News
Fostering older adult wellness
December 03, 2024
Kinesiology professor Lindsay Nagamatsu leads the Healthy Aging Fair, hosted by the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging on Nov. 27, with a panel of three Western researchers and resources to support older adults' physical, mental and social well-being.Diana Urian BSc'24 Global Undergraduate Award Winner
November 01, 2024
The Global Undergraduate Awards is the world's leading academic awards programme which recognizes top undergraduate work, shares this work with a global audience and connects students across cultures and disciplines.Study shows playing video games may improve cognitive performance
October 21, 2024
While relatively little is known about how the brain and body affect each other, research by Neuroscientist Adrian Owen is shedding light on how gaming and exercise affect our cognitive abilities.Exploring the science that’s helping us live better, longer
October 15, 2024
A new podcast on the Science of Aging, produced by Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, features stimulating discussions with leading Western University researchers who are redefining what it means to get older.Ground-breaking discovery officially named
August 16, 2024
Adrian Owen's discovery of consciousness in vegetative patients, now officially named "cognitive motor dissociation," is revolutionizing neuroscience and has earned global recognition, shaping his career, bringing comfort to families and leading to a new field of researchRevealing thoughts of brain-injured patients
July 29, 2024
Neuroscientists Adrian Owen and Karnig Kazazian, along with their collaborators, have developed neuroimaging methods that can now predict ICU survival rates and reveal the thoughts and intentions of brain-injured individuals.Vaccination may reduce memory loss from COVID-19 infections
July 23, 2024
Canada Excellence Research Chair Dr. Robyn Klein and her team's new study identifies one potential mechanism driving COVID-19-induced memory loss and shows that it can be prevented by vaccinationAwakening the brain through the power of music
June 10, 2024
Alzheimer’s is a disease with devastating effects, stripping away a person’s memories and eventually their identity. Currently there is no pharmaceutical treatment to reverse it, but research is showing there is a therapy that seems to bring a person back, if only momentarily. Music. “We don’t really know why music has such a strong impact on humans,” said Jessica Grahn, psychology professor. “What we do know is that music has a profound effect on mood, and that is something that can be beneficial to dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.”Western-led analysis shows potential in new Alzheimer’s treatment
May 27, 2024
A team of researchers from Western, Stanford and University of California, San Francisco have evaluated a new drug for enhancing the brain’s resilience to changes driven by Alzheimer’s in its first human trial. The findings show promising results for patients with mild to moderate forms of the disease.World-renowned neuroscientist elected Fellow of Royal Society
May 27, 2024
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Adrian Owen has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, the U.K.'s national academy of science. Owen is the fifth Western faculty member since 1878 to be elected as a Fellow.Concussion research helps to protect kids’ brains, informing enhanced safety guidelines
May 12, 2024
Research by Ravi Menon, PhD, and team on the effects of concussion continues to inform best practices and helps shape policy for youth sportsGroundbreaking research paves way to AAAS Fellowship for Western scientist
April 18, 2024
Dr. Robyn Klein has been elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science class of Fellows for her neuroscience researchYoung researchers on frontlines of brain studies among recipients of early career funding
April 02, 2024
Taylor Schmitz is using the same strategy to conquer Alzheimer’s that the disease uses in attacking the human brain – he’s coming after the neurological disorder with a multiple-pronged approach. Jibran Khokhar is investigating the terrible toll that mental illness and addiction are inflicting on Ontarians – nearly two times the disease burden of cancer and seven times that of pre-pandemic infectious diseases.Western cognitive neuroscientist awarded competitive fellowship
March 22, 2024
Ryan Stevenson studies how children's perception of the world impacts future brain developmentResearchers revolutionizing understanding of nicotine’s effect on adolescent brain
March 19, 2024
A team of researchers at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, led by Professor Steven R. Laviolette, PhD, is redefining our understanding of nicotine's impact on the adolescent brain.Over $7.5 million in funding sets stage for major innovations in biotherapeutics and translational research
March 14, 2024
Funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation will bolster the School’s research strength in biotherapeutics and enable researchers to better understand brain function in health and disease.New study expands understanding of brain blood flow and neurological disorders
March 14, 2024
Researchers from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Maastricht University in the Netherlands have developed an efficient, non-invasive method to better understand perfusion in various regions of the hippocampus, which could aid in the diagnosis of various neurological diseasesResearchers link placental oxygen levels to fetal brain development
March 04, 2024
A new interdisciplinary study led by Emma Duerden and Emily Nichols uses MRI to examine the placenta's pivotal role in fetal brain health and offers potential insights for early interventions.Neuroscience student works to further Alzheimer’s research and diversify student voices at Western
March 01, 2024
Dika Ojiakor spent his childhood devouring books that seemed too old for him. His curiosity has now led to research on Alzheimer’s at Robarts Research InstituteBehind the Research: Western examines the brain’s secrets
March 01, 2024
President Alan Shepard in conversation with professors Lisa Saksida and Ravi Menon on the latest advances in neuroscience and cognitionNeuroscience student, and football player tackles early stages of Alzheimer’s
February 02, 2024
Hayley Shanks may be a wide receiver for Western’s women’s football team, but when she is off the field, she’s tackling Alzheimer’s disease through her research. She's analyzing the results of a drug that's in clinical trials targeting the disease in its early-to-mild stages.2024 Rising Star – Certificate of Excellence Award
February 02, 2024
