Neuroscience Axis

Leaders:
Salvatore Carbonetto
Robert James Dunn 

Research Themes:
– Brain Tumor Research
– Imaging
– Regeneration
– Growth and Survival of Neurons
– Biology of Excitable Tissues
– Cognitive Neuroscience
– Complex Neural Systems
– Epilepsy
– Nerve and Muscle Research
– Neuroimmunology
– Neurogenetics
– Cerebrovascular Diseases
– Visual Neuroscience
– Neuroscience Nursing
– Clinical Research

The major goals of this axis are to promote the development of therapeutic approaches to neurological disease through a program of basic and clinical research. Translational research programs, including clinical trials, are being conducted on a range of neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, migraine, brain aneurysms and brain tumours.

The field of neuroscience is rapidly advancing due primarily to the development of new, high resolution brain imaging methods. The McConnell Brain Imaging Centre is a world leader in the development and application of these technologies and is a critical component in many of our clinical research programs. Using state of the art MRI, PET and MEG scanners, innovative imaging approaches are being developed for analysis and treatment of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.

The axis is also enhancing its efforts, and visualization of behavioural and disease related changes in the brain, using the extremely high resolution of confocal microscopy in mice and rats. This cutting-edge technology allows researchers to document changes at individual synapses in animals subjected to learning paradigms or with neurodegenerative disorders.