-related atrophy /neuro/node/4802 <p><strong>Large multi-site study accurately predicts damage to grey matter by disease</strong></p> <p>An international study has found a link between the brain’s network connections and grey matter atrophy caused by certain types of epilepsy, a major step forward in our understanding of the disease.</p> Wed, 02 Dec 2020 14:35:12 +0000 VRƵ Order of Canada is bestowed on Dr. Guy Rouleau /neuro/node/4798 <p><b>Doctor has dedicated his life to improve diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases and disorders</b></p> <p>The Neuro’s director, Dr. Guy Rouleau, is being recognized with Canada’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada, for his outstanding contributions as a clinician-scientist and as a leader in health care.</p> Fri, 27 Nov 2020 02:16:34 +0000 VRƵ Four early-career researchers receive leadership grants /neuro/node/4784 <p><strong>Brain Canada program supports paradigm-shifting neuroscience that improves the lives of Canadians</strong></p> <p>Four researchers at The Neuro — Boris Bernhardt, Yasser Iturria-Medina, Jean-Francois Poulin, and Jo Anne Stratton — have received grants to support their work in the early-career stage, after being chosen from 150 talented applicants.</p> <p>Brain Canada’s <i>Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research</i> <i>Program</i>, anchored by a $5M gift from the Azrieli Foundation, enables<i> </i>paradigm-changing research of the brain to improve the lives of all Canadians.</p> Mon, 09 Nov 2020 19:36:34 +0000 VRƵ Researchers awarded $2.7M to study loneliness and Alzheimer’s /neuro/node/4748 <p><strong>Work will tell us how loneliness interacts with brain structure and function in normal aging and pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease</strong></p> <p>Two researchers from The Neuro, with collaborators from the StoP-AD Centre at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, will lead a research program centered on an emerging field of neuroscience thanks to a grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Aging (NIH/NIA) in the USA.</p> Wed, 07 Oct 2020 18:25:38 +0000 VRƵ Deconstructing glioblastoma complexity reveals its pattern of development /neuro/node/4670 <p><strong>Study identifies rapidly dividing cancer stem cells that can respond to new therapies</strong></p> <p>Brain cancers have long been thought of as being resistant to treatments because of the presence of multiple types of cancer cells within each tumor. A new study uncovers a cancer cell hierarchy that originates from a single cancer cell type, which can be targeted to slow cancer growth.</p> Tue, 07 Jul 2020 20:26:03 +0000 VRƵ Robert Zatorre wins major international award /neuro/node/4585 <p><b>C. L. de Carvalho-Heineken Prize recognizes his seminal work in the cognition of music</b></p> <p>Cognitive neuroscientist Robert Zatorre has been awarded the C.L. de Carvalho-Heineken Prize in Cognitive Sciences.</p> <p>The Heineken Prize–given every two years to five different researchers–is considered the most prestigious international science prize in The Netherlands and includes a monetary reward of US$200,000. Previous winners include Nancy Kanwisher of MIT, and Stanislas Dehaene of the Collège de France.</p> Thu, 04 Jun 2020 16:45:15 +0000 VRƵ Alan Evans receives prestigious Killam Prize /neuro/node/4574 <p><b>Award recognizes his collaborative work in neuroscience and neuroinformatics</b></p> <p>Neuroscientist Alan Evans has been awarded the Killam Prize, one of Canada’s highest honours, for his numerous contributions to the understanding of the human brain.</p> <p>Evans is an internationally recognized researcher at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), James VRƵ Professor in Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Victor Dahdaleh Chair in Neurosciences.</p> Mon, 25 May 2020 15:05:23 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro Supports the Open COVID Pledge /neuro/node/4524 <p>The Neuro proudly supports the <a href="https://opencovidpledge.org/pledge/" target="_blank">Open COVID Pledge</a>, which calls on academic institutions, industry, and other organizations to make their intellectual property available free of charge for use in ending the COVID-19 pandemic and minimizing its impact.</p> <p>As the world’s first Open Science institution, The Neuro is committed to the open exchange of ideas, technologies and resources, in order to remove barriers to discovery.</p> Thu, 09 Apr 2020 15:26:19 +0000 VRƵ Designing face shields to protect medical staff /neuro/node/4518 <p><b>Montreal medical specialists and 3D printing company team up to find solutions for critical supply shortages</b></p> <p> </p> <p>The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented need to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospital staff. A team of Montreal medical experts has partnered with a 3D printing company to design and distribute face shields to protect healthcare workers as they treat patients with this life-threatening disease.</p> Thu, 02 Apr 2020 16:08:16 +0000 VRƵ Gairdner Foundation recognizes Dr. Guy Rouleau with prestigious award /neuro/node/4498 <h4 style="text-align:center"><div class="mediaelement-video"><video src="/neuro/files/neuro/guy-rouleau-gairdner-award-eng-subs.mp4" class="mediaelement-formatter-identifier-1732917906-1" controls="controls" height="385" width="640"></video></div></h4> <p><b>The Neuro’s director has been a driving force in neurological disease research and Open Science leadership </b></p> Tue, 24 Mar 2020 14:32:06 +0000 VRƵ Delivery of Liquid Nitrogen, dry ice and gas cylinders (e.g., CO2) to The Neuro during the research ramp-down period /neuro/node/4502 <h2>PRAXAIR - Delivery of Dry Ice, Liquid Nitrogen Tanks, and Gas Cylinders (CO2) to The Neuro during the research ramp-down period</h2> <h4>EACH LAB MUST DESIGNATE A PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS </h4> <h3>PRAXAIR DRY ICE</h3> <ol class="enhance"> <li>The standard order for delivery of dry ice to the 7th floor freezer on Mondays is continuing. Report any issues to Linda Michel (<span class="spamspan"><span class="u">linda.michel</span> [at] <span class="d">mcgill.ca</span><span class="e"><!--target="_blank"--></span></span>)</li></ol> Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:20:42 +0000 VRƵ Removal Of Neuro (VRƵ) Tagged Equipment (reminder of existing policy) /neuro/node/4491 <p>In order to take a piece of equipment (eg, computer monitor, desktop unit, printer, camera, microscope etc. ) tagged with a VRƵ identification sticker, the authorized person must:</p> Thu, 19 Mar 2020 20:45:24 +0000 VRƵ CO2 delivery to The Neuro during research ramp-down period /neuro/node/4483 <blockquote> <p>Update: Wednesday, March 25</p> <p>Please <a href="/neuro/channels/news/delivery-liquid-nitrogen-dry-ice-and-gas-cylinders-eg-co2-neuro-during-research-ramp-down-period-321292">see this updated memo</a> with information about PRAXAIR and MEGS deliveries.</p> </blockquote> Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:09:20 +0000 VRƵ Liquid nitrogen delivery to The Neuro during research ramp-down period /neuro/node/4481 <blockquote> <p>Update: Wednesday, March 25</p> <p>Please <a href="/neuro/channels/news/delivery-liquid-nitrogen-dry-ice-and-gas-cylinders-eg-co2-neuro-during-research-ramp-down-period-321292">see this updated memo</a> with information about PRAXAIR and MEGS deliveries.</p> </blockquote> Wed, 18 Mar 2020 13:06:28 +0000 VRƵ Using a cappella to explain speech and music specialization /neuro/node/4328 <p><b>Study suggests humans have developed complementary neural systems in each hemisphere for auditory stimuli</b></p> <p>Speech and music are two fundamentally human activities that are decoded in different brain hemispheres. A new study used a unique approach to reveal why this specialization exists.</p> Mon, 24 Feb 2020 21:54:02 +0000 VRƵ Bridging the gap between AI and the clinic /neuro/node/4305 <p><b>Open source app helps predict brain tumour malignancy and patient survival </b></p> <p>The power of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine lies in its ability to find important statistical patterns in large datasets. A study published today is an important proof of concept for how AI can help doctors and brain tumour patients make better treatment decisions.</p> Thu, 30 Jan 2020 16:00:15 +0000 VRƵ AI-analyzed blood test can predict the progression of neurodegenerative disease /neuro/node/4301 <p><strong>New technique could be used to choose best therapies for patients and measure their effectiveness</strong></p> <p>Evaluating the effectiveness of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases is often difficult because each patient’s progression is different. A new study shows artificial intelligence (AI) analysis of blood samples can predict and explain disease progression, which could one day help doctors choose more appropriate and effective treatments for patients.</p> Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:21:14 +0000 VRƵ An exceptional donation to support autism research /neuro/node/4116 <p><strong>Q1K: A collaborative undertaking involving 1,000 families to transform autism care</strong></p> Tue, 12 Nov 2019 16:45:37 +0000 VRƵ How much do obesity and addictions overlap? /neuro/node/4085 <p><strong>Food can trigger overconsumption similar to alcohol and drugs, but it is not the whole story</strong></p> <p>A large analysis of personality studies has found that people with obesity behave somewhat like people with addictions to alcohol or drugs. But obesity is also a complex condition that cannot be fully explained by the addiction model.</p> Wed, 30 Oct 2019 16:30:22 +0000 VRƵ Improving research with more effective antibodies /neuro/node/4052 <p><strong>Scientists demonstrate flaws in protein detection tools, and outline a solution</strong> </p> <p>A new study points to the need for better antibody validation, and outlines a process that other labs can use to make sure the antibodies they work with function properly.</p> <p>Antibodies are used in laboratories and clinics to study proteins, which are the biomolecules that translate information from an organism’s genes into the structure, function, and regulation of its tissues and organs. Genetic mutations can cause protein imbalances or malfunctions, leading to human disease.</p> Tue, 15 Oct 2019 16:03:40 +0000 VRƵ Surgery simulators are key to assessment of trainees /neuro/node/3908 <p><strong>AI and virtual reality can determine neurosurgeon expertise with 90% accuracy</strong></p> <p>Machine learning-guided virtual reality simulators can help neurosurgeons develop the skills they need before they step in the operating room, according to a new study.