Shahnaza Hamidullah, a 4th year MD/PhD student, is already making a significant contribution to research at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. Working with neuroscientists Lisa Saksida, PhD, and Tim Bussey, PhD, in the Translational Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Hamidullah is exploring the brain changes underlying cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.New online study explores link between healthy brains and bodies
January 19, 2024
In a collaboration with the Science and Industry Museum (Manchester, U.K.), neuroscientist Adrian Owen and his team have set out to explore the links between physical and cognitive health using online immersive gamesCanada’s most powerful MRI system arrives on campus
November 28, 2023
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry's Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping 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 – enables researchers to study the brain with unprecedented resolution.Seinfeld provides insight into how our brains understand and appreciate humour: Study
November 16, 2023
Neuroscientists studied participants watching classic TV series in fMRI scannerMachines will read our minds
November 06, 2023
Computer Science professor Yalda Mohsenzadeh discusses the potential of AI to translate our thoughts into speech or text in this commentary published in Maclean’s.COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in physical activity, screen time for teenagers, research shows
October 27, 2023
A new Statistics Canada report shows a sharp decline in physical activity and rise in screen time among teenagers during the pandemic. Education professor Emma Duerden says children who start using screens at an earlier age are more likely to use more screens when they’re adolescents.Researchers reveal link between Alzheimer's disease and sex hormones
October 20, 2023
Alzheimer’s disease disproportionately affects women, who represent about two-thirds of those diagnosed with the late-onset type of the disease. Researchers have shown female sex hormones play a significant role in how Alzheimer’s disease manifests in the brain.Researchers use AI to predict recovery after serious brain injury
September 12, 2023
Graduate students working with neuroscientist Adrian Owen, PhD, have developed a ground-breaking method for predicting which patients will survive a severe brain injury.MD/PhD candidate named Vanier scholar
September 11, 2023
Congratulations to Shahnaza Hamidullah, MD/PhD candidate in Neuroscience, who has been awarded a 2023-2024 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.Four new Canada Research Chairs named at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry
August 31, 2023
From substance use to AI, new CRCs are addressing questions that will shape the future of humanity. Congratulations to Jibran Khokhar, PhD, Jennifer Guthrie, PhD, Pingzhao Hu, PhD, and Maria Mathews, PhD.Prenatal cannabis use linked to lifelong impacts
August 14, 2023
Research led by Addictions Research Group member Mohammed H. Sarikahya and Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Steven Laviolette shows that prenatal exposure to THC – the primary psychoactive component in cannabis – can lead to potentially lifelong cognitive and memory deficits.Vision allows brain to make predictions well before it knows what’s coming, new study shows
June 28, 2023
Blending math and AI, Western researchers developed neural network model able to predict individual moments in the futureWestern secures two Canada Brain Research Fund grants
May 29, 2023
Western researchers have received two of four Canada-wide grants through the Canada Brain Research Fund. One project is working to fast-track drug development for neurodegenerative diseases and the other is exploring technology to study the brain at the patient’s bedside.Western to revolutionize drug development for brain diseases with $24M federal funding boost
April 26, 2023
First-of-its-kind platform will fast track drug development and help identify effective new therapies within six years.From acute to chronic, David Seminowicz is researching the problem of pain
April 20, 2023
David Seminowicz's research looks at how the brain responds to acute and chronic pain to better understand ways to manage pain, including novel methods outside of traditional pharmaceutical solutions.Olivia Ghosh-Swaby, PhD candidate, earns national award for outstanding leadership
April 11, 2023
PhD candidate Olivia Ghosh-Swaby (Neuroscience) have been announced as a recipient of a prestigious SWAAC Student Award in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.What is frontotemporal dementia? Bruce Willis' condition explained
April 03, 2023
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Dr. Elizabeth Finger studies potential treatments for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the disorder afflicting actor Bruce Willis, and explains the first changes seen in FTD are often in behaviour, personality, judgment and decision-making.Why AI fails to reproduce human vision
March 27, 2023
Psychology and computer science professor Marieke Mur explains why despite the power and promise of deep learning, computers have yet to master human calculations when it comes to visual recognition.Western project finds VR gives viewers front-row seat experience
March 23, 2023
Paul Frewen, PhD, says you may soon be able to grab a VR headset and cheer on your team from wherever you are, experiencing the excitement as if you were courtsideWestern researchers develop new open-source app for precise brain mapping
January 25, 2023
HippUnfold, a web-based tool, uses artificial intelligence to iron out the complex hippocampus for imagingShould you believe your eyes? Not necessarily in virtual reality says new study
December 16, 2022
Research led by neuroscientist Jody Culham examines the promise and limitations of virtual reality (VR) and suggests that perception of size in VR is more strongly influenced by our expectations than the visual information before our eyes.Leighton Schreyer named Gold Medal Winner
October 27, 2022
Leighton Schreyer, BSc'22 has been globally recognized for his outstanding research paper entitled "The Discovery of an Epigenetic Signature for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Using Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis" at the Global Undergraduate AwardsUncovering consequences of prenatal cannabis exposure
October 06, 2022
A team led by Western PhD student Mohammed H. Sarikahya under the supervision of Steven Laviolette, PhD are working to improve our understanding of how exposure to cannabis during pregnancy may impact the developing brain of the fetus.Unravelling the mysteries of cancer and neurodegeneration
October 03, 2022
Scientists Drs. Kun Ping Lu and Xiao Zhen Zhou are navigating a delicate balancing act. They are studying a stress-response enzyme involved in a puzzling inverse relationship between cancer and Alzheimer’s disease: people at risk for one disease are less likely to get the other.Research: Guardians of the cell that become dysfunctional in Parkinson’s disease provide clues for new treatments
