May 2016 Newsletter

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    Unlocking secrets of the unconscious brain

    There is no easy way to accurately predict the future of a patient who has fallen into a state of unconsciousness. Loretta Norton, MSc’10, PhD Candidate, hopes to change this with the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology.

  • decorative imageWriting a success story of her own
    Catherine Farrell, PhD’89, made the decision to live out her own version of success by launching Paradigm Shift Therapeutics — an early-stage drug discovery company.

  • decorative imageTaking time to recognize your achievements
    Convocation marks an important milestone in the lives of students and trainees. Andrew Watson, PhD, associate dean, offers three reasons you should embrace this special ceremony.

  • decorative imageReflections on recent travels to China
    Doug Jones, PhD, vice dean, discusses what events took place during his recent trip to China, and how this internationalization work fits into the School's strategic plan.

  • decorative imageSeven reasons why being a graduate trainee is great
    From the places he has visited, to the moments of discovery in the lab, Alex Moszczynski, chair, Graduate Students Council, shares why he enjoys being a trainee.

  • decorative imageDedicated to DNA damage discovery
    In this Q&A, new faculty member Murray Junop, PhD, discusses his current research on the proteins that direct DNA repair, how his career in academia unfolded, and what he enjoys most about working with graduate trainees.

  • Celebrating our achievements
    Congratulations to Ashley Schormans, Alex Levit, Ornela Kljakic, Amy Burke, Ciara Pendrith and other graduate trainees and postdoctoral fellows at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry on their recent achievements.

  • Video: New virtual reality 'toolbox' allows for cross-species brain testing
    Dr. Julio Martinez-Trujillo, associate professor, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, and Roberto A. Gulli and Guilliaume Doucet from the Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory at Robarts Research Institute, have developed a virtual reality 'toolbox' that can be used to build video games with a unique capacity for teaching and testing humans and animal models.

  • Chemical in marijuana shows promise in treating schizophrenia
    Steven Laviolette, PhD, associate professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Justine Renard, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, demonstrate that a chemical found in marijuana called cannabidiol affects the brain in a way that makes it an ideal treatment option for schizophrenia.

  • Turning science fiction into science fact
    Lauren Flynn, PhD, associate professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, provides a commentary on the importance of the stem cell research taking place at the School.

  • Patients may benefit from ‘cool’ research
    Drs. Stephen Lownie and David Pelz are studying a safe way to selectively cool a brain hemisphere, which may increase the number of people who can benefit from newer stroke treatments by doubling the treatment window.

  • Top stories from April 2016 Current Affairs
    Did you miss the April 2016 issue of Current Affairs? Read the top stories on an unexpected path to regenerative medicine, making personal wellness your number one priority, and the yin and yang of cannabis research.