</p> Fri, 02 Aug 2019 15:00:00 +0000 VRƵ Study finds Nunavik Inuit are genetically unique /neuro/node/3898 <p><strong>Variants found in this population may predispose to brain aneurysm</strong></p> <p>A new study has found that an Inuit population in Canada’s Arctic are genetically distinct from any known group, and certain genetic variants are correlated with brain aneurysm.</p> Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:51:52 +0000 VRƵ Inducing seizures to stop seizures /neuro/node/3853 <p><strong>Cortical stimulation-induced seizures have the potential to guide epilepsy surgery, significantly reducing hospital stays</strong></p> <p>Surgery is the only way to stop seizures in 30 per cent of patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy. A new study finds that inducing seizures before surgery may be a convenient and cost-effective way to determine the brain region where seizures are coming from.</p> Mon, 10 Jun 2019 15:02:16 +0000 VRƵ Neuro researchers receive early-career grants /neuro/node/3419 <p><strong>Adrien Peyrache and Stuart Trenholm will study epilepsy and vision</strong></p> <p>Two researchers from The Neuro are among just ten nationwide to receive Early-Career Capacity Building Grants this year from the Azrieli Foundation in partnership with the Brain Canada Foundation.<strong> </strong>Researchers Adrien Peyrache and Stuart Trenholm will study epilepsy and vision, respectively. The grants support early-career investigators who are conducting transformative research to advance understanding of the brain, in illness or health.</p> Mon, 11 Mar 2019 15:45:16 +0000 VRƵ Using sleep disorder to predict Parkinson’s disease /neuro/node/3402 <p><strong>Large international study will help select and categorize patients for better clinical trials</strong></p> <p>A large multi-centre study of more than 1,200 patients provides important predictors of Parkinson’s disease progression, which will allow better candidate selection for clinical trials and more effective therapy development.</p> Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:46:28 +0000 VRƵ The unexpected creates reward when listening to music /neuro/node/3347 <p><strong>Scientists prove difference between expected/actual outcomes cause reward response</strong></p> <p>If you love it when a musician strikes that unexpected but perfect chord, you are not alone. New research shows the musically unexpected activates the reward centre of our brains, and makes us learn about the music as we listen.</p> Tue, 12 Feb 2019 17:05:01 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro gets Canada’s first whole-body 7T MRI /neuro/node/3329 <p><strong>Scanner will deliver clear images of the nervous system in exceptional detail</strong></p> <p>Scientists will see the human nervous system in microscopic detail thanks to the installation of Canada’s first 7-Tesla whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner on Feb. 5.</p> Mon, 04 Feb 2019 21:11:45 +0000 VRƵ Dopamine and reward responses to music causally linked /neuro/node/3307 <p>A new study published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, reveals a causal link between the neurotransmitter dopamine and the reward responses to music. The study was conducted by an international team including researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of VRƵ, the University of Barcelona, and the Hospital de Sant Pau of Barcelona.</p> Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:00:02 +0000 VRƵ Gut hormone increases response to food /neuro/node/3282 <p><strong>Ghrelin promotes conditioning to food-related odours</strong></p> <p>The holiday season is a hard one for anyone watching their weight. The sights and smells of food are hard to resist. One factor in this hunger response is a hormone found in the stomach that makes us more vulnerable to tasty food smells, encouraging overeating and obesity. New research on the hormone ghrelin was published on Dec. 4, 2018, led by Dr. Alain Dagher’s lab at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of VRƵ.</p> Tue, 11 Dec 2018 15:25:01 +0000 VRƵ Stigma impairs cognition in men living with HIV /neuro/node/3264 <p><strong>Reducing stigma may address cognitive impairment in this population</strong></p> <p>A new study has drawn a direct link between the amount of stigma men with HIV report experiencing and their scores on cognitive tests, measuring abilities such as memory and attention.</p> Mon, 26 Nov 2018 19:54:40 +0000 VRƵ Brain tumour awareness week /neuro/node/3220 <p><strong>Providing excellent care and the latest research to help patients</strong></p> <p>The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada estimates that 27 Canadians a day are diagnosed with a brain tumour and 55,000 are living with one. This Brain Tumour Awareness Week we recognize the toll this disease takes on patients and the work being done to improve their quality of life.</p> Mon, 22 Oct 2018 20:07:03 +0000 VRƵ Brain cancer fundraiser leads to important discovery /neuro/node/3209 <p><strong>Brain cancer begins in stem cells, targeting them may prevent tumour growth</strong></p> <p>Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) have found an exciting new way of treating brain cancer.</p> <p>Late stage brain cancer cells are heterogeneous — they differ down to the molecular level. This makes developing treatments at this stage difficult, because a drug that may be effective against one cell may not be effective against another.</p> Mon, 15 Oct 2018 14:12:31 +0000 VRƵ Disease causing mutation found in French-Canadians /neuro/node/3177 <p><strong>Carriers at higher risk of developing neurodegenerative disease </strong></p> <p>A team of Canadian scientists, including researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) has discovered the first French-Canadian founder mutation gene linked to synucleinopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases that includes Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy-Bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA).</p> Wed, 26 Sep 2018 16:47:53 +0000 VRƵ New insight into aging /neuro/node/3160 <p><strong>Plasticity is enhanced but dysregulated in the aging brain</strong></p> <p>They say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, but new research shows you can teach an old rat new sounds, even if the lesson doesn’t stick very long.</p> Tue, 18 Sep 2018 20:28:56 +0000 VRƵ The link between obesity, the brain, and genetics /neuro/node/3141 <p><strong>When it comes to weight gain, the problem may be mostly in our heads, and our genes</strong></p> <p>Clinicians should consider how the way we think can make us vulnerable to obesity, and how obesity is genetically intertwined with brain structure and mental performance, according to new research.</p> Tue, 28 Aug 2018 15:42:51 +0000 VRƵ Happy Birthday Brenda! /neuro/node/3118 <p><strong>Scientist Brenda Milner, born in 1918, pioneered memory research</strong></p> <p>Pioneering neuropsychologist Brenda Milner turns 100 today. Milner made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of human memory.  </p> <p>Born on July 15, 1918 in Manchester, UK, Milner came to Canada in 1944 and finished a PhD at VRƵ under psychologist Donald Hebb in 1952, moving on to a tenured position studying epilepsy patients at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro).</p> Fri, 13 Jul 2018 21:03:22 +0000 VRƵ Unique brain “fingerprint” can predict drug effectiveness /neuro/node/3116 <p><em><strong>Technique can be used to better categorize patients with neurological disease, according to their therapeutic needs</strong></em></p> <p>Personalized medicine – delivering therapies specially tailored to a patient’s unique physiology – has been a goal of researchers and doctors for a long time. New research provides a way of delivering personalized treatments to patients with neurological disease.</p> Mon, 09 Jul 2018 17:06:10 +0000 VRƵ Pathway of Alzheimer’s degeneration discovered /neuro/node/3109 <p><em><strong>Finding is key for future treatment and earlier diagnosis </strong></em></p> <p>Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) of VRƵ have used a unique approach to track brain degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, uncovering a pathway through which degeneration spreads from one region to another.</p> Wed, 04 Jul 2018 15:23:15 +0000 VRƵ New Insight Into How Autism Might Develop in Human Brain /neuro/node/3101 <p><strong>Montreal </strong>— In a study published in <em>Stem Cell Reports</em>, a VRƵ team of scientists led by Dr. Carl Ernst, researcher at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, revealed a molecular mechanism that may play a role in the development of autism.</p> Tue, 26 Jun 2018 15:13:25 +0000 VRƵ $10-million gift strengthens VRƵ’s commitment to brain research, young researchers and faster results for patients /neuro/node/3097 <p><strong>Endowment to bolster big-data research and help establish Global Brain Consortium at Ludmer Centre</strong></p> Wed, 20 Jun 2018 14:01:10 +0000 VRƵ Genes associated with infantile forms of schizophrenia identified /neuro/node/3094 <p><em><strong>Discovery will aid diagnosis and development of treatments </strong></em></p> <p>Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) and VRƵ have identified novel genes associated with a specific form of schizophrenia.</p> <p>Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric illness affecting one per cent of the population worldwide. Patients suffering from schizophrenia present delusions, hallucinations, abnormal behavior, impairment in daily life and cognitive deficits. Current treatments are insufficient in addressing all of these symptoms.</p> Tue, 19 Jun 2018 15:49:11 +0000 VRƵ Stroke Awareness Month – June, 2018 /neuro/node/3091 <p><strong>Award-winning unit will add 10 new beds this year</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in Canada. Each year, some 14,000 Canadians die as a result of a stroke.</p> <p>June is Stroke Awareness Month, a time to spread awareness of the causes and effects of stroke as well as its treatment.</p> Thu, 14 Jun 2018 15:26:47 +0000 VRƵ June is ALS Month /neuro/node/3076 <p><strong>A look at the latest ALS research and clinical care at The Neuro</strong></p> <p>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a terrible disease with no known cure. Research at The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) is uncovering data that could help find effective treatments for ALS. </p> Thu, 07 Jun 2018 14:55:40 +0000 VRƵ June is Brain Injury Awareness Month /neuro/node/3070 <p><strong>The Neuro’s Alain Ptito is focussing public attention on the danger of concussion</strong></p> <p>By Victor Swoboda</p> <p>On the day that you read this, more than 400 Canadians on average will suffer a concussion or some other brain injury.