2023
Canada’s most powerful MRI system arrives at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry
November 23, 2023
The Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping (CFMM) at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is now home to Canada’s first 15.2 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The $6-million pre-clinical scanner – only the second of its kind in North America and sixth in the world – is a boost for neuroimaging research at Western, enabling researchers to study the brain with unprecedented resolution. The new MRI system arrived in November and will support interdisciplinary research focused on neurological disorders – including pioneering research in neuroimmunology led by newly announced Canada Excellence Research Chair Dr. Robyn Klein and a multi-centre project focused on drug development for neurological conditions led by Ravi Menon, PhD.Western recruits top neuroimmunologist as Canada Excellence Research Chair
November 16, 2023
As the devastating impacts of long COVID are becoming more evident and widespread, Western University has recruited a powerhouse talent to build and lead Canada’s first-ever research program focused on understanding the impact of infectious diseases on cognition and the human brain. Renowned worldwide for her groundbreaking work on the effects of viral infections and neuroinflammation on memory, Dr. Robyn Klein will join Western as the new Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Neurovirology and Neuroimmunology.Researchers reveal link between Alzheimer’s disease and sex hormones
October 17, 2023
In a new study in mice and humans, Western researchers have shown female sex hormones play a significant role in how Alzheimer’s manifests in the brain. The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, also highlights the importance of developing therapeutic strategies focused on these hormonal connections. The research indicates a need to better understand the role of estradiol – a form of the female sex hormone estrogen, used therapeutically to mitigate menopause symptoms – in Alzheimer’s disease.Researchers use AI to predict recovery after serious brain injury
September 11, 2023
Two graduate students from Western University have developed a ground-breaking method for predicting which intensive care unit (ICU) patients will survive a severe brain injury. Matthew Kolisnyk and Karnig Kazazian combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with state-of-the art machine learning techniques to tackle one of the most complex issues in critical care. Whether it is the result of a stroke, cardiac arrest or traumatic brain injury, lives can forever be changed by a serious brain injury. When patients are admitted to the ICU, families are faced with tremendous uncertainty. Will my loved one recover? Are they aware of what is going on? Will they ever be the same again? Despite these essential questions, health-care professionals are equally uncertain about the potential of a good recovery.UK researchers 1st to show multiple sclerosis drug can be used as Alzheimer’s therapy
September 01, 2023
A team of researchers at the University of Kentucky has found that a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) is potentially effective as a therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a progressive and irreversible neurological disorder. It’s estimated 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with the disease that affects cognitive function, memory and behavioAI brings researchers one step closer to restoring speech in people with paralysis
August 24, 2023
The research published in the journal Nature Wednesday, shows how phrases that Ann is thinking can then be spoken, in her own voice, by an online avatar. While years away from commercial application, the researchers and others consider it a significant development in forming words quickly — and out loud — by interpreting brain signals.Medical device first used at London hospital reverses stroke symptoms in minutes
August 16, 2023
In what is a medical first for London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), a procedure using a new medical device to help stroke patients has been successfully performed. The device is called a balloon distal access catheter (BDAC) and was developed to rapidly remove a blood clot in 10 minutes, reversing stroke symptoms and preventing brain damage. Wilene Leyen, 59, of Clifford, Ont., was the first patient to successfully undergo the procedure at the University Hospital on June 24, after having her first-ever stroke. Leyen was treated by LHSC's interventional neuroradiologist, Dr. Michael Mayich, and his team, who perform more than 200 emergency stroke surgeries every year. Identifying strokes and acting quickly is imperative, he said.Study finds improved survival for incurable brain tumor, providing ‘a crack in the armor’
August 16, 2023
For the first time, researchers have found a potential drug candidate that improved outcomes for patients with a type of childhood brain tumor for which there are no effective treatments. The compound, called ONC201, nearly doubled survival for patients with diffuse midline glioma or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, compared to previous patients. The findings are reported by an international team of researcher led by the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center and the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center. In addition to reporting on the results of two early stage clinical trials, the paper reveals the underlying mechanisms behind the compound’s success in these tumors. The paper is published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.Meet the innovators creating affordable tech for low-resource communities