October 03, 2022
Alpha-synuclein is thought to be a leading culprit in the development of major neurological disorders. Through a global collaboration of researchers, Marco Prado, PhD, and his team have developed a better understanding of how alpha-synuclein interacts with a cellular defense mechanism known as the chaperome.Scientists attract $1.7M to tackle global challenges
October 03, 2022
Neuroscientist and physiotherapy professor Sue Peters is one of seven researchers awarded funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Peters is using the grant to purchase equipment that will significantly impact her work to improve mobility recovery in stroke survivors.New study explores infection effect on fetal brain development
August 04, 2022
With a goal to lower the risks of neurodevelopmental disorders, Western BrainsCAN researchers are investigating what happens to a baby's developing brain when an infection occurs during pregnancy.Causes and consequences of math anxiety in children
August 04, 2022
Western BrainsCAN has recently launched a webpage to offer tips and strategies for parents and families whose children are struggling with math. The site includes a webinar discussion featuring psychology professor Daniel Ansari and Thames Valley District School Board principal Scott Askey. They address questions such as “how early does math anxiety start?” and “is there such thing as a math brain?”Music training promotes better beat perception in Parkinson’s patients: study
June 10, 2022
A new study by psychology professor Jessica Grahn shows music training early in life could have a positive influence on beat perception and movement among patients with Parkinson’s disease.Pushing the possibilities of ultra high-field imaging
June 02, 2022
Corey Baron, PhD, is developing methods to better characterize the microscopic properties of brain tissue.Research duo brings breakthrough research to Western
May 13, 2022
Kun Ping Lu and Xiao Zhen Zhou investigate enzyme that could improve treatment for cancer, Alzheimer’sNew Gray chair aims to solve pain-limiting mobility problems
May 13, 2022
Siobhan Schabrun takes neuroscience approach to addressing chronic painWestern, McGill team up in new neuroscience initiative
May 11, 2022
Groundbreaking research projects can have economic, societal impact near-termInaugural neuroscience fellows ‘looking to make a difference’
May 03, 2022
Uma Venkatasubramanian, Kathleen Lyons and Roberto Budzinski are the three inaugural research fellows of the recently established Western Institute for Neuroscience, conducting breakthrough research on brain functions.Neuroscience experts unlock mystery of autism-related anxiety
April 19, 2022
Emma Duerden and her team are taking a novel approach to a thorny problem: why anxiety is prevalent among people with neurodevelopmental disorders, and how neuroscience can help decode autism’s many puzzles.New research targets faster diagnosis for Parkinson’s patients
April 14, 2022
Western, McGill team up to develop more equitable assessment methodFinding treatments for brain diseases
April 11, 2022
Through the support of BrainsCAN, an interdisciplinary team of internationally renowned researchers are developing more efficient ways to test the effectiveness of medication for neurodegenerative diseases – the leading cause of disability in Canada.Research: Concussion blood test begins pivotal clinical trial
March 15, 2022
An innovative concussion blood test developed by researchers at Western University is set to begin a pivotal clinical trial with the Food & Drug Administration in the U.S. in the coming weeks.Funding: CIHR announces Project Grant recipients
March 14, 2022
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) have announced more than $7.7 million in research funding through their project grants competition for 10 projects at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.Faculty Profile: Innovating in neuroscience and engineering
March 14, 2022
Dr. Victor Yang dreams of building better surgical devices. Now, the next chapter of his journey to do just that will take place at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, as the innovative neuroscientist and biomedical engineer joins the faculty in the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences.Research News: Does moral injury change the brain?
October 25, 2021
Recognizing the toll that the pandemic has taken on many health care workers’ mental health, Dr. Ruth Lanius is examining the role that moral injury plays, and its effects on the brain.2021 Awards Recipients
August 13, 2021
Congratulations to the 2021 Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Internal Graduate Awards recipientsSpotlight of the Month (July 2021)
July 08, 2021
This month we celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Ramina Adam, Post-Doctoral Associate, working with Dr. Sandrine de Ribaupierre; as well as Borna Mahmoudian, PhD candidate, working with Dr. Julio Martinez-Trujillo.‘Sounding it out’ not so easy for children with dyslexia
May 28, 2021
Western cognitive neuroscientists using MRI discovered a biological deficit for some early readers that impairs the ability to sound words out.Student Perspectives: Lena Schreyer on community outreach and youth mental health
April 30, 2021
Lena Schreyer, a fourth-year Neuroscience student, is working to address this gap as the Founder and Director of Beecuz, a non-profit organization that develops proactive and positive wellness education programs for children and youth.Western neuroscience spinoff sees growth in remote-care world
April 30, 2021
Cambridge Brain Sciences now a leading provider of web-based cognitive function assessmentsSpotlight of the Month
April 20, 2021
This month we celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Miguel Skirzewski, Research Associate, working with Dr. Tim Bussey and Dr. Lisa Saksida; as well as Julia Sunstrum PhD candidate, working with Dr. Wataru Inoue and Dr. Julio Martinez-Trujillo.Feature: Feeling the rain
March 29, 2021
Inspired by her mother’s strength, recovery and resilience as a brain tumour survivor, Shreya Gandhi founded Project X - Never Alone to support other patients and familiesFunding: CIHR Project Grant recipients announced
March 29, 2021
Congratulations to our program members that have been awarded a CIHR Project Grant. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced more than $7.4 million in research funding through their project grants competition for 12 research projects at Western University.Spotlight of the Month (March 2021)
March 01, 2021
This month we celebrate the accomplishments of Rubina Malik, PhD candidate in the Finger lab and Indra Bishnoi, PhD candidate in the Kavaliers/Ossenkopp lab.How can personalized medicine for psychological trauma help reconnect the mind and body?