</p> Fri, 01 Jun 2018 19:09:42 +0000 VRƵ $1M donation to support autism research powered by open science /neuro/node/3064 <p><strong>Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation shares The Neuro’s open science vision to accelerate drug discovery and find new and effective treatments for autism spectrum disorders</strong></p> Tue, 29 May 2018 17:26:52 +0000 VRƵ Philanthropy and government unite to advance research and patient care and to establish leading edge facilities and technologies at The Neuro /neuro/node/3059 <p>Today, May 23, 2018, The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) gratefully acknowledged significant government funding and unveiled the Thinking Ahead Campaign (2007-2013) donor wall as a tribute and thank you to the many people who helped transform The Neuro’s ability to deliver cutting-edge research and clinical care. This ambitious campaign brought people from around the world together to share in one common goal: to accelerate the pace of neuroscience discovery and deliver exceptional care to patients.</p> Wed, 23 May 2018 18:33:49 +0000 VRƵ CENTECH’s Propulsion Program will help Innodem Neurosciences succeed globally /neuro/node/3051 <p>CENTECH, a Montreal-based technology incubator, announced earlier that it has selected a company founded by Dr. Etienne de Villers-Sidani for its Propulsion Program, which helps the most innovative start-ups move from the initial development phase to commercializing their products and services on the international market. Dr. de Villers-Sidani is a researcher and neurologist at Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) and member of the Center for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM).</p> Wed, 16 May 2018 18:52:05 +0000 VRƵ MS Month 2018: Care and research at The Neuro /neuro/node/3039 <p>May is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Month. Laboratory and clinical studies related to MS involve about 50 members of The Neuro’s staff. They study the disease in all its aspects and at every stage with the help of the most advanced brain imaging technology and the latest cell biology techniques.</p> Fri, 04 May 2018 20:49:02 +0000 VRƵ Early HIV treatment key to avoiding brain atrophy /neuro/node/3037 <h2>New study underlines importance of early screening and antiretroviral therapy</h2> <p>While the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has largely dropped from news headlines since the 1990s, at the end of 2016 there were 36.7 million people living with the infection, and of those only 53 per cent had access to treatment. A new study underscores the neurological consequences of exposure to HIV without antiretroviral therapy.</p> Thu, 03 May 2018 13:36:16 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro signs agreement with Chinese and Cuban institutes /neuro/node/3031 <h2>Partners agree to share resources, establish steering committee for closer collaboration</h2> <p>On April 20, 2018, Canadian, Chinese and Cuban neuroscience institutes strengthened an existing partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Chengdu, China.</p> <p>Partners in the agreement include The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) of VRƵ, The Cuban Neuroscience Center, The University of Electronic Sciences and Technology of China, The West China Hospital, and The Tianfu New Area of Chengdu (TFNA).</p> Fri, 20 Apr 2018 14:01:56 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro marks Parkinson’s Awareness Month /neuro/node/3013 <p>April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a time to give special attention to a disease that affects approximately 100,000 Canadians. As a centre for both research and clinical treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD), the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) offers many specialized services and opportunities to participate in research to PD patients.</p> Mon, 09 Apr 2018 17:59:06 +0000 VRƵ Trenholm receives HFSPO career development award /neuro/node/2994 <p>Stuart Trenholm, who joined The Neuro in 2017 as an assistant professor, has received a Career Development Award from The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO), the only Canadian researcher to receive one this year.  </p> <p>The  Human  Frontier  Science  Program  is  an  international  program  of  research  support  implemented  by  the HFSPO based in Strasbourg, France. Its aims are to promote intercontinental collaboration and training in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research focused on the life sciences.</p> Wed, 28 Mar 2018 17:35:34 +0000 VRƵ Epilepsy research and care at The Neuro /neuro/node/2983 <h2><strong>The institute that developed the “Montreal Procedure” continues to be on the cutting edge</strong></h2> <p>The Neuro is recognized worldwide as a leader in epilepsy research and treatment. From the beginning, Neuro founder, Dr. Wilder Penfield, made epilepsy a central focus. He and his colleagues developed a surgical treatment for epilepsy patients known as the “Montreal Procedure,” which today is in use throughout the world. The Neuro became a pioneer in studying epilepsy through the use of electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).</p> Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:20:45 +0000 VRƵ Cancer probe chosen for top science discovery /neuro/node/2972 <h2>2017 Québec Science Discovery of the Year Award goes to the cancer-detection probe developed by Kevin Petrecca and Frédéric Leblond</h2> <p>Québec Science magazine’s 25-year tradition continues: every fall, a jury comprised of researchers and journalists selects the top 10 most impressive discoveries in Quebec in the past year and the public is asked to vote to select the winner. This year, a cancer-detection probe was chosen by nearly a third of approximately 4,400 votes cast in the 2017 Discovery of the Year contest.</p> Mon, 19 Mar 2018 17:25:07 +0000 VRƵ Neuro XXceptional: Celebrating exceptional women /neuro/node/2940 <h2>Women scientists and clinicians are creators and changemakers, expanding the boundaries of human knowledge</h2> <p> </p> <p>The Neuro has launched Neuro XXceptional - an exciting new year-long video series featuring women who tell us what drove them to become scientists and clinicians, and what they love about their work. At The Neuro, these exceptional professionals are improving the lives of patients, helping us understand how the brain works and how to treat neurological disease.</p> Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:56:32 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro and Thermo Fisher Scientific Partner to Fight Neurodegenerative Disease /neuro/node/2935 <p><strong>Industry and academia to share expertise in effort to develop improved methods to produce and characterize antibodies and reagents for neurological research</strong></p> Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:12:01 +0000 VRƵ The onset of Alzheimer’s disease: the importance of family history /neuro/node/2926 <p>You’re about to turn 60, and you’re fretting. Your mother has had Alzheimer’s disease since the age of 65. At what age will the disease strike you? A Canadian study published in JAMA Neurology shows that the closer a person gets to the age at which their parent exhibited the first signs of Alzheimer’s, the more likely they are to have amyloid plaques, the cause of the cognitive decline associated with the disease, in their brain.</p> Fri, 23 Feb 2018 15:17:33 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro joins neuroscience data sharing partnership /neuro/node/2919 <p><strong>Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform will make disseminating and publishing data easier</strong></p> <p>Modern neuroscience research can produce massive amounts of data, which researchers can use to find patterns revealing anything from the first physiological signs of Alzheimer’s disease to a new drug target that could stop neurodegeneration. However, this data must be stored, processed, and distributed effectively.</p> Thu, 15 Feb 2018 21:05:38 +0000 VRƵ A non-invasive method to detect Alzheimer’s disease /neuro/node/2876 <h2>Volume in brain region linked to physiological changes characteristic of AD</h2> <p>New research has drawn a link between changes in the brain’s anatomy and biomarkers that are known to appear at the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), findings that could one day provide a sensitive but non-invasive test for AD before cognitive symptoms appear.</p> Mon, 18 Dec 2017 20:35:29 +0000 VRƵ New Open Science partnership will pave way for better treatments, faster /neuro/node/2861 <h2><strong>NeuroSGC created to increase volume and quality of cell assays for drug discovery </strong></h2> <p><span>A new partnership between the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) and the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) will use a unique open science framework to help scientists discover new targets for drug development for neurological diseases.</span></p> <p>The partnership, called NeuroSGC, will initially focus on Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), two of the most common neurodegenerative diseases.</p> Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:10:07 +0000 VRƵ The MNI forms promising Open Science partnership with Takeda /neuro/node/2856 <h2>Industry and academia team up for the benefit of people suffering from ALS</h2> <p>A unique industry-academia partnership will increase the rate at which promising drug compounds can be tested as potential treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease with no known cure that affects 200,000 people worldwide.</p> <p>The partnership between The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (MNI) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) will allow compounds developed by Takeda scientists to be tested on cell lines produced at the MNI.</p> Mon, 04 Dec 2017 17:46:14 +0000 VRƵ Alan Evans receives Canada 150 medal /neuro/node/2841 <h2>Senate of Canada recognizes outstanding contributions to the community </h2> <p>The Senate of Canada has awarded Alan Evans a Canada 150 medal for his commitment to advancements in Alzheimer’s disease and palliative care research. He was nominated by <a href="https://sencanada.ca/en/senators/seidman-judith/">Senator Judith Seidman</a>, a former research fellow at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, and Associate Professor of the VRƵ School of Social Work.</p> Mon, 27 Nov 2017 17:13:22 +0000 VRƵ Three MNI researchers receive ALS funding /neuro/node/2837 <h2>Grants for Heather Durham, Stefano Stifani and Jay Ross total just over $2 million </h2> <p>Three MNI researchers have received grants from the ALS Society of Canada worth a total of more than $2 million.  </p> Thu, 23 Nov 2017 19:03:12 +0000 VRƵ Now you like it, now you don’t /neuro/node/2833 <h2>Brain stimulation can change how much we enjoy and value music</h2> <p>Enjoyment of music is considered a subjective experience; what one person finds gratifying, another may find irritating. Music theorists have long emphasized that although musical taste is relative, our enjoyment of music, be it classical or heavy metal, arises, among other aspects, from structural features of music, such as chord or rhythm patterns that generate anticipation and expectancy.</p> Fri, 17 Nov 2017 20:14:47 +0000 VRƵ Transformative donation of $16 million establishes new autism research centre at the Montreal Neurological Institute /neuro/node/2800 <p><strong>The Azrieli Centre for Autism Research will foster innovations in therapy and a better understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder. </strong></p> <p><span>A new research centre in Montreal will help lift the shroud of mystery surrounding autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and lead to the development of better diagnostic tools and more effective therapies for people with autism.</span></p> Mon, 23 Oct 2017 17:01:52 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro’s top brain cancer fundraiser returns /neuro/node/2773 <h2>A Brilliant Night has donated a total of $1.6 million since 2015</h2> <p>A night dedicated to the memory of those lost to brain cancer and in honour of those still fighting the disease will raise money for research that will lead to better treatments.</p> Thu, 05 Oct 2017 18:13:10 +0000 VRƵ Predicting when a sound will occur relies on the brain’s motor system /neuro/node/2771 <h2>Research shows how the brain’s motor signals sharpen our ability to decipher complex sound flows</h2> <p>Whether it is dancing or just tapping one foot to the beat, we all experience how auditory signals like music can induce movement. Now new research suggests that motor signals in the brain actually sharpen sound perception, and this effect is increased when we move in rhythm with the sound.</p> Wed, 04 Oct 2017 17:42:17 +0000 VRƵ Mitochondria drive cell survival in times of need /neuro/node/2755 <h2>Discovery points to possible target for cancer drugs</h2> <p>VRƵ researchers have discovered a mechanism through which mitochondria, the energy factory of our body’s cells, play a role in preventing cells from dying when the cells are deprived of nutrients – a finding that points to a potential target for next-generation cancer drugs.</p> <p>The research, published in Molecular Cell, builds on previous work by VRƵ professor Nahum Sonenberg, one of the senior authors of the new study.</p> Fri, 22 Sep 2017 14:41:40 +0000 VRƵ Busy week for ALS research and awareness /neuro/node/2738 <h2>Research symposium, public education event and ALS walk planned</h2> <p>Multiple events planned for this week will help educate the public about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a devastating disease that still has no cure.</p> Wed, 13 Sep 2017 20:04:16 +0000 VRƵ Edith Hamel and Robert Zatorre elected to Royal Society of Canada /neuro/node/2727 <h2>Society recognizes scholarly, research and artistic excellence.</h2> <p>Dr. Edith Hamel and Dr. Robert Zatorre have been elected Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada. Election to the academies of the Royal Society of Canada is the highest honour a scholar can achieve in the Arts, Humanities and Sciences.</p> Thu, 07 Sep 2017 14:16:43 +0000 VRƵ Onward to Open Science /neuro/node/2714 <h2>The Neuro to launch open research publishing platform with F1000</h2> <p>A new partnership between The Neuro and F1000 will create a publishing platform for researchers that will speed the progress of neuroscience discovery.</p> <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of VRƵ (The Neuro) is partnering with F1000, a provider of support services for researchers, institutes and funders, to create a new open research publishing platform called MNI Open Research (<a href="https://mniopenresearch.org">https://mniopenresearch.org</a>).</p> Wed, 30 Aug 2017 13:43:29 +0000 VRƵ Pinpointing the origins of autism /neuro/node/2708 <h2>Abnormalities shown to first appear in brain networks involved in sensory processing</h2> <p>The origins of autism remain mysterious. What areas of the brain are involved, and when do the first signs appear? New findings published in <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006322317313616">Biological Psychiatry</a> brings us closer to understanding the pathology of autism, and the point at which it begins to take shape in the human brain. Such knowledge will allow earlier interventions in the future and better outcomes for autistic children.</p> Tue, 29 Aug 2017 14:08:11 +0000 VRƵ New research offers hope for faster acting antidepressants /neuro/node/2695 <p>For people suffering from depression, a day without treatment can seem like a lifetime. A new study explains why the most commonly prescribed antidepressants can take as long as six weeks to have an effect. The findings could one day lead to more effective and faster acting drugs.</p> Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:17:49 +0000 VRƵ Brains are more plastic than we thought /neuro/node/2686 <h2>Researchers train brains to use different regions for same task</h2> <p>Practice might not always make perfect, but it’s essential for learning a sport or a musical instrument. It's also the basis of brain training, an approach that holds potential as a non-invasive therapy to overcome disabilities caused by neurological disease or trauma.</p> <p>Research at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of VRƵ (The Neuro) has shown just how adaptive the brain can be, knowledge that could one day be applied to recovery from conditions such as stroke.</p> Mon, 17 Jul 2017 19:36:23 +0000 VRƵ Detecting long-term concussion in athletes /neuro/node/2680 <h2>Researchers develop method that could one day be used in brain trauma lawsuits</h2> <p> </p> <p>Lawyers representing both sides in concussion lawsuits against sports leagues may eventually have a new tool at their disposal: a diagnostic signature that uses artificial intelligence to detect brain trauma years after it has occurred. </p> Wed, 12 Jul 2017 14:18:34 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro to create world’s first ALS Phase 1 clinical trial unit /neuro/node/2677 <h2>The Tenaquip Foundation donation will allow for faster drug development, better care for ALS patients</h2> <p> </p> <p>A generous donation by The Tenaquip Foundation will improve the quality of care available to ALS patients at The Neuro, and increase the rate at which researchers can evaluate new ALS drugs.</p> Mon, 03 Jul 2017 19:07:21 +0000 VRƵ An infallible hand-held probe to aid cancer surgery /neuro/node/2672 <h2>Canadian researchers have invented an intraoperative probe that reliably detects multiple types of tumour cells </h2> <p>Patients with common widespread forms of cancer will enjoy longer life expectancy and reduced risk of recurrence thanks to a multimodal optical spectroscopy probe developed by Canadian researchers. </p> Wed, 28 Jun 2017 15:56:44 +0000 VRƵ Erasure of negative memories one step closer to reality /neuro/node/2650 <h2>Different forms of memory exist in the same neuron and can be manipulated separately</h2> <p> </p> <p>Scientists have known for some time that a memory is stored in the brain through changes in the strength of particular synapses, the structures that pass signals between neurons. However, how the change in strength persisted remained a mystery. Solving this mystery has important implications for remedying neurological and psychological disorders.</p> Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:57:29 +0000 VRƵ Better treatment for brain injury patients /neuro/node/2649 <h2>Neuronavigation allows more accurate catheter placements, less surgical complications</h2> <p>Traumatic brain injury is a life-threatening condition that requires fast and accurate intervention. A protocol for a new tool developed by Medtronic Navigation with the help of researchers at the VRƵ Health Centre (MUHC) is allowing surgeons to deliver better care than ever.</p> Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:49:53 +0000 VRƵ June is Brain Injury Awareness Month /neuro/node/2637 <h2><strong>Much work to be done to improve diagnosis and treatment </strong></h2> <p><span>When NHL star player Sidney Crosby suffered a concussion during a game in May – the fourth concussion of his career – the news made nationwide headlines. A few years earlier, a concussion had kept the Pittsburgh Penguins star off the ice for ten months.</span></p> <p>Concussions can have serious consequences, even in cases where the victim shows few symptoms immediately. Victims often shrug off a mild blow to the head, unaware that brain damage has occurred.</p> Wed, 07 Jun 2017 17:44:17 +0000 VRƵ ALS – Fostering awareness of a devastating disease /neuro/node/2634 <p>ALS takes away the patient’s motor functions one at a time, and the progress of finding effective drugs to counter its insidious effects has been slow. June is ALS Month, a good time to update the public on the latest developments in ALS research taking place at The Neuro.</p> <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) is recognized as a leading Canadian centre for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as well as for its care of ALS patients.</p> Fri, 02 Jun 2017 14:59:25 +0000 VRƵ June is Stroke Month /neuro/node/2631 <h2>The Neuro is an important centre for stroke care in Montreal</h2> <p> </p> <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute (The Neuro) is marking Stroke Month in June to increase public awareness about the dangers of this serious condition, and the importance of early intervention. A Canadian suffers a stroke every ten minutes. Each year, about 14,000 Canadians die of stroke, making stroke the third-leading cause of death in this country.</p> Thu, 01 Jun 2017 17:38:06 +0000 VRƵ Turning skin cells into brain cells /neuro/node/2617 <h2>Microglia, critical to Alzheimer’s research, can now be produced artificially</h2> <p>The quest for better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has a powerful new tool at its disposal — the ability to artificially generate brain cells that have been shown to play an important role in the disease function.</p> Wed, 10 May 2017 16:16:29 +0000 VRƵ MS Awareness Month 2017 /neuro/node/2607 <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) is home to Canada’s first multiple sclerosis (MS) clinic, and MS research and treatment has been a major focus at The Neuro for many years. The MS clinic employs a highly specialized staff who have access to the latest research data and methods of treatment. It is a clinic where innovation and progress are paramount.