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Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Dr. Michael J Strong, MD, FRCP(C), FAAN, FCAHS

Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Distinguished University Professor, The University of Western Ontario

To reach the Dean, please contact his Executive Assistant Nicole Farrell
Phone: (519) 661-2111 x89258
Fax: (519) 850-2357 nicole.farrell@schulich.uwo.ca

 

For general inquiries, please call (519) 661-3459

Mailing address:

Office of the Dean
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Rm 3701a, Don Rix Clinical Skills Building
The University of Western Ontario
London, ON  N6A 5C1   CANADA

 

Dr. Michael Strong is Dean of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and Distinguished University Professor at The University of Western Ontario. He also holds the Arthur J. Hudson Chair in ALS Research.  He undertook his undergraduate training in biochemistry and medicine at Queens University in Kingston (1976 – 1982), neurology training at The University of Western Ontario (1982 – 1987), and postgraduate training at the Laboratory of Central Nervous System Studies (director - D. Carleton Gadjusek, Nobel Laureate) at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland under the supervision of Ralph M. Garruto, PhD (1987 - 1990).  Dr Strong is a scientist at the Robarts Research Institute, and served from 2000 to 2010 as the Chief of Neurology and Co-chair of the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences at the London Health Sciences Centre and The University of Western Ontario. He has also served as Co-chair of the Canadian ALS Research Consortium and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the ALS Society of Canada.

Dr Strong is the editor of the text  “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and the Frontotemporal Dementias” (Oxford University Press, 2010), “Dementia and Motor Neuron Disease” (Taylor & Francis Press) co-editor with Professor Pamela Shaw of the text “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis” (Blue Book Series).  He has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles, 25 chapters and has given over 100 invited lectures nationally and internationally related to his research in ALS. Dr. Strong was awarded the Sheila Essay Award in 2005 and the Forbes Norris Award in 2008, and is the only Canadian to have received both international awards for ALS research.  He was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology in 2008.  In 2009, he was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. 

His research has focused on understanding the cellular biology of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and has led to an understanding of the mechanisms by which intracellular deposits of protein (composed primarily of neurofilament) are formed, and how these aggregates contribute to the disease process of ALS.  This has led to Dr Strong’s laboratory defining novel mRNA binding proteins that contribute to alterations in the stability of neurofilament mRNA in ALS.  This includes TDP-43, 14-3-3 proteins, mutant SOD1 proteins – each of which has been found to be linked to the pathogenesis of protein aggregates in ALS.  Most recently, his laboratory has identified RGNEF as a novel human NFL mRNA binding protein.  In addition, both his clinical and laboratory research have focused on understanding the nature of cognitive changes in ALS.  This has led to a series of studies, ultimately demonstrating that cognitive changes in ALS are associated with alterations in the tau protein metabolism.  This discovery represents a fundamental shift in our understanding of the biology of ALS. 

 

Current funding: 

“MicroRNA (miRNA) modulation of NFL mRNA degradation and translational silencing in ALS:  a novel window to the understanding of RNA stability in ALS”, 2009, ALS Society of Canada Senior Investigator Bridge Funding, $100,000

“The role of TDP-43 in regulating NFL mRNA metabolism”, 2008-2011, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 194,394/annum

“MicroRNA (miRNA) modulation of NFL mRNA degradation and translational silencing in ALS”, 2010-2013, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 164,000/annum 

 

Selected publications relevant to the submission:

  1. Strong MJ. The evidence for altered RNA metabolism in ALS. J Neurol Sci 2010; 288(1-2):1-12

  2. Szaro BG, Strong MJ.  Post-transcriptional control of neurofilament expression: new roles in axon development, regeneration, and neurodegenerative disease.  TINS 2009; Nov 9 [Epub ahead of print]

  3. Volkening K, Leystra Lantz C, Yang WC, Jaffe H, Strong MJ. Tar DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), 14-3-3 proteins and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) interact to modulate NFL mRNA stability.  Implications for altered RNA processing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  Brain Res. 2009; doi:10.1016/brainres.2009.09.105

  4. Volkening K, Leystra-Lantz C, Strong MJ. Human low molecular weight neurofilament (NFL) mRNA interacts with a predicted p190RhoGEF homologue (RGNEF). Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis 2009; Jun 1:1-7. [Epub ahead of print]

  5. Moisse K, Volkening K, Leystra-Lantz C, Welch I, Hill T, Strong MJ. Divergent patterns of cytosolic TDP-43 and neuronal progranulin expression following axotomy.  Brain Research 2009 Jan 16;1249:202-11

  6. Moisse K, Mepham J, Volkening K, Welch I, Hill T, Strong MJ.  Cytosolic TDP-43 expression following axotomy is associated with caspase 3 activation in NFL-/- mice: support for a role for TDP-43 in the physiological response to neuronal injury.  Brain Research 2009;1296:176-86

  7. Strong MJ, Volkening K, Hammond R, Wang WC, Strong W, Leystra-Lantz C, Shoesmith C.  TDP43 is a human low molecular weight neurofilament (hNFL) mRNA binding protein.  Mol Cell Neurosci. 2007;35(2):320-327. Epub 2007 Mar 20

  8. Ge W, Volkening K, Leystra-Lantz C, Jaffe H, Strong MJ.  14-3-3 protein binds to the low molecular weight neurofilament (NFL) mRNA 3' UTR.  Mol Cell Neurosci. 2007;34(1):80-7. Epub 2006 Nov 13

  9. Ge W, Wen W, Strong WL, Leystra-Lantz C, Strong MJ.  Mutant copper/zinc superoxide dismutase binds to and destabilizes human low molecular weight neurofilament mRNA. J. Biol. Chem. 2005; 280(1): 118-24. Epub 2004 Oct 25