February 26, 2021
Daring to Ask: Working with people who have suffered psychological trauma, Dr. Ruth Lanius is exploring how personalized medicine can help reconnect the mind and bodyStudy pinpoints role of language disruptions in psychosis
February 22, 2021
Like a small airport trying to handle too much air traffic, parts of the brain not meant to process language are trying to perform this complex job in patients with psychosis.Research News: Improving quality of life for patients with Frontotemporal Dementia
January 21, 2021
Dr. Elizabeth Finger is working to test behavioural and pharmacologic treatments for patients with Frontotemporal Dementia with the hope of reversing deficits in emotional processing and empathy.Student Perspectives: PhD Candidate Olivia Ghosh-Swaby on football and women in sport
January 19, 2021
Olivia Ghosh-Swaby, PhD Candidate in Neuroscience, is a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in academia and sport. She has been playing football since 2008 and led the creation of the Ontario Women’s Intercollegiate Football Association in 2017.Contributing to a better future
January 19, 2021
Mila Uzelac, MSc candidate Neuroscience, is one of 10 inaugural recipients of the Dean’s Research Scholarship. Mila is working on translational research projects that aim to improve care for cancer patients.Spotlight of the Month (January 2021)
January 06, 2021
This month we celebrate the accomplishments of Dika Ojiakor, PhD candidate in the Rylett lab and Olivia Ghosh-Swaby, PhD candidate in the TCN lab.Spotlight of the Month (December 2020)
December 03, 2020
This month we celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Kasey Van Hedger, Postdoctoral Fellow in the MacDonald lab and Niveen Fulcher, PhD candidate in the Schmid lab.Announcement: Dr. Julio Martinez-Trujillo re-appointed as Provincial Endowed Academic Chair in Autism
November 30, 2020
Dr. Julio Martinez-Trujillo has been re-appointed as the Provincial Endowed Academic Chair in Autism at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western UniversityFunding: Research to understand working memory receives new funding
September 11, 2020
Dr. Julio Martinez-Trujillo, Lyle Muller, PhD, Wataru Inoue, PhD, and Stefan Everling, PhD, are part of the Next Generation Networks for Neuroscience (NeuroNex) . Theirs is one of four NeuroNex projects covered by the US National Science Foundation, receiving $10 million during the next five years.Announcement: Four new Canada Research Chairs for Western, two renewed
August 10, 2020
Western is home to four new Canada Research Chairs, professors whose work will have global impact on autism, data science and children’s learning. Two chairs, in business sustainability and neuroscience, have been renewed.Research News: Exposure to chronic stress changes neurons in the brain
July 20, 2020
Wataru Inoue, PhD, studies the effect of chronic stress on the brain. His latest paper shows that the neurons in the brain actually change their size and microstructure, and become desensitized to stress signals over time.New institute pushes neuroscience excellence forward
June 25, 2020
The Western Institute for Neuroscience will provide a framework that coordinates and unifies neuroscience expertise at Western, Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre and other campus and community collaborators by creating an entity that provides academic leadership related to a shared vision, program alignment and advocacy.Brain Study explores lasting impacts of COVID-19
June 23, 2020
The COVID-19 Brain Study looks to recruit 50,000 individuals who received a confirmed positive diagnosis of the virus in order to answer pressing questions about the disease’s direct and indirect effects on the brain.Banting Fellowship puts postdoc’s work in motion
June 23, 2020
BrainsCAN postdoctoral scholar Jonathan Michaels has been awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship to continue his work around brain activity during reach control.2020 Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Internal Awards Announced
June 23, 2020
A special congratulations to all the Graduate and Undergraduate Award winners in Neuroscience: Matthew Demmings (PhD), Faraj Haddad (PhD), Michael MacKinley (PhD), Braeden Terpou (PhD), Rubina Malik (PhD), Mary Taylor (BSc) and Mila Uzelac (BSc).Feature: Even mild hits to the head in contact sports show obvious changes in the brain
June 18, 2020
New research from Ravi Menon, PhD, shows that mild impacts during a season of contact sports are causing subtle brain changes, even in the brains of otherwise, healthy symptom-free athletes. “Even with no concussions, the repetitive impact experienced by players clearly had effects on the brain,” he said.2019 CAN-CIHR-INMHA Brain Star Award Winners Announced
June 17, 2020
Congratulations to Rodger Hudson, a PhD student in Dr. Steven Laviolette's lab and Jeff Weiler, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Andrew Pruszynski's lab, co-supervised by Dr. Paul Gribble. They have both received a CAN-CIHR-INMHA BrainStar Award.Lena Schreyer named 3M National Student Fellow
May 22, 2020
Neuroscience undergraduate Lena Schreyer is one of 10 Canadian students awarded the prestigious 2020 3M National Student Fellowship AwardNEW: One-Time 2020 Graduate Student Summer Term Bursary
April 20, 2020
Working in partnership, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS), the Provost, and Faculties have created a one-time, needs-based 2020 Graduate Student Summer Term Bursary. This bursary will help to enable continuing full-time PhD students, and continuing full-time research Master’s students, to progress in their research programs without disruption despite the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.Western Launches Student Relief Fund
April 02, 2020
Western remains committed to the health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and campus community as the situation around the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. We know this is an especially challenging and disruptive time for our students, some of whom are facing significant challenges as they navigate the unexpected and far-reaching implications of COVID-19.Eight Schulich Medicine & Dentistry graduate trainees make Western 3MT finals
March 05, 2020
Congratulations to Gregory Brooks and Rebecca Kozak! They are two of eight graduate trainees from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry are among the 20 Western finalists at this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. The Western 3MT Finals take place on March 12 at the Wolf Performance Hall.Announcement: Susanne Schmid, PhD, has been appointed as the Vice Dean, Basic Medical Sciences
February 10, 2020
Susanne Schmid, PhD, has been appointed as the Vice Dean, Basic Medical Sciences, at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2025.Neuroscience controversy resolved: The hippocampus is not just a GPS
January 22, 2020
New research published in Nature Neuroscience uses virtual reality video games to show the hippocampus is mostly a memory device.Award: Dr. Ruth Lanius touted for military health research
October 29, 2019
Congratulations to Dr. Ruth Lanius, Professor, Psychiatry, who was honoured with the Banting Award for Military Health Research.Study targets ‘fingerprint’ of human consciousness