</p> Thu, 27 Apr 2017 19:44:41 +0000 VRƵ Neuro researchers receive grants from Canada Brain Research Fund /neuro/node/2600 <p>Brain diseases and disorders are the leading cause of disability, directly affecting one in three Canadians as well as millions of family members, friends, colleagues and caregivers. The Government of Canada recognizes the significant impact on the health of Canadians, and supports Canadian research on the brain and related diseases and disorders</p> Thu, 27 Apr 2017 14:20:21 +0000 VRƵ April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month /neuro/node/2551 <h2><strong>Multidisciplinary care and cutting-edge research share space at The Neuro</strong></h2> <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) is recognized worldwide for its research and clinical expertise in Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is a motor neuron disease that is generally associated with old age, but people can also develop it in their thirties and forties. Characteristic symptoms include tremor, rigidity and gait dysfunction, mood and sleep disorders, and cognitive degeneration. About 100,000 Canadians have PD.</p> Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:05:27 +0000 VRƵ Improving memory with magnets /neuro/node/2540 <h2>Discovery expands our understanding of how we remember sound</h2> <p>The ability to remember sounds, and manipulate them in our minds, is incredibly important to our daily lives — without it we would not be able to understand a sentence, or do simple arithmetic. New research is shedding light on how sound memory works in the brain, and is even demonstrating a means to improve it.</p> Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:30:33 +0000 VRƵ Epilepsy Day 2017 /neuro/node/2525 <p><span>March 26 is Purple Day for Epilepsy, a day to support epilepsy awareness worldwide</span></p> <p>The Neuro has been a world leader in epilepsy treatment and research for more than 60 years. Indeed, the “Montreal Procedure” developed by The Neuro’s founder, Dr. Wilder Penfield, and his colleagues has become the standard operating procedure for the surgical treatment of epilepsy. The Neuro was also a pioneering institute in exploiting electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study and treat epilepsy.</p> Wed, 15 Mar 2017 19:13:36 +0000 VRƵ Dr. Computer /neuro/node/2483 <h2>Deep learning transforming neuroscience research</h2> <p>In an article published in Nature on Feb. 15, 2017, researchers, including principal investigators from the Montreal Neurological Institute’s McConnell Brain Imaging Centre (BIC), used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict the development of autism in babies.</p> Wed, 22 Feb 2017 21:34:04 +0000 VRƵ Health Science Leaders Join Forces to Accelerate Development of Treatments for Neurological Diseases /neuro/node/2528 <p>Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver, British Columbia – Working together to accelerate research into neurological diseases, three leading players in Canada’s health sciences sector are joining forces in a unique multi-million dollar partnership to create a novel drug development platform that will help advance new therapeutics for some of the most debilitating conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.</p> Thu, 16 Mar 2017 16:21:40 +0000 VRƵ Molecule shown to repair damaged axons /neuro/node/2482 <h2><span>Discovery could be key to treating brain and spinal cord injury</span></h2> <p>A foray into plant biology led one researcher to discover that a natural molecule can repair axons, the thread-like projections that carry electrical signals between cells. Axonal damage is the major culprit underlying disability in conditions such as spinal cord injury and stroke.</p> Wed, 22 Feb 2017 21:24:18 +0000 VRƵ Recognizing rare diseases /neuro/node/2496 <p><strong>Research and clinical care complement each other at The Neuro</strong></p> <p>February 28th was Rare Diseases Day, an opportunity to recognize a class of disease that is often overlooked. In the past five years, the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) has made the study and treatment of rare diseases a major priority, hiring new specialists and support staff and coordinating activity under a new research group.</p> Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:38:18 +0000 VRƵ MNI scientist receives $1.5M grant for Parkinson's/ALS research /neuro/node/2460 <p><strong>CQDM and Brain Canada join forces again in the funding of two new research projects to address unmet needs in brain research</strong></p> <p>CQDM and Brain Canada are proud to announce the funding of two new multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research projects under the second edition of their Focus on Brain strategic initiative. The partners will award a total of $3M to two research teams to develop cutting-edge tools, technologies and platforms designed to accelerate the discovery of new drugs for brain and nervous system disorders.</p> Thu, 02 Feb 2017 17:09:22 +0000 VRƵ Bell Let’s Talk supports mental health with The Neuro /neuro/node/2435 <p><strong>Project will enhance mental health access for multicultural communities</strong></p> <p>On Jan. 18, 2017, Bell Let’s Talk announced a donation of $250,000 to VRƵ’s Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – known as The Neuro – to fund the development of online mental health resources focused on the needs of multicultural communities.</p> Wed, 18 Jan 2017 17:22:22 +0000 VRƵ HEADS UP On The Concussion Issue to raise awareness of head injury /neuro/node/2425 <p>An all-star lineup of experts in the fields of sports and neurology will share a stage on Jan. 27 to discuss concussions, a serious injury that has only recently been getting the attention it deserves.</p> Wed, 11 Jan 2017 15:14:18 +0000 VRƵ Lack of joy from music linked to brain disconnection /neuro/node/2406 <p>Have you ever met someone who just wasn’t into music? They may have a condition called specific musical anhedonia, which affects three-to-five per cent of the population.</p> <p>Researchers at the University of Barcelona and the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of VRƵ have discovered that people with this condition showed reduced functional connectivity between cortical regions responsible for processing sound and subcortical regions related to reward.</p> Tue, 20 Dec 2016 20:15:07 +0000 VRƵ Breakthrough in MS treatment /neuro/node/2408 <p><strong>Drug shown to reduce new attacks/symptom progression in some patients</strong></p> <p>In separate clinical trials, a drug called ocrelizumab has been shown to reduce new attacks in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), and new symptom progression in primary progressive MS.</p> Thu, 22 Dec 2016 20:31:26 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro holds annual Reitman Holiday Luncheon /neuro/node/2385 <p>Each December for over 60 years, the Reitman family has invited all members of The Neuro to a splendid luncheon that has become an enjoyable annual tradition. This gathering shows a wonderful holiday spirit of generosity and thankfulness.</p> <p>Reitman family members, Joel (President of Jillcy Investments Ltd.), Jill and Dorothy were present for the 69th Reitman Holiday Luncheon on December 9th to greet staff and to help staff volunteers serve a tasty meal to some 1,200 members of The Neuro.</p> Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:57:05 +0000 VRƵ How HIV affects the brain /neuro/node/2369 <p><strong>Study tracks patients to better understand effects and possible treatments</strong></p> <p>December 1 is World AIDS Day, a time to raise awareness about a disease that has afflicted 70 million people worldwide, 35 million of whom have died as a result.</p> Tue, 29 Nov 2016 21:51:50 +0000 VRƵ Epileptic encephalopathy linked to protein trafficking gene /neuro/node/2334 <p>Researchers have linked a debilitating neurological disease in children to mutations in a gene that regulates neuronal development through control of protein movement within neuronal cells.</p> Fri, 18 Nov 2016 16:49:28 +0000 VRƵ MNI researchers receive funding to study ARSACS /neuro/node/2350 <p>Two researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (MNI) of VRƵ have received funding to study a devastating neurodegenerative disease that first appears in toddlers just as they are beginning to walk.</p> Thu, 24 Nov 2016 16:53:42 +0000 VRƵ Major ALS Research Funding Announced /neuro/node/2340 <p><strong>MNI scientists will study stem cells, genetic mutations to develop new treatments</strong></p> <p>Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute of VRƵ who are playing key roles in uncovering the mechanisms underlying ALS will share in $3.9 million in research funding, part of $4.5 million announced on Nov. 23 by the ALS Society of Canada in partnership with Brain Canada.</p> Tue, 22 Nov 2016 19:50:02 +0000 VRƵ Olfactory perception influenced by background and semantic information /neuro/node/2332 <p>When two people smell the same thing, they can have remarkably different reactions, depending on their cultural background. Researchers at the Neuro have found that even when two cultures share the same language and many traditions, their reactions to the same smells can be different.</p> Fri, 18 Nov 2016 16:14:48 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro Celebrates #GivingTuesday on November 29 /neuro/node/2315 <p>#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving, created to counteract the consumerism-based Black Friday and Cyber Monday.</p> <p>This year, The Neuro is celebrating #GivingTuesday by inviting the community to fund the Giving Tuesday Travel Award – which will allow a talented student or fellow to present their research at a national or international scientific meeting.</p> Tue, 08 Nov 2016 15:53:44 +0000 VRƵ Evans receives Quebec honour /neuro/node/2307 <p><strong>2016 Prix Wilder-Penfield recognizes monumental work in brain imaging and mapping</strong></p> <p>Dr. Alan Evans has become the latest researcher to receive the Province of Quebec’s most prestigious scientific award, the 2016 Prix Wilder-Penfield, named after The Neuro’s founder. </p> Sat, 05 Nov 2016 18:36:00 +0000 VRƵ Quebec federation honours Dr. Tampieri /neuro/node/2305 <p><strong>Neuroradiologist recognized for her innovations in healthcare</strong></p> <p>The Quebec Federation of Medical Specialists (Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec), an umbrella organization embracing medical specialist groups in the province, has chosen Dr. Donatella Tampieri of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) as one of three recipients of its 2016 Prix d’excellence en innovations des soins de santé. The award recognizes Dr. Tampieri’s exceptional career in providing quality healthcare that is accessible, efficient, and safe.