Competition 1 Review Process
For this first competition in Fall 2017, each of the four HBHL Research Themes was invited to submit an application based on a series of workshops held in Summer 2017 in which research priorities were identified. A panel of fourteen peer reviewers from primarily international universities was established based suggestions provided by all applicants. Three to four reviewers evaluated each application and provided scores and comments. Applicants were asked to provide written responses to the reviewers' comments to improve the research proposals. Reviewer comments and applicant responses were discussed by the HBHL Strategic Steering Committee, which approved funding for all four applications. Individuals expressing conflicts of interest withdrew themselves from the evaluations and discussions as necessary. Disbursement of the funds began in Spring 2018.
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Funded Projects
Theme 1: Integrative analytics for multi-modal, multi-scale neuroscience
Brain function depends on a delicate balance between physiological, genetic and environmental factors. How these factors interact and influence the brain and mind remains unknown. However, advances in technology and analytical methods, as well as the more widespread assessment of expressed traits in individuals, have created new opportunities to address this question. This project aims to develop an analytical framework using genetic data, different types of imaging and behaviour to understand and predict biological progression in healthy individuals and those suffering from neurological disorders. This involves using existing analytical tools to look at factors related to brain function and dysfunction. The research team is working together with other groups within HBHL to develop tools that can be used to research neurodegeneration, neurodevelopment and learning
Principal Investigator: Bratislav Misic
Co-PIs: Doina Precup (海角社区), Celia Greenwood (海角社区), Alan Evans (海角社区), Jean-Baptiste Poline (海角社区)
Collaborators: Alain Dagher (海角社区), Julien Doyon (海角社区), Lana Vasung (Harvard University), Pedro Valdes Sosa (Cuban Neurosciences Centre), Michael Hawrylycz (Allen Institute), Lesley Fellows (海角社区), Michael Meaney (海角社区), Karim Jerbi (Universit茅 de Montr茅al), Yasser Iturria-Medina (海角社区)
Funding received: $1,500,000
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Theme 2: A platform for biocomputational models of neurodegenerative disease
Recent research has caused us to re-think how we understand most, if not all, neurodegenerative diseases. It suggests that toxic misfolded proteins can travel through the brain's neuronal networks, but this idea remains controversial. This project seeks to answer several outstanding questions about Parkinson's Disease (PD) using an approach that combines cell biology, genetics, animal studies, clinical studies and computer research. Funding from HBHL will establish a platform to study PD and other neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases that involve the spread of toxicity through brain networks. Specifically, the project will: (i) look into how proteins can spread and become misfolded; (ii) collect data from patients with Parkinson's Disease and early-stage conditions; and (iii) create computer models to better understand protein spreading.
Principal investigator: Alain Dagher
Co-PIs: Edward Fon (海角社区), Thomas Durcan (海角社区), Peter McPherson (海角社区), Ziv Gan-Or (海角社区), Mallar Chakravarty (海角社区), Louis Collins (海角社区), Ronald Postuma (海角社区)
Collaborators: Stefano Stifani (海角社区), Gerhard Multhaup (海角社区), Kelvin Luk (University of Pennsylvania), Bratislav Misic (海角社区)
Funding received: $1,499,430
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Theme 3: Brain plasticity mediating improved memories through online and offline stimulation methods in healthy adults and patients with a chronic neurological condition
Memories are a fundamental part of our identity because they guide our behaviour in everyday life activities. When the ability to form and maintain memories is disrupted, life becomes increasingly difficult and isolating. Many studies have been carried out to understand the mechanisms of memory formation, but there is still a lot we still don鈥檛 know about the brain processes by which this occurs or why it sometimes fails. This project intends to fill these knowledge gaps; advances in the field are extremely important because memory problems caused by ageing and disease have significant personal and economic consequences.
Principal investigators: Julien Doyon
Co-PIs: Robert Zatorre (海角社区), Sylvain Baillet (海角社区), Mallar Chakravarty (海角社区), 脡tienne de Villers Sidani (海角社区), Lesley Fellows (海角社区), Madeleine Sharp (海角社区), Julie Carrier (Universit茅 de Montr茅al), Adrian Owen (Western University)
Collaborators: Genevi猫ve Albouy (KU Leuven), Philippe Albouy (海角社区), Emily Coffey (Eberhard Karls Universit盲t T眉bingen), Nir Grossman (Imperial College London), Bradley King (KU Leuven), Bratislav Misic (海角社区), Stephan Swinnen (KU Leuven)
Funding Received: $1,499,850
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Theme 4: Translational neuroscience and Canadian society
This project aims to advance the position of neuroscience in the development of Canadian government policy by creating research programs that focus on important issues facing society. Its objective is to develop evidence-based public policy built around neuroscience research that can be used by all levels of Canadian government, agencies and businesses. The project consists of four sub-projects that each focus on a different population: (1) Brain health in the workplace and university; (2) A First Nations regional biobank; (3) Maternal mental health; and (4) SES mobility and brain health. It will provide important infrastructure for collecting data, which will be used as the basis for future and ongoing interventions.
Principal investigators: Michael MacKenzie
Co-PIs: Laurence Kirmayer, Xiangfei Meng, Kieran O鈥橠onnell (currently at Yale University), Tuong-Vi Nguyen, Sonia Lupien (UdeM), Isabelle Ouellet-Morin (Universit茅 de Montr茅al), Michael Kobor (University of British Columbia), Gerald McKinley (Western University), Gustavo Turecki (海角社区), Robert Hemmings (海角社区), Celia Greenwood (海角社区)
Collaborators: Amy Bombay (Dalhousie University), Candice Odgers (University of California, Irvine), Carl D鈥橝rcy (University of Saskatchewan), Hymie Anisman (Carlton University), Kimberly Matheson (Ottawa Institute of Mental Health)Anita Benoit (University of Toronto), Robyn Jane McQuaid (Royal Institute of Mental Health), Mindy Denny (Union of Nova Scotia Indians)
Funding received: $1,499,270