August 15, 2023
At Western, researchers have been working on innovations in health care intended for communities in resource-constrained environments. The Frugal Biomedical Innovations Program has launched 15 catalyst grants to support these innovations, which will help in diagnosis of diseases and in therapy, while costing less to operate or maintain. Ana Luisa Trejos, professor with the department of electrical and computer engineering is leading a project to create a low-cost wearable system to monitor Parkinson’s disease.$5.1 million donation boosts open hardware approach to motor neuroscience
August 15, 2023
A $5.1 million donation made by the Azrieli Foundation ($3.48 million to Western and $1.62 million to Emory University) is taking an open-science concept to the next level, by enabling researchers across Canada to access and utilize electrodes developed and tested by Andrew Pruszynski at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and Sam Sober at Emory.New study finds exercise, cognitive training combo boosts mental sharpness in seniors
August 14, 2023
In a ground-breaking discovery that could reshape the approach to elderly cognitive care, researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Lawson Health Research Institute have found that a combination of computerized cognitive training and aerobic-resistance exercises (such as walking and cycling along with weight training) can significantly improve cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, recognition and orientation, in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The researchers found the effect of the combined intervention was larger than the individual effects of exercise or cognitive training alone, suggesting a synergism in the sequential combination. They also found vitamin D supplements, on the other hand, did not appear to contribute to improvement.Parkinson’s disease: Essential role in neuroinflammation found for a subset of brain macrophages
August 09, 2023
In a study published in Nature Communications, Ashley Harms, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, used a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease to show that border-associated macrophages — not microglia — mediate the neuroinflammatory response in the brain. Neuroinflammation has previously been shown to exacerbate neurodegradation in the mouse model of Parkinson’s.Brain Stimulation Improves Walking in Patients with Parkinson's Disease
August 08, 2023
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor function decline, particularly in relation to gait disorders. These gait disorders manifest as decreased step length, reduced arm swing, slow movements, rigidity, and postural instability, which are prevalent among patients with PD. While non-pharmacological approaches like transcranial direct current stimulation show promise in improving motor function, recent research focuses on gait-combined closed-loop stimulation, which synchronizes brain stimulation with the individual's gait rhythm. A recent study published on 9 June 2023 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry proposes a novel intervention for gait improvement, thus creating new hope for patients with PD.Possible biomarker of MS-like autoimmune disease discovered
August 08, 2023
“There’s a huge amount of diversity in how inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system like multiple sclerosis present,” explains Professor Anne-Katrin Pröbstel of the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel. Researchers have been gradually discovering the key distinctive features of “atypical” cases of MS for the past ten years. A few of these autoimmune diseases have been given different names to better distinguish them from MS even though they also destroy the myelin sheath. Victims of these diseases often have inflammation in their spinal cords or optic nerves. In a study of roughly 1,300 patients, Pröbstel’s team has now discovered a biomarker that may make it possible to differentiate another MS-like illness from the others. The researchers have reported their findings in the journal JAMA NeurologyResearcher Identifies Key Mechanism in Parkinson’s Disease Research
August 01, 2023
With Parkinson’s disease, mutation to LRRK2 does not cause the protein it codes for, daradarin, to become deformed. Instead, the body begins producing too much of the protein. Until now, scientists did not know how to control this protein expression because they didn’t understand the mechanisms underlying it. The Xiong lab has solved this mystery with their novel study identifying an LRRK2 regulator, an enzyme called ATIC, and a potential pharmaceutical treatment. Xiong recently published these findings in The EMBO Journal.This Protein May Predict Mild Cognitive Impairment Years Before Symptoms, Study Suggests
July 31, 2023
Results of a long-term, federally funded study of cognitively healthy adults — most with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease — have added to evidence that low spinal fluid levels of a protein linked to learning and memory in mice may serve as an early predictor of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) years before symptoms appear. The findings, which may potentially offer new targets for treating or preventing Alzheimer’s and other dementias, showed that a relatively low level of the protein known as NPTX2 is not only a likely standalone risk factor for MCI and Alzheimer’s dementia, but also improves prediction of cognitive impairment after accounting for levels of traditional biomarkers and well-established genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s.Multiple sclerosis: fateful immune cell activation in gut made visible