</p> Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:18:51 +0000 VRƵ Researchers identify gene associated with intracranial aneurysm in French-Canadian population /neuro/node/2301 <p>Scientists have identified a gene in the French-Canadian population that predisposes them to the development of intracranial aneurysm (IA), a potentially life threatening neurological condition that is responsible for approximately 500,000 deaths worldwide per year, half of which occur in people less than 50 years of age.</p> <p>Using genetic analysis, the team of researchers found rare variations of one gene, RNF213, that appeared more frequently in IA patients than in the control group. Both patients and the control group came from French-Canadian families.</p> Mon, 31 Oct 2016 14:20:48 +0000 VRƵ A Brilliant Success /neuro/node/2288 <p><strong>A Brilliant Night raises $1 million for brain cancer research</strong></p> <p>A Brilliant Night raised an astounding $1 million for brain cancer research at its gala event on Oct. 19.</p> Thu, 27 Oct 2016 19:45:48 +0000 VRƵ Essential tremor sufferers needed for groundbreaking study /neuro/node/2281 <p>You probably know someone who has it. It is the most common movement disorder, yet most people don’t even know its name.</p> <p>Essential tremor affects nearly one per cent of the world’s population, increasing to four per cent of those over 40. The involuntary shaking of hands is the most common symptom, but symptoms can also include shaking of the head and legs.</p> Fri, 21 Oct 2016 14:10:15 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro names Susan Cameron Cook Neuro-Palliative Care Program /neuro/node/2276 <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) is pleased to announce a new initiative designed to ease the suffering of seriously ill patients through specialized consultation and comprehensive care.</p> <p>The Susan Cameron Cook Neuro-Palliative Care Program, named in honour of Susan Cameron Cook, whose family provided vital seed funding for this initiative, has the goal of reducing the mental and physical suffering of neurological patients and their families in the journey from diagnosis of a terminal illness to end of life.</p> Mon, 17 Oct 2016 19:46:20 +0000 VRƵ Dr. Guy Rouleau receives national award for significant contributions to world of science /neuro/node/2270 <p>Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital at VRƵ and the VRƵ Health Centre, has been chosen to receive another major award recognizing his outstanding scientific career. The national organization representing Canadian francophone doctors, Médecins francophones du Canada, is bestowing on him its 2016 Prix de l’oeuvre scientifique.</p> Thu, 13 Oct 2016 19:30:49 +0000 VRƵ A Brilliant Night 2016 /neuro/node/2259 <p><strong>Inspiring event to raise money for brain cancer research</strong></p> <p>An evening filled with personal stories from those whose lives have been affected by brain cancer will once again contribute to the fight against the disease.</p> Mon, 03 Oct 2016 18:34:07 +0000 VRƵ Team led by MNI researcher receive $6.1 million to study MS /neuro/node/2241 <p>A project led by an MNI researcher has been awarded $6.1 million to study progressive multiple sclerosis.</p> <p>The International Progressive MS Alliance has awarded three $6.1 million Collaborative Network Award grants for a total investment of $18.4 million toward accelerating the pace of progressive MS research. More than 2.3 million people worldwide live with MS and more than one million of those living with the disease have progressive MS.</p> Tue, 20 Sep 2016 16:00:45 +0000 VRƵ Dr. Guy Rouleau elected to Royal Society of Canada /neuro/node/2201 <p>The Neuro’s director, Dr. Guy Rouleau, has received yet another honour in recognition of his sterling scientific career. The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) <a href="http://www.rsc.ca/en/about-us/our-people/our-priorities/royal-society-canada-names-2016-new-fellows">announced on Sept. 7</a> that its members had elected Dr. Rouleau as one of its new Fellows. He joins a currently active membership of more than 2,000 highly distinguished scientists, scholars and artists who nominate and elect up to 75 new members each year.</p> Thu, 08 Sep 2016 14:00:39 +0000 VRƵ Continuing the fight against brain cancer /neuro/node/2192 <p><strong>Fundraiser to support research to help defeat cancer suffered by Tragically Hip frontman</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>With the farewell concert of legendary Canadian band The Tragically Hip now past, The Neuro is asking the public to not forget the toll brain cancers take on Canadians, and the need to find new therapies.</p> Tue, 30 Aug 2016 20:06:19 +0000 VRƵ Researchers find new role for cannabinoids in vision /neuro/node/2185 <p><strong>Chemicals shown to improve low-light vision of tadpoles by sensitizing retinal cells</strong></p> <p>A multidisciplinary team including researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute has improved our understanding of how cannabinoids, the active agent in marijuana, affect vision in vertebrates.</p> Thu, 25 Aug 2016 14:04:00 +0000 VRƵ Gaming camera could aid MS treatment /neuro/node/2173 <p><strong>3D depth-sensing camera shown to measure walking difficulties</strong></p> <p>A commonly used device found in living rooms around the world could be a cheap and effective means of evaluating the walking difficulties of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.</p> <p>The Microsoft Kinect is a 3D depth-sensing camera used in interactive video activities such as tennis and dancing. It can be hooked up to an Xbox gaming console or a Windows computer.</p> Thu, 11 Aug 2016 19:43:22 +0000 VRƵ “Big Data” study discovers earliest sign of Alzheimer’s development /neuro/node/2118 <p><strong>Research underlines importance of computational power in future neurological breakthrough</strong></p> <p>Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital have used a powerful tool to better understand the progression of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD), identifying its first physiological signs.</p> Mon, 11 Jul 2016 14:09:43 +0000 VRƵ Researchers open new path of discovery in Parkinson’s disease /neuro/node/2104 <p>A team of scientists led by Dr. Michel Desjardins from the University of Montreal and Dr. Heidi McBride from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (MNI) at VRƵ have discovered that two genes associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) are key regulators of the immune system, providing direct evidence linking Parkinson's to autoimmune disease.</p> <p>Using both cellular and mouse models, the team has shown that proteins produced by the two genes, known as PINK1 and Parkin, are required to prevent cells from being detected and attacked by the immune system.</p> Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:04:13 +0000 VRƵ ALS Awareness Month – June 2016 /neuro/node/2101 <p>The Neuro is recognized as a major Canadian center for ALS research and patient care. During June, designated ALS Month, The Neuro redoubles its efforts to inform the public and the media about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and urges all to help support ALS research.</p> Fri, 10 Jun 2016 20:45:35 +0000 VRƵ Marking Stroke Month - June 2016 /neuro/node/2086 <h2>Raising awareness about stroke</h2> <p> </p> <p>Every ten minutes, someone in Canada suffers a stroke. Strokes kill 14,000 Canadians each year, making stroke the third leading cause of death in this country.</p> <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) hopes to increase public awareness about the dangers of stroke by marking Stroke Month. People who learn about the causes of stroke can take measures to reduce their chances of having a stroke.</p> <p> </p> <h3>What is a stroke?</h3> <p> </p> Mon, 30 May 2016 16:01:08 +0000 VRƵ Gene mutations shown to cause form of HSP /neuro/node/2020 <p>Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (MNI) have identified novel gene mutations that cause hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), a step forward in efforts to treat this debilitating disease.</p> <p>It is estimated that between two and 10 people per 100,000 in the general population have HSP, a disease characterized by weakness or spasticity in the lower limbs. HSP is caused by mutations inherited from one or both parents.</p> Fri, 06 May 2016 18:47:58 +0000 VRƵ The Wounded Brain Healed: On Sale Now /neuro/node/2014 <p>''The Wounded Brain Healed - The Golden Age of the Montreal Neurological Institute, 1934-1984" by William Feindel and Richard Leblanc is now available for purchase from <a href="http://www.mqup.ca/wounded-brain-healed--the-products-9780773546370.php">VRƵ-Queen's University Press</a>.</p> Mon, 02 May 2016 20:42:07 +0000 VRƵ May 2016 - Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month /neuro/node/2010 <h2>May 2016 - Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month</h2> <p> </p> <p>Multiple sclerosis treatment and research has long been a focus at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, known simply as The Neuro, an illustrious member of VRƵ and the VRƵ Health Centre. Indeed, The Neuro introduced Canada’s first MS clinic. The clinic’s highly specialized staff employs the latest research data and treatment methods in a clinical atmosphere of innovation and progress.</p> Fri, 29 Apr 2016 16:10:02 +0000 VRƵ Brighter prospects for chronic pain /neuro/node/1996 <h2>Researchers use optogenetics to produce pain relief by shutting off neurons with light</h2> <p>The potential of light as a non-invasive, highly-focused alternative to pain medication was made more apparent thanks to research conducted by scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of VRƵ and the VRƵ Health Centre.</p> Fri, 15 Apr 2016 19:55:11 +0000 VRƵ Brain responses found to originate from previously unknown source /neuro/node/1975 <p>Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital at VRƵ have made an important discovery about the human auditory system and how to study it, findings that could lead to better testing and diagnosis of hearing-related disorders.</p> <p>The researchers detected frequency-following responses (FFR) coming from a part of the brain not previously known to emit them. FFRs are neural signals generated in the brain when people hear sounds.