Transplantation research holds promise

A true northerner, Kenneth Valyear, PhD has always loved hockey. As a youth, it wasn't just a pastime, it was a passion. Still a fan, he has come a long way from his hockey playing days in North Bay, Ontario.

A Governor General Gold Medal, and Collip Medal recipient in 2011, he is now pursuing his postdoctoral fellow in neuroscience at the University of Missouri. His most recent work, alongside Principle Investigator Dr. Scott Frey, investigating grasping in patients who have undergone hand transplantation years, or even decades, after experiencing traumatic amputation of their natural hand could have life altering ramifications.

A self-described "usual kid" who often got himself in trouble, Valyear excelled academically. Although he had a propensity for math and science early on, his true interests for science emerged later in high school. He arrived on the Western campus eager and excited to learn more about cellular and molecular biology.

The ever modest Valyear fully credits faculty members at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry for inspiring him to pursue research and delve into the complex field of neurosciences.

He recalls the passionate and dedicated teaching of Dr. John Mitchell in his first year biopsychology course and how it piqued his interest in the complex workings of the brain. Added to that was the guidance and opportunities provided by Dr. Scott MacDougall-Shackleton. MacDougall-Shackleton took Valyear under his wing for course credit for an independent research project, later hiring him as a summer research assistant. These experiences sparked an insatiable desire to learn more about the brain.

The chance to work as a full-time research assistant for Drs. Jody Culham and Mel Goodale really inspired and cultivated a passion for research for Valyear. "It was during this time that I realized a career in neuroscience was what I wanted to do. It was not just the exceptional training and experiences, or the fantastic opportunities that were provided, but rather their ongoing support and encouragement that made all the difference."

Valyear chose Western for its strong reputation. He hadn't been here too long, before he realized just how much it had to offer. "It's simply a special place," he said. "There are just so many great people there - such an incredible, collegial atmosphere made up of so many diverse and brilliant individuals."

He has taken all of these experiences and is now channeling them into understanding how the brain supports the control of actions that are essential for daily life activities, like grasping and using objects. Sound simple? It's not.

His work with patients who have undergone the surgical transplantation of a biological hand has significant and far reaching potential. Valyear hopes that this project will have an impact on the long-term success of therapeutic and rehabilitative approaches for the treatment of patients with injuries that affect the limbs, spinal cord and the brain. It will also advance basic understanding of the brain mechanisms that underlie object grasping and manipulation. According to Valyear, the research will have important implications for the advancement of neural prosthetics - where the aim is to convert brain signals encoding actions into outputs capable of controlling external devices (e.g. a robotic arm), ultimately used to restore motor function and control to patients with movement problems.

Excited about the possibilities that his research can offer to people, Valyear is feeling settled in at the University of Missouri. Ever mindful of his roots, he remains a huge fan of Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Western University and of course the NHL.