October 23, 2019
Western researchers have moved a step closer to identifying a ‘brain fingerprint’ for consciousness - a discovery that will unlock further understanding into why some patients, presumed to be vegetative, are still aware of the world them.Media Release: Cannabis study reveals how CBD offsets the psychiatric side-effects of THC
October 01, 2019
Steven Laviolette, PhD, and his research team including Vanier Scholar Roger Hudson have shown for the first time the molecular mechanisms at work that cause cannabidiol, or CBD, to block the psychiatric side-effects caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis.Eye movement opens door to memory formation
September 13, 2019
New research from Dr. Julio Martinez-Trujillo’s lab shows that eye movement directly influences the brain signals in the part of the brain responsible for new memory formation and recall.Dr. Ravi Menon named one of the new Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada
September 11, 2019
Congratulations to the new Fellows, elected by their peers in recognition of outstanding scholarly and scientific achievement.Announcement: Dr. Lena Palaniyappan has been appointed as the Endowed Tanna Schulich Chair of Neurosciences & Mental Health
August 15, 2019
Dr. Lena Palaniyappan has been appointed as the Endowed Tanna Schulich Chair of Neurosciences & Mental Health, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2024.In Memoriam: Michael Poulter, PhD
August 14, 2019
It is with great sadness that we share news of the unexpected passing of Michael Poulter, PhD, professor in Physiology and Pharmacology, Clinical Neurological Sciences and scientist at Robarts Research Institute. Poulter was a devoted scientist and teacher whose contributions to the School and the research community will be greatly missed.Announcement: New Canada Research Chairs
June 20, 2019
Congratulations to Corey Baron, PhD, and Marco Prado, PhD, who have been named among Western’s nine new Canada Research Chairs (CRCs).Parkinson's results beyond researchers' wildest dreams
June 04, 2019
An implantable device is restoring movement for Parkinson’s patients. "For them to go from being home-bound to being able to go on trips to the mall and have vacations is remarkable," said Dr. Mandar Jog.Study unlocks brain’s role in moving about
May 31, 2019
Every office or family has one – the colleague who mistakenly walked into a wall or the sibling who mistook a closed glass door for an open entrance.Dr. Jane Rylett appointed Scientific Director of CIHR's Institute of Aging
May 23, 2019
Neuroscientist and expert in Alzheimer research, Dr. Jane Rylett, named Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of AgingICU patients with non-brain-related injuries may suffer undetected cognitive dysfunction
April 16, 2019
A new study led by Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute has found that most patients entering hospital intensive care units (ICU) for non-brain-related injuries or ailments also suffer from some level of related cognitive dysfunction that currently goes undetected in most cases.New Interdisciplinary Collaborative Research Teams Receive Funding
April 12, 2019
Six new interdisciplinary research teams have received funding from the Collaborative Research Seed Grants (CRSG) program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.Using Artificial Intelligence and Brain Stimulation to Improve Treatment for Psychosis
March 25, 2019
A new grant from CIHR in collaboration with the EU consortium has provided a total of $2.1 million to establish a network of research centres focused on personalized medicine for mental disorders. In collaboration with five European centres, Dr. Lena Palaniyappan will be collecting brain scans and genetic information from more than 60,000 patients in order to understand the relationship between genetics and brain development.Researchers Committed to Open-Science Efforts
February 14, 2019
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentitry professors Tim Bussey and Marco Prado are enthusiastic about an open-science initiative – named MouseBytes – that highlights international collaboration among rodent-cognition researchers.MRI Technique Shows Unique Signatures of Concussion in Rugby Players
January 09, 2019
The research team used a technique that combined multiple brain imaging measures to be able to look at structural and functional information at the same time. The result was a much more sensitive and complete picture of concussion injury.Owen named Officer of British Empire
January 07, 2019
Renowned Western neuroscientist Adrian Owen has been named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) as part of the 2019 New Year’s Honours list recognizing “the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people” across the United Kingdom.Neuroscience grants promote teamwork
November 26, 2018
Two of the world’s most accomplished neuroscience centres – Western’s BrainsCAN and McGill’s Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives – are sharing their expertise in seven ground-breaking team projects.Ali Khan, PhD, named Canada Research Chair in Computational Neuroimaging
November 19, 2018
Ali Khan, PhD, was named the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Computational Neuroimaging. Khan is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Medical Biophysics, Scientist at Robarts Research Institute and member of the Neuroscience program.World’s largest sleep study shows too much shut-eye can be bad for your brain
November 16, 2018
Neuroscientists from Western University’s renowned Brain and Mind Institute released their findings in the high-impact journal, SLEEP.Graduate students win top prize in AI national competition
November 15, 2018
Congratulations to Qingfan Liu, Kartik Pradeepan and Megha Verma on their winning proposal “Opinion Galaxies: A Machine Learning Network Approach to Big Data in Medical Research”.Understanding and Treating the ‘Sacred Disease’
October 12, 2018
Epilepsy is a complicated neurological disorder with no clear answers. Solving the puzzle requires strong, interdisciplinary research – the kind taking place at Robarts Research Institute.2018 Schulich Award Recipients
October 12, 2018
Congratulations to the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Internal Graduate Awards recipientsStudy rules out potential treatment target for Alzheimer's
July 09, 2018
An unexpected result discovered by neuroscientists at Western University won’t prevent the formation and growth of Alzheimer’s disease but it potentially rules out a major potential treatment focusResearch shows if your eyes wrinkle when you smile or frown, you appear more sincere
June 12, 2018
Research led by Dr. Julio Martinez-Trujillo has shown that our brains are pre-wired to perceive wrinkles around the eyes as conveying more intense and more sincere emotions. This eye-wrinkle feature, called the Duchenne marker, occurs across multiple facial expressions, including smiles, expressions associated with pain, and—as found by these researchers—expressions of sadness.Researchers identify brain mechanism linking PTSD and addiction
April 25, 2018