</p> Tue, 05 Apr 2016 17:37:13 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro – A Major Force in Parkinson’s Disease Research and Treatment /neuro/node/1973 <h2>The Neuro – A Major Force in Parkinson’s Disease Research and Treatment</h2> Mon, 04 Apr 2016 20:00:13 +0000 VRƵ Purple Day for Epilepsy, March 26 /neuro/node/1953 <p>Saturday, March 26 is Purple Day, a time to recognize the effect epilepsy has on millions of people around the world. It is estimated that 1 in a 100 people worldwide have epilepsy. Of those, one in three require surgery to prevent a lifetime of seizures.  <a href="http://www.purpleday.org/">Purple Day</a> was created in 2008 by Cassidy Megan, a girl from Nova Scotia, to get people talking about epilepsy in an effort to dispel myths and inform those with seizures that they are not alone.</p> Thu, 24 Mar 2016 14:10:38 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro enrolls Canada’s first patient in a new clinical trial for the treatment of brain tumours /neuro/node/1920 <p>Dr.</p> Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:51:29 +0000 VRƵ Teens test their smarts in the Brain Bee /neuro/node/1911 <p>Fifty students from nine Montreal area high schools will assemble at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro at VRƵ on March 15th to be quizzed about synapses, axons and other cerebral facts in the international contest known as the Brain Bee. The winner will go on to the Canadian National Brain Bee at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. The national winner travels to Denmark for the International Brain Bee.</p> Wed, 09 Mar 2016 15:14:36 +0000 VRƵ Support The Neuro in the 2016 Scotiabank Charity Challenge /neuro/node/1904 <p><strong>THE AMAZING (NEURO) RACE IS ON</strong></p> <p>On Sunday, April 24, 2016, The Neuro will be participating once again in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge! This annual fundraising event, held in conjunction with the <em>Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k,</em> allows participants to raise funds in support The Neuro. Over 6,000 runners and representatives from over 60 charities will be in attendance for the 2016 installment of one of the biggest races in Quebec.</p> Fri, 04 Mar 2016 19:26:20 +0000 VRƵ Dr. Audrey Dangoumau winner of the Tony Proudfoot Fellowship /neuro/node/1869 <p>The Tony Proudfoot Training Fellowship in ALS research at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital supports promising young scientists at the master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral level who wish to undertake research projects that specifically focus on ALS.</p> <p>This year, the winner of the Tony Proudfoot Fellowship is Dr. Audrey Dangoumau.  Audrey recently completed her PhD thesis under the supervision of Pr. Patrick Vourc’h at the University of Tours, in France. Her PhD research revealed the importance of SUMOylation in the formation of aggregates with SOD1 mutation.</p> Fri, 29 Jan 2016 19:27:54 +0000 VRƵ The Neuro receives support from Montreal-based Vigilant Global for the development of first chemical brain atlas /neuro/node/1858 <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital - The Neuro, at VRƵ and the VRƵ Health Centre, today announced a significant donation from Montreal-based technology firm <a href="http://www.vigilantglobal.com/">Vigilant Global</a> that will enable the development of the world’s first chemical brain atlas. The Neuro team, led by neurosurgeon and research scientist Dr.</p> Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:36:27 +0000 VRƵ Learning a Second Language May Depend on How your Brain Talks to Itself /neuro/node/1856 <p><strong>Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute explore why learning a second language is easier for some people</strong></p> <p>Learning a second language is easier for some adults than others, and innate differences in how the various parts of the brain “talk” to one another may help explain why, according to a new study led by Chai Xiaoqian and Denise Klein, researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, The Neuro at VRƵ.  The study was published January 20 in <em>The Journal of Neuroscience.</em></p> Wed, 20 Jan 2016 15:05:09 +0000 VRƵ Decisions! Decisions! Brain Study Shows There’s More Than Meets the Eye When Making Choices /neuro/node/1845 <p>Scientists at the Montreal Neuro shed light on little-studied part of the brain</p> <p>MONTREAL---If you’re pondering whether to buy a Galaxy smartphone or an iPhone this holiday season, a part of the brain called the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (PFC) might ultimately determine your choice. Results of a new study by Avinash Vaidya and Dr. Lesley Fellows, researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro), suggest that this region of the brain plays a critical role in making choices.</p> Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:49:33 +0000 VRƵ Micro-Map of Hippocampus Lends Big Hand to Brain Research /neuro/node/1833 <p>MNI researchers share new tool with scientists world-wide to accelerate research</p> <p>MONTREAL---A new detailed map of the hippocampal region of the brain, compiled by researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital-The Neuro at VRƵ, is helping the scientific community accelerate research and develop better treatments for patients suffering from epilepsy and other neurological and psychiatric disorders.</p> Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:40:31 +0000 VRƵ Scientists and Clinicians at The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital receive funding for ALS research /neuro/node/1826 <p>The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge One Year Later</p> <p>On November 19 2015, marking the anniversary of the announcement of the 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge results and partnership between ALS Canada and Brain Canada, ALS Canada was at The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro, to announce the final recipients of their 2015 grant competition. Four researchers and clinicians at The Neuro were among those recipients for their groundbreaking work in the ALS research field.</p> Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:46:55 +0000 VRƵ Parkinson's disease: a new tool for health care professionals aims to improve diagnosis and advance treatment /neuro/node/1820 <p><em>The results of their study, published in the journal Movement Disorders.</em></p> <p><br /> A group of experts working under the umbrella of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS), have developed a new tool for healthcare professionals that they hope will mark a significant advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease, especially in the early stages. The results of their study, published in the journal <em>Movement Disorders</em>, could also have a major impact on the quality of research on Parkinson’s disease. </p> Tue, 17 Nov 2015 22:08:28 +0000 VRƵ World Stroke Day: The MUHC’s new Comprehensive Stroke Treatment Programs /neuro/node/1805 <p><em>The MUHC’s secondary and tertiary stroke care programs bring together multidisciplinary experts, the latest in scientific advances, and state of the art equipment to provide world-class treatment, reducing death rates and long-term disability.</em></p> <p>Every 10 minutes, a Canadian suffers a stroke. It is the third leading cause of death in Canada with about 14,000 Canadian dying of stroke each year.</p> Thu, 29 Oct 2015 20:55:13 +0000 VRƵ New Hope for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis /neuro/node/1799 <p>A new study led by researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of VRƵ and the MUHC, gets closer to identifying the mechanisms responsible for multiple sclerosis and makes headway in the search for better treatments. Thu, 22 Oct 2015 18:54:53 +0000 VRƵ More than $604,000 Raised for the Fight Against Brain Tumours /neuro/node/1797 <p><strong>Montreal, Quebec (October 22, 2015)</strong> – Last night the inaugural <em>A Brilliant Night </em>- a gala fundraiser to benefit The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro- at VRƵ and the MUHC, raised more than $604,000 for brain tumour research.</p> Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:47:12 +0000 VRƵ A Brillant Night - Raising awareness and funds for brain tumor research /neuro/node/1786 <p>Join us for the first edition of A Brilliant Night at the spectacular new Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium in Montreal for a unique event on October 21<sup>st</sup> to support the latest in brain tumor research at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro, at VRƵ and the VRƵ Health Centre.</p> <p><strong>A BRILLIANT CAUSE</strong></p> Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:33:37 +0000 VRƵ Pain is in the brain /neuro/node/1778 <p><em>A new study at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro, at VRƵ and the MUHC, might finally provide a new direction for research seeking to help patients suffering from neuropathic pain. </em></p> Fri, 09 Oct 2015 13:32:06 +0000 VRƵ New study maps the progression of Parkinson’s disease within the brain /neuro/node/1764 <p><em>Montreal Neurological Institute scientists shed light on the mechanism that could be driving the spread of Parkinson’s along neuronal highways</em></p> <p>Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro, at VRƵ and the VRƵ Health Centre, have made advances in understanding the process involved in the progression and spread of Parkinson’s disease (PD) within the brain. </p> Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:28:18 +0000 VRƵ Alan Evans inducted into the Royal Society of Canada /neuro/node/1731 <p>Dr. Alan Evans, James VRƵ Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Biomedical Engineering at the Montreal Neurological Institute, VRƵ has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). He is one fourteen new RSC Fellows from VRƵ, including VRƵ Principal Suzanne Fortier. The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, November 27 in Victoria, B.C.</p> Thu, 10 Sep 2015 18:19:45 +0000 VRƵ Breakthrough in "marriage-broker" protein /neuro/node/1701 <p><strong>Discovery provides new tool for understanding and treating neurodegenerative diseases</strong></p> Wed, 12 Aug 2015 13:48:00 +0000 VRƵ Neuro awarded over $15 M in CIHR funding /neuro/node/1666 <p><em><strong>Researchers get inaugural Foundation grants for high-impact, long-term programs</strong></em></p> <p>Researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, VRƵ have been awarded over $15 million in grants in the latest round of funding by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The grants are part of over $600 million in national funding, announced July 28 by Minister of Health Rona Ambrose.