July 13, 2023
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. It is triggered by certain T cells, which infiltrate the brain and spinal cord and attack the insulating myelin sheath around axons. In recent years, researchers have found mounting indications that the gut microbiome plays a substantial role in the activation of these cells. However, the precise location and the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Using imaging techniques in a mouse model, a team led by Privatdozent Dr. Naoto Kawakami from University of Munich Hospital has now managed to track the microbiome-dependent activation of the cells live – the first time this has been achieved.The AHEAD Study is Testing Lecanemab at the Stage of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease
July 11, 2023
Alzheimer's disease (AD) researchers increasingly believe that treating at the earliest possible stage may be key to helping combat the disease. Ongoing studies are now testing whether lecanemab can effectively delay or prevent the symptoms of disease if started even before there is evidence of cognitive impairment. The AHEAD Study (AHEADstudy.org) is testing the effect of lecanemab in people who have no cognitive symptoms of AD but in whom biomarker tests indicate amyloid is present in the brain, known as the "preclinical" stage of AD. The AHEAD Study is the first AD trial to recruit people as young as 55 years old who are at risk of developing symptoms of AD as they get older.Novel genetic scoring system helps determine ALS disease risk
June 21, 2023
Among the tens of thousands of Americans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, most do not have a single genetic mutation shown to cause the fatal disease. And a study led by University of Michigan finds that a newly created polygenic scoring system — one that weighs the combined effects of common genetic variants — can improve the ability to predict an individual’s risk of developing ALS. The results are published in Neurology Genetics.Multiple Sclerosis Organisations Commit to a Shared Global Research Strategy to Accelerate Cures for MS
June 14, 2023
Multiple sclerosis organisations from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, MS International Federation, Spain, U.K., and U.S. have jointly declare their collective commitment to a global research strategy to cure MS. There are multiple paths to MS cures and this coordination will effectively address knowledge gaps and avoid duplication to speed progress together.Can this Medication Reverse MS? Brain Biomarker Shows It Can
June 12, 2023
A decade after UC San Francisco scientists identified an over-the-counter antihistamine as a treatment for multiple sclerosis, researchers have developed an approach to measure the drug’s effectiveness in repairing the brain, making it possible to also assess future therapies for the devastating disorder. The researchers, led by physician-scientist Ari Green, MD, who together with neuroscientist Jonah Chan, PhD, first identified clemastine as a potential MS therapy, used MRI scans to study the drug’s impact on the brains of 50 participants in a clinical study.Researcher’s new online hub charts route to chronic disease management
June 08, 2023
Gentle chair yoga for those with brain and spinal cord injuries, 17-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for wheelchair users and simple exercises for individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are just a few examples of the physical activity resources that a newly launched online platform, My Active Ingredient, has curated and made accessible for individuals living with chronic health conditions. Founded by Western researcher and former Olympic athlete Dr. Jane Thornton, the online platform aims to transform the perception and practice of exercise for those living with chronic health conditions. The platform offers a collaborative space where patients, health-care providers and the public can exchange their favourite ‘movement hacks’ and inspire each other with stories of success.Western researchers land nearly $2.8M in funding to boost brain health research
May 24, 2023
At Western University, a team at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry led by Lisa Saksida, Canada Research Chair in translational cognitive neuroscience, was awarded $1.46-million for the MouseTRAP project on fast-tracking drug development for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. A second project led by Emma Duerden, Canada Research Chair in neuroscience and learning disorders, was awarded $1.46 to advance brain monitoring in partnership with the Lawson Health Research Institute. Four grants were awarded in total to three-year research projects across the country at the announcement from the Canada Brain Research Fund supported by Health Canada and Brain Canada Foundation.Discovery Slows Down Muscular Dystrophy
May 24, 2023
A team of researchers at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy is reporting that by manipulating TAK1, a signaling protein that plays an important role in development of the immune system, they can slow down disease progression and improve muscle function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).Life stressors may contribute to multiple sclerosis flares, disability
May 23, 2023