Steven Laviolette, PhD, and his team at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry have shown that the recall of traumatic memories enhances the rewarding effects of morphine, shedding light on the neurobiological link between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid addiction.Researcher receives inaugural Early Career Award from the Society for Neural Control of Movement
February 05, 2018
Congratulations to Andrew Pruszynski, PhD, on receiving the inaugural Early Career Award from the Society for Neural Control of Movement (NCM).CIHR grant supports research of motor learning by observing
February 04, 2018
Paul Gribble has received a CIHR grant to research sensory motor neuroplasticity and motor learning by observing. The grant will allow Gribble to build on previous research and deepen the understanding of how the brain reacts to watching others perform an action.Announcement: David Cechetto appointed to the Order of Ontario
February 04, 2018
Congratulations to David Cechetto, PhD, who will be appointed to the Order of Ontario later this month. Cechetto is a Neuroscientist and professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry whose research focuses on the cardiovascular risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular cognitive impairment.Demystifying frontotemporal dementia
January 26, 2018
Unwavering determination earned PhD Candidate Tamara Tavares first place at Western's Three Minute Thesis competition in 2017. Through her success, she has raised awareness of frontotemporal dementia at the University level and beyond.Against the Dying Light
January 25, 2018
Drs. Rob Bartha, Michael Strong, Greg Dekaban, Jane Rylett, Marco Prado, Vania Prado, and Robert Petrella are using a collaborative approach that focuses on early detection and easing the strain on adults living with Alzheimer’s and their families.Announcement: Associate Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies
January 19, 2018
Dr. Susanne Schmid has been appointed as the Associate Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2022.Research uncovers new link between head trauma, CTE and ALS
January 16, 2018
Dr. Michael Strong and his team at Robarts Research Institute have uncovered a unique neurobiological pathway triggered by head trauma which underlies both Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease).Post-concussion brain changes persist even after pre-teen hockey players return to play
October 26, 2017
Young hockey players who have suffered concussions may still show changes in the white matter of the brain months after being cleared to return to playResearch feature: Why you don't look at your feet when you walk
September 29, 2017
Stephen Lomber, PhD, and a team of researchers at Western’s renowned Brain & Mind Institute are learning from the walking habits of cats by pinpointing a part of the brain involved in acquiring and maintaining the memory of obstacles in our environment.High Stakes for Canada's Youth
September 22, 2017
With marijuana legalization looming in Canada, scientists like Steven Laviolette, PhD, fear that the psychiatric disorders associated with the use of the drug haven’t been adequately studied and leave adolescent populations at riskLisa Saksida named Canada Research Chair
September 11, 2017
Lisa Saksida, PhD, has been named as the Canada Research Chair in Translational Cognitive Neuroscience allowing her to advance her work improving treatment outcomes by identifying novel therapeutic targets for cognitive abnormalities in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disease.Menon tapped as BrainsCAN Co-Scientific Director
July 13, 2017
Ravi Menon knows he and his fellow BrainsCAN researchers are on the clock. “Seven years sounds like a long time. But it is not, in terms of impact,” the Western researcher stressed.Sleep study gives BBC reporter a ‘wakeup call’
June 27, 2017
Award-winning BBC medical reporter Fergus Walsh spends three days at Western volunteering himself as one of the first participants in Dr. Adrian Owen’s sleep study.Western neuroscientist’s book examines the borderlines of consciousness
June 23, 2017
With the release of Western neuroscientist Adrian Owen’s book about the borderlines of consciousness, that phrase may well enter the international lexicon as a shorthand offering hope to intact minds locked within unresponsive bodies.Feature Article: Celebrating the Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Convocation with Lindsay Oliver
June 15, 2017
A newly minted PhD graduate of the Neuroscience program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Oliver discusses her thesis research on empathic function, her experiences leading up to her doctoral studies and the lessons she has learned during her time on campus.Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Internal Graduate Award recipients
June 13, 2017
The Neuroscience Program would like to congratulate Benjamin Kolisnyk, PhD, on receiving the Collip Medal Award; as well as our other award recipients Chris Norris, Niveen Fulcher and Alex Major.Game study not playing around with PTSD relief
May 26, 2017
Research by Dr. Ruth Lanius may offer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients wrestling with one of its main symptoms long-term relief beyond medication.CFMM receives Canada Brain Research Fund Grant
April 26, 2017
Western’s Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping (CFMM) is the recipient of a $2.7 million Platform Support Grant from the Canada Brain Research Fund, as part of $29 million in funding announced today by Jane Philpott, Minister of Health.Detecting dementia takes top spot at 3MT competition
April 18, 2017
Tamara Tavares, a PhD Candidate at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, took the top spot in Western’s sixth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition last week, tackling the complex world of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder.Dr. Lena Palaniyappan receives Young Investigator Award
April 10, 2017
Dr. Lena Palaniyappan, an associate professor with the Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Medical Biophysics and scientist at Robarts Research Institute, received the 2017 Young Investigator Award from the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology (CCNP).London Health Research Day award winner
March 29, 2017
Congratulations to Julia Sunstrum, MSc candidate, as one of the first place winners of the Feature Platform Presentations.Brian Corneil named Faculty Scholar
March 27, 2017
Congratulations to Brian Corneil, a member of the Neuroscience program, on being named Faculty Scholar by Western University.Winners announced for the 2017 Proteus Innovation Competition
March 20, 2017
Congratulations to Team Apex and Alexander Moszczynski, PhD Candidate.Brain cells show teamwork in short-term memory, Western-led study shows
March 10, 2017
Nerve cells in our brains work together in harmony to store and retrieve short-term memory, and are not solo artists as was previously thought, Western-led brain research has determined.Goodale's findings published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
October 24, 2016
An international team of neuroscientists has shown that a person’s ability to see fine visual detail can be sharpened by simply staring for a few seconds at a rapidly flickering display.Hormone may be key to relief for patients, caregivers
October 13, 2016