</p> Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:10:33 +0000 VRƵ Practice doesn’t always make perfect (depending on your brain) /neuro/node/1664 <p><strong><em>Study fuels nature versus nurture debate</em></strong></p> <p>How do you get to Carnegie Hall? New research on the brain’s capacity to learn suggests there’s more to it than the adage that “practise makes perfect.” A music-training study by scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro, at VRƵ and colleagues in Germany found evidence to distinguish the parts of the brain that account for individual talent from the parts that are activated through training.</p> Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:53:46 +0000 VRƵ Stroke month - June /neuro/node/1554 <p><strong>Time is brain: for every minute a stroke is left untreated, 2 million brain cells are destroyed. The sooner patients are treated, the higher the chances of survival with fewer disabilities. </strong> Patients with acute strokes and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are assessed and treated at the right place, the right time and by the right professionals thanks to ultra-specialized stroke centres at the Montreal General Hospital  and The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital.</p> Mon, 22 Jun 2015 14:38:31 +0000 VRƵ Neuro researchers awarded over $4.5 M from CQDM, Brain Canada and the Ontario Brain Institute /neuro/node/1510 <p>Researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital at VRƵ and the MUHC, have received a total of over $4.5 M in funding, for innovative projects to accelerate diagnosis and drug discovery for diseases of the brain, including Alzheimer’s.</p> <p>CQDM, Brain Canada Foundation and the Ontario Brain Institute made the announcement at the annual conference of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience in Vancouver. Six Canadian research teams share a total investment of $ 10 million, through the strategic "Focus on Brain" initiative.</p> Wed, 10 Jun 2015 14:21:57 +0000 VRƵ How your brain is telling you to vote /neuro/node/1507 <p><strong>Researchers pinpoint a brain area that influences electoral decisions</strong></p> Mon, 08 Jun 2015 13:18:47 +0000 VRƵ ALS Awareness Month – June /neuro/node/1500 <p>As a major Canadian centre for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research and treatment, the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital - The Neuro, invites the public and the media to learn more about the disease and current research and treatments, to donate money for ALS research and to wear the national emblem of ALS in Canada, the blue cornflower, during ALS Awareness Month in June.</p> Tue, 02 Jun 2015 14:36:53 +0000 VRƵ Neuro researchers awarded $10.5 M from CFI /neuro/node/1478 <p>Today the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology) announced an investment of $333 million for research infrastructure through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Two projects submitted by researchers affiliated with the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro at VRƵ and the MUHC, have received a total of over $21 M in funding, with matching funds from the Government of Quebec.</p> Fri, 29 May 2015 16:01:33 +0000 VRƵ National Nursing Week - Celebrating Excellence /neuro/node/1468 <p>The annual Neuroscience Nursing Awards of Excellence Ceremony took place May 12 as part of National Nursing Week.  The event was a wonderful showcase of dedication, spirit, determination, strength, compassion and innovation.  It was an opportunity to pause and celebrate nurses and others who have gone above and beyond this last year making the Transition Plan a reality.  We would like to recognize this year’s awardees and again thank all the staff for their hard work and dedication to patient care.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Evelyn Malowany Award for Clinical Practice</strong></p> Fri, 22 May 2015 20:47:21 +0000 VRƵ MEDIA ADVISORY: BILINGUALISM AND THE BRAIN /neuro/node/1431 <p><u><span>Public lecture:<strong> Perspectives on bilingualism: From birth to aging</strong></span></u></p> <p>Living in a city with many languages, we are often confronted with personal debates about what are the best decisions to make for our children and for ourselves. Have you wondered when is the optimal time and in what way to introduce a second language to your child, or whether raising a child in a bilingual environment can create confusion? Have you heard that being bilingual might slow down cognitive decline in aging and provide a buffer against neurodegenerative disease?</p> Mon, 11 May 2015 14:08:15 +0000 VRƵ May - Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month /neuro/node/1427 <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro at VRƵ and the MUHC has Canada’s oldest MS clinic but is always innovating - striving for progress and better treatments for patients.</p> <p><strong>What’s new in MS at The Neuro</strong></p> Thu, 07 May 2015 13:58:35 +0000 VRƵ Tango dancing could benefit Parkinson's disease patients /neuro/node/1400 <p><strong>New study puts 40 patients through 12-week course</strong></p> <p>Dancing the Argentine tango could have potential benefits for people at certain stages in the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to findings in a new study by researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro, VRƵ and the Research Institute of the VRƵ Health Centre. The study looked at changes in patients’ motor abilities following a 12-week tango course, and is also the first study to assess the effect that tango has on non-motor symptoms.</p> Mon, 13 Apr 2015 13:16:10 +0000 VRƵ April - Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month /neuro/node/1397 <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital - The Neuro, VRƵ and the VRƵ Health Centre, is at the forefront of Parkinson’s research and clinical care. Parkinson’s patients are seen at The Neuro’s Movement Disorders Clinic and the Montreal General Hospital. Approximately 100,000 Canadians have Parkinson’s disease.</p> <p><strong>The Neuro to introduce experimental drug treatment </strong></p> Thu, 02 Apr 2015 13:43:31 +0000 VRƵ Using patients’ own cells to accelerate research into neurological disease /neuro/node/1395 <p><em>$1 M gift from Mr. J. Sebastian van Berkom launches translational research into neurological disease </em></p> <p>A patient’s very own skin cells may hold the key to new treatments and even cures for devastating neurological diseases. A generous $1 million donation from Mr. J. Sebastian van Berkom, and critical partnerships with Brain Canada, Laval University, Marigold Foundation and the FRQS-Réseau Parkinson Quebec are driving an innovative, iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) research platform that will transform research into Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases.</p> Tue, 31 Mar 2015 13:29:50 +0000 VRƵ Teens test their smarts in the Brain Bee /neuro/node/1392 <p>Twenty-two students from four Montreal area high schools will assemble at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro at VRƵ on April 2nd to be quizzed about synapses, axons and other cerebral facts in the international contest known as the Brain Bee. The winner will go on to the Canadian National Brain Bee at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. The national winner travels to Australia for the International Brain Bee.</p> Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:23:01 +0000 VRƵ Purple Day March 26 - A World Day for Epilepsy Awareness /neuro/node/1383 <p>The Neuro has been at the forefront of epilepsy treatment and research for over half a century. The “Montreal Procedure” developed by Dr. Wilder Penfield and colleagues revolutionized the surgical treatment for epilepsy, allowing thousands of patients to start new lives free of seizures. The use of electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the study and treatment of epilepsy was pioneered at The Neuro.</p> Thu, 26 Mar 2015 13:48:11 +0000 VRƵ Finding a new test for concussions /neuro/node/1375 <p><em>Brain activation study helps to diagnose concussions in children and youths </em></p> Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:48:52 +0000 VRƵ It’s brain time! /neuro/node/1373 <p><em>A wonder-filled week of the brain </em></p> Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:40:11 +0000 VRƵ Breakthrough in understanding how cancer cells metastasize /neuro/node/1366 <p><em>Montreal Neurological Institute scientists discover a new mechanism driving spread of cancer </em></p> <p>A protein commonly found in human cells could be an important switch that activates cancer cell metastasis, according to a new study by researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital - The Neuro at VRƵ and the MUHC. The finding focuses attention on a biological mechanism that until now was largely overlooked. The discovery of the protein’s effect significantly expands our understanding of epithelial cancers such as breast and lung cancer.</p> Thu, 26 Feb 2015 15:25:10 +0000 VRƵ Students to perform ‘brain’ surgery /neuro/node/1364 <p><strong><em>Come witness young students perform brain surgery for the first time </em></strong></p> <p>This Saturday, February 21st twenty CEGEP students will meet at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro, at VRƵ and the MUHC for a unique chance-to test their skills at ‘brain’ surgery. These students were prize winners at the Bench to Bedside Conference for Youth 2015 - geared at stimulating student career interests in medicine, surgery and medical research.</p> Thu, 19 Feb 2015 20:51:54 +0000 VRƵ Revolutionary new probe zooms in on cancer cells /neuro/node/1353 <p>Improves tumour surgeries and extends survival times for brain cancer patients</p> <p>VIDEO: <a href="http://bit.ly/1EYjsTV">http://bit.ly/1EYjsTV</a></p> Wed, 11 Feb 2015 19:55:38 +0000 VRƵ Smoking thins vital part of brain /neuro/node/1347 <p>Years ago, children were warned that smoking could stunt their growth, but now a major study by an international team including the Montreal Neurological Institute at VRƵ and the University of Edinburgh shows new evidence that long-term smoking could cause thinning of the brain’s cortex. The cortex is the outer layer of the brain in which critical cognitive functions such as memory, language and perception take place. Interestingly, the findings also suggest that stopping smoking helps to restore at least part of the cortex’s thickness.</p> Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:28:48 +0000 VRƵ Faculty Positions at the Montreal Neurological Institute of VRƵ /neuro/node/1319 <p>The Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) at VRƵ invites applications for four Assistant Professors who will focus on one or more of our priority areas:</p> Mon, 26 Jan 2015 17:30:47 +0000 VRƵ