A Michigan Medicine-led study finds that stressors across the lifespan — including poverty, abuse and divorce — are associated with worsening health and functional outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis. Using survey data from more than 700 people with MS, researchers discovered that stressful events occurring both in childhood and adulthood contributed significantly to participants’ level of disability. The results are published in Brain and Behavior.Study using novel approach for glioblastoma treatment 'very promising'
May 15, 2023
A new international study published in Nature Medicine and presented as a late-breaking abstract at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) annual conference, shows great promise for patients with glioblastoma. Drs. Farshad Nassiri and Gelareh Zadeh, neurosurgeons at UHN, published the results of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial investigating the safety and effectiveness of a novel therapy which combines the injection of an oncolytic virus – a virus that targets and kills cancer cells – directly into the tumour, using intravenous immunotherapy.Researchers pinpoint neurochemical marker linked with loss of motor function in ALS
May 04, 2023
University of Alberta researchers have identified a neurochemical marker related to the loss of motor function and communication breakdown between the primary motor cortex — the part of the brain that controls our muscles — and the rest of the brain in ALS patients. Knowing this, they’re now aiming to find out whether the marker might also offer a test to evaluate new treatments to improve brain function. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a terminal neurological disease. As motor neurons fail, the primary motor cortex loses the ability to communicate with muscles — and as it turns out, the rest of the brain — resulting in muscle stiffness and weakness. Eventually the brain loses the ability to communicate with muscles essential to our survival.Researcher leads first-ever study of Canadian ‘SuperAgers’
April 21, 2023
If you study Parkinson’s disease, you only see Parkinson’s disease, says Angela Roberts, assistant professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders who holds a joint appointment in the department of computer science. Study dementia and you only see dementia. Even studying ‘typically aging’ brains often yields information about brains on a course towards developing an age-related disease such as dementia. But what if you study ‘SuperAgers’ – individuals who, in their 80s, 90s and beyond, have experienced exceptional cognitive aging? Roberts thinks research in that area will help improve cognitive aging outcomes for future generations.New stroke treatment helps more Canadian patients return home to their normal lives
March 29, 2023
When Marleen Conacher was taken to a hospital for major stroke treatment for the second time in a week in 2021, she wasn't treated with a clot-busting drug like she was previously given at North Battleford Hospital in Saskatchewan. Instead, she was transported directly to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, where a stroke team performed an endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). The procedure involved passing small devices through one of the arteries in her groin, and then using suction, or tubes called stents to pull the stroke-causing blood clot out.Renowned mathematician collaborates with Western team to map human brain
March 28, 2023
New advancements in neural imaging and recording technologies may provide the key to understanding Alzheimer’s Disease, epilepsy and other disorders. But as remarkable as these technologies are, they also produce vast and complex datasets that pose a challenge to researchers. New approaches are needed to make sense of this information. Renowned Princeton University mathematics professor Dr. Maria Chudnovsky is collaborating with scholars from the Western Academy for Advanced Research (WAFAR) to address this problem. Chudnovsky is associated with Western as a visiting fellow with the “mathematics of neural networks,” an interdisciplinary research theme supported by WAFAR. Leading the project is Lyle Muller of the department of mathematics, with Ján Mináč from the same department and Marieke Mur, assistant professor of psychology and computer science.Western researchers develop new open-source app for precise brain mapping
January 12, 2023
The hippocampus is a small, complex, folded brain structure that holds clues to several brain disorders. It is also one of the most difficult-to-map regions of the brain. After developing a successful technique to digitally unfold the hippocampus, researchers at the Western Institute for Neuroscience have now built a new app using artificial intelligence (AI) to precisely map the structure. As part of a team led by Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry professor Ali Khan, former PhD student Jordan DeKraker has developed an open-source app, HippUnfold, which uses state-of-the-art AI to digitally unfold the hard-to-reach areas of the hippocampus.Code Blue
January 01, 2023
In May 2023, the World Health Organization declared “with great hope” the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency. Yet physicians, nurses, and other health professionals are still suffering the effects of three years on the frontlines, including drug abuse, suicides, and mental health issues. And while fictional, the above account captures some of the pressures faced by health-care workers as a result of the pandemic. Schulich Medicine & Dentistry researchers have uncovered some alarming details about how widespread the problem is. Dr. Don Richardson’s work highlights the problem. Richardson is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and scientific director of the MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre at St. Joseph’s Health Care London.