While there is no cure for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), one Western researcher is looking to mitigate symptoms of the disease for patients and, in turn, lessen the heavy burden faced by caregivers.Media Release: Research reveals brain mechanisms behind defensive responses in PTSD
September 30, 2016
Dr. Ruth Lanius and her team have shown that patients with PTSD may be constantly poised for defensive action.Researchers examine toll of war on school-bound Syrian refugee kids
September 09, 2016
Beginning a new school year can be an anxious time for some children. For those shattered by early psychological trauma, it can be especially fraught with emotion.Researchers awarded five CIHR Foundation Grants
July 22, 2016
From developing state-of-the-art techniques to image bones and joints while in motion, to helping more people receive a kidney transplant, researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry have been awarded close to $30 million in funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). More than half of that funding was awarded to five projects through CIHR's new foundation grants.Researchers awarded millions in CIHR funding
July 22, 2016
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is proud to share that almost $30 million in CIHR funding was awarded to its researchers in the latest round of competition. 34 projects were funded across the School, Robarts Research Institute, and Lawson Health Research Institute including $14.8 million in project grants, and more than $15 million in foundation grants. Congratulations to all of the successful applicants.Canadian research: Another step forward towards the understanding of epilepsy
July 11, 2016
Dr. Michael Poulter explains the link between stress and epilepsyCommemorating 25 years of excellence in neuroscience
June 28, 2016
The program celebrated the success it has had over the past quarter of a century by bringing together students, trainees, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members and alumni at its Neuroscience 25th Anniversary Research Day on May 27.Media Release: Understanding how chemical changes in the brain affect Alzheimer’s disease
June 23, 2016
A new study from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is helping to explain why the long-term use of common anticholinergic drugs used to treat conditions like allergies and overactive bladder lead to an increased risk of developing dementia later in life. The findings show that long-term suppression of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine results in dementia-like changes in the brain.Western Gold Medal Awarded to Eric Salter
June 23, 2016
We congratulate all of our graduates from the Honors Specialization in Neuroscience.Graduate Scholarship and Award Winners
June 22, 2016
Congratulations to all of our recent scholarship and award recipientsMarco Prado receives funding from Alzheimer Society
June 10, 2016
The grant will provide the Robarts scientist with more than $145,000 in funding over two years and supports his research into the basic biological mechanisms of the disease.Wataru Inoue, PhD, earns New Investigator Fellowship
May 24, 2016
Wataru Inoue, PhD, received a New Investigator Fellowship from the Ontario Mental Health Foundation.Technology delivers personalized treatment to patients with tremors
May 24, 2016
For patients who suffer from Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, writing a grocery list or taking a drink from a cup can be a daily struggle due to disabling arm tremor. Now, technology developed in London provides a personalized therapy that is giving new hope for these patients.Advocating for cutting-edge concussion research
May 13, 2016
Eric Lindros, former NHLer and See the Line Honorary, stopped by Robarts to get an update on the Institute's cutting-edge concussion research.Opening the mind with the Brain and Mind Institute
May 12, 2016
Adrian Owen, Professor in the Department of Psychology, is conducting research using fMRI technology to communicate with people thought to be in “vegetative states”.Chemical in marijuana shows promise in treating schizophrenia
May 05, 2016
Researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry demonstrate that a chemical found in marijuana called cannabidiol affects the brain in a way that makes it an ideal treatment option for schizophrenia.Jessica Grahn is named a 2016 Faculty Scholar
April 18, 2016
Congratulations to Jessica Grahn, Department of Psychology, as one of this years recipients of the awardFirst winners of the Social Science Dean’s Excellence Award for Teaching
April 15, 2016
Congratulations to David Sherry, Department of Psychology, as one of the inaugural winners.Congratulations to the Awards of Excellence recipients
April 12, 2016
We are pleased to announce the 2016 Awards of Excellence award recipients and the recipient of the Dr. John D. Brown Memorial Resident Award. It is with great pride that we honour these talented and dedicated individuals. We look forward to celebrating each of them at the Celebration of Excellence event, May 19, at the Great Hall.Listen to your heart – it may tell you something about memory
April 05, 2016
Follow your heart because a new study from Western University shows that your memories already do. Investigators at Western’s renowned Brain and Mind Institute have discovered that signals from inside your body can affect memories.Stefan Everling named Faculty Scholar
March 29, 2016
Congratulations to Stefan Everling, PhD, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology on being selected as one of Western University's 2016 Faculty Scholars.Research offers hand to understanding motor control
March 09, 2016
As the Western Research Chair for Motor Control and Computational Neuroscience, and part of the Brain and Mind Institute, Diedrichsen explores how the brain produces movement, particularly for the hand, in hopes of unlocking better treatments for stroke victims, spinal cord damage and other motor control disorders.Congratulations to six new Collaborative Research Seed Grants (CRSG) recipients
February 24, 2016
Dr. Stephen Pasternak is one of 6 new recipients of the recent competition. CRSG provides approximately $250,000 in seed funding for the formation and development of new interdisciplinary collaborative research teams.Two prestigious Canada Research Chairs named at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry
February 10, 2016
Congratulations to Schulich Medicine & Dentistry researchers Eric Arts and Andrew Pruszynski on being named Canada Research Chairs (CRC). Arts has been named Tier 1 CRC in HIV Pathogenesis and Viral Control, and Pruszynski has been named Tier 2 CRC in Sensorimotor Neuroscience.Advancing the Alzheimer's cause
February 01, 2016
The Prado lab is working hard to understand the biology behind Alzheimer's disease. A recent publication in the Journal of Neuroscience shows a promising new potential therapeutic target that could decrease cognitive dysfunction in the disease...Raising awareness for the traumatic, untold stories
January 22, 2016
With media coverage of PTSD on the rise, the acronym has become a common household term. Drs. Paul Frewen and Ruth Lanius want to use events like Bell Let's Talk Day to shed light on the role traumatic life events can play in mental health issues.Exposure to marijuana in adolescence causes schizophrenia-like changes in the brain
January 20, 2016
