Dr. Cornelia Walther receives Bell funding to probe deeper into the brain

Dr. Cornelia Walther, postdoctoral fellow, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry was honoured at a recent luncheon in Toronto as one of seven recipients across the country of the inaugural Bell Mental Health Research Training Award in partnership with Brain Canada.

The award - a $50,000 annual fellowship for three years - is part of a $1-million partnership between Bell and Brain Canada. Bell is contributing $500,000 over three years which is being matched by the federal government in an initiative to promote the next generation of Canadian mental health researchers by providing the most talented with guidance, mentorship and training under the direction of world-leading researchers.

Working with Dr. Stephen Ferguson at Robarts Research Institute, Dr. Walther's research investigates the cellular basis for how stress promotes anxiety and depression. Her research will explore the interaction between two receptor proteins in the brain, one involved in the action of an important stress hormone, and the other for a neurotransmitter involved in depression. Ultimately, this knowledge may allow for the development of more effective therapies that will break the link between stressful experiences and subsequent development of depression.

Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk, congratulated the winners thanking them for their commitment to such important work. "Bell is proud to be supporting the next generation of brain research through the Bell Mental Health Research Training Awards. We are excited about your potential and we look forward to seeing the results of your research," she said.

Brain Canada is a national charitable organization with the mission of accelerating the pace of Canada's world-class brain research in order to advance our understanding of the brain, and develop diagnostics, treatments and ultimately cures for brain disorders. The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative has committed more than $62 million to promote mental health across Canada. Through the initiative, Bell funds new research, invests in better access to care, and encourages workplace best practices, while working to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.