World-renowned neuroscience initiatives
Dalhousie is home to the largest neuroscience research cluster in Canada, a dedicated group of scientists who are respected around the world. The Brain Repair Centre (BRC) is the focal point, with more than 100 scientists and physicians searching for innovative treatments and cures for spinal cord injury and brain disorders like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and multiple sclerosis.
In addition to brain repair, Dalhousie’s neuroscience research effort encompasses the full range of psychiatric illnesses and sleep disorders, chronic pain and pain in children, post-stroke rehabilitation, a major vision research program based in the DMRF-funded Retina and Optic Nerve Research Lab, and even language comprehension testing in children.
DMRF Awards first Molly Neuroscience Traineeships
The 2006 Molly Appeal was dedicated to neuroscience. For the first time, proceeds of the Appeal were used to create scholarships. The public responded enthusiastically to this appeal, donating about $240,000 to the Molly Neuroscience Traineeships and the future of neuroscience research at Dalhousie University. The program will provide substantial salary support to 15 graduate students over the next three years.
DMRF awarded a total of $40,000 to the first five Molly Neuroscience Trainees in August 2007. Each student received $8,000 to help them pursue neuroscience studies under the supervision of senior Dalhousie researchers.
DMRF gives $500K to Brain Repair Centre's Cell Restoration Lab
DMRF committed the proceeds of the 2002 Molly Appeal to the Brain Repair Centre. The campaign raised $147,000 which, combined with two large bequests, enabled DMRF to provide $500,000 to the Brain Repair Centre in 2003. This money and contributions from Capital Health District gave the Brain Repair Centre matching funds to obtain $2.1 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund and open the Cell Restoration Lab. This sophisticated new facility focuses on stem cell technologies for regenerating brain cells lost to injury and disease.
DMRF supports neuroscience research chairs
Through a variety of funding arrangements, DMRF is supporting several research chairs in the field of neuroscience – the Kathryn Allen Weldon Chair in Alzheimer Research, the Joan and Jack Craig Chair in Autism Research, the Chair in Vision Research, and the Sun Life Chair in Adolescent Mental Health. For more detailed information, visit the Chairs in Medical Research section of our site.
Learn more about Dalhousie Medical School's neuroscience researchers.