Researchers have published a study showing the significant, long-term impacts of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive component in marijuana – on the adolescent brain.Advancing the Alzheimer’s cause
January 14, 2016
Robarts scientists Marco Prado, PhD and Vania Prado, DDS, PhD, along with their lab and collaborator Michael Jackson from The University of Manitoba, have shown that this particular gene, TRPM2, is responsible for coding a protein linked to toxicity in Alzheimer’s.Construction set to begin on new research building
December 18, 2015
University planners hope a new campus facility will provide researchers across varied disciplines an environment conducive to confronting the biggest questions facing society.Researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry receive funding from ALS Canada
December 18, 2015
In Canada, approximately 2,000 - 3,000 people are currently living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and two to three people with ALS die each day. Researchers at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry are working to improve these statistics, and recent support from ALS Canada will help make this possible.London’s newest (academic) supergroup
November 21, 2015
Western University’s Brain and Mind Institute and the nearby Don Wright Faculty of Music have started to jam; call it the academic equivalent of the Traveling Wilburys.Postdoctoral scholar strikes more Gold with research
October 26, 2015
Western neuroscientist Melanie Kok, PhD’15 (Neuroscience), has gone from athletic medals to academic medals with her research on the cerebral cortex for which she was recognized with a 2015 Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal.Neuroscience Graduate Scholarship and Awards
July 22, 2015
Congratulations to our most recent graduate student scholarship and award recipients.Jonathan & Joshua Memorial Graduate Scholarship
July 09, 2015
Tamara Tavares has been awarded the Jonathan & Joshua Memorial Scholarship for Doctoral students. The award was given in recognition of her research specializing in the neuroscience of mental health disorders. She works in the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Finger and Derek Mitchell, PhD. Congratulations Tamara!Dr. Susanne Schmid has been appointed to the position of the Director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program
June 22, 2015
Dr. Susanne Schmid, associate professor, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, has been appointed to the position of the Director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program, at Western University effective July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018Congratulations to our Graduates
June 12, 2015
The inaugural Honors Specialization in Neuroscience class graduated on Thursday, June 11, 2015.Ravi Menon, PhD, selected as senior fellow by International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine for lifetime achievements in brain imaging research
June 01, 2015
For 30 years, Ravi Menon, PhD, has paved the way for key developments in the field of brain imaging research.Brain Star Award
May 07, 2015
Chao Gu, has been awarded a 2014 Brain Star Award from the CIHR-Institute for Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction.Western adds two new Canada Research Chairs, three more renewed
April 14, 2015
Already recognized as one of the world’s top centres for cognitive neuroscience and imaging research, Western University’s Brain & Mind Institute has added two new Canada Research Chairs. Its director, Melvyn Goodale, also had his Chair renewed for seven years. The Chairs are among Canada’s highest research honours.CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Director, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience
March 25, 2015
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, at Western University is seeking applications for the position of Director, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, to be effective July 1, 2015.Untangling the mysteries of Alzheimer’s
October 15, 2014
Drs. Virginia M.-Y. Lee and John Q. Trojanowski are on the front lines of a battle with one of the biggest global threats of the 21st century – one that continues to escalate and impact millions around the world.London researchers help lead national consortium on dementia and aging
September 12, 2014
Four Schulich Medicine & Dentistry researchers, Jane Rylett, Robert Bartha, Manuel Montero-Odasso, and Dr. Michael Borrie are leading the charge as part of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA), a collaborative research program focused on tackling the challenge of dementia and other neurodegenerative illnesses.Leaders in Innovation Dinner 2014 to celebrate neurological disorders with special guest Victor Garber
August 19, 2014
Robarts Research Institute presents Leaders in Innovation Dinner 2014. The evening will celebrate research innovations in neurological disorders and the achievements of the 2014 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine recipients, Virginia M.-Y. Lee, PhD, and John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD.Scholarship helps bring two PhD Candidates closer to their goals in mental health research
July 30, 2014
As the most recent recipients of The Jonathan & Joshua Memorial Graduate Scholarship, Nole Hiebert and Tamara Tavares are one step closer to achieving their goals in mental health research.Scholarships recognize students finding answers in Alzheimer's disease
July 30, 2014
Congratulations to Lindsay Oliver and Jennifer Au on being selected as this year’s recipients of the Masters and Doctoral Scholarships sponsored by the Alzheimer Society London and Middlesex.Researchers help start something BIG in London
July 10, 2014
Robarts Scientists Arthur Brown, PhD, and Greg Dekaban, PhD, are thrilled to see that what started out as a phone call to the head of athletics at Western University has quickly snowballed into a city-wide, cross-disciplinary effort to understand concussions from every possible angle.Research shows differences in brain during self-injury
June 18, 2014
A study led by Dr. Elizabeth Osuch of the Department of Psychiatry has shown that there are functional brain differences between people who deliberately self-harm and those who don’t. The finding, which was reported in the journal Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, helps increase understanding of why pain, which should be aversive, becomes reinforcing for some people.Dr. Mandar Jog honoured as a 2014 Faculty Scholar
March 27, 2014
Dr. Mandar Jog, Professor, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Neurology, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, has been selected as one of 13 Faculty Scholars recognized for their significant achievements in teaching or research.Susan Simpson honoured with Western Award of Excellence
December 03, 2024
Congratulations to Susan Simpson, Neuroscience Program Coordinator, who was named a 2018 Western Awards of Excellence recipient, the highest honour for staff member achievement.Rugby study shows metabolite changes in the brain
December 03, 2024
Researchers at Robarts Research Institute have shown that a regular season of play can cause changes in the brain that are similar to changes caused by concussion, though less severe.
