Research determines how the brain recognizes what’s important at first glance.
Researchers at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies (CNS) at Queen’s University have discovered that a region of the brain – the superior colliculus – contains a mechanism responsible for interpreting how visual input from a scene determines where we look. This mechanism, known as a visual salience map, allows the brain to quickly identify and act on the most important information in the visual field, and is a basic mechanism for our everyday vision. Continue reading →
Recent events at home and abroad foreshadow a more divided and closed world. As such, the Canadian Association for Neuroscience wants to state their position that science can and must remain a builder of bridges between the peoples of all nations, regardless of differences in political views, religious beliefs or country of origin. Scientists around the world share a desire to advance knowledge in ways that benefit all humans. Continue reading →
Scientists identify mechanism for brain dysfunction following seizures and drugs that prevent this impairment from occurring.
Six years ago, Cam Teskey, PhD, decided to follow a hunch. Armed with an advanced new tool designed to measure oxygen levels in tissues, he wanted to look at the brains of rats to see what was happening during seizures. Continue reading →
Have you ever met someone who just wasn’t into music? They may have a condition called specific musical anhedonia, which affects three-to-five per cent of the population.
Researchers at the University of Barcelona and the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of McGill University have discovered that people with this condition showed reduced functional connectivity between cortical regions responsible for processing sound and subcortical regions related to reward. Continue reading →
Drug shown to reduce new attacks/symptom progression in some patients
In separate clinical trials, a drug called ocrelizumab has been shown to reduce new attacks in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), and new symptom progression in primary progressive MS.
Three studies conducted by an international team of researchers, which included Amit Bar-Or and Douglas Arnold from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of McGill University, have discovered that ocrelizumab can significantly reduce new attacks in patients with relapsing MS, as well as slow the progression of symptoms caused by primary progressive MS. Continue reading →
Imagine a fender bender at an intersection. It’s a common occurrence and, usually, someone is at fault. But ask any police officer and you’ll find the blame may not be all that easy to determine. The stories from the drivers involved often oppose one another and eye-witness reports also may reveal striking differences in how the accident unfolded. Continue reading →
Intellectual disability is characterized by significant impairment of cognitive and adaptive functions and affects 1-3 in 100 individuals worldwide. A few years ago, scientists at CHU Ste.Justine reported for the first time that genetic mutations in the gene SYNGAP1 cause a form of intellectual disability, which is often associated with autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy. Since then, DNA sequencing of SYNGAP1 in several groups of individuals with intellectual disability in Canada, the US and Europe has revealed that pathogenic mutations in SYNGAP1 are one of the most common cause of genetic intellectual disability. Continue reading →
We invite you to read these recent articles of interest: Shifting Demographics among Research Project Grant Awardees at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The present study was initiated because of concerns expressed by NHLBI-funded mid-career investigators regarding perceived difficulties in the renewal of their grant awards. This led us to ask: “Are mid-career investigators experiencing disproportionate difficulties in the advancement of their professional careers?”
Unexpected benefits of open-ended science – a report by the Royal Swedish Academy of Science
Read our 2016 Advocacy Report
Learn about CAN-ACN’s advocacy activities in 2016, and some of our plans for 2017 in our 2016 Advocacy report
CAN supports the development of a Canadian Action Plan for Brain Health
The Canadian Association for Neuroscience strongly supports the development of a Canadian Action Plan for Brain Health, an initiative proposed by the Neurological Health Charities of Canada. Read our support letter here.
Read CAN-ACN’s contribution to the review of federal support of fundamental science
We have submitted our contribution to the review of federal support of fundamental science, launched by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Canadian Minister of Science.
This contribution also included the results of the survey we conducted in July and August about funding reforms at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Recommendations: 1) The mid-term objective should be a doubling of the operating budgets of the NSERC and the CIHR. If Canada invests in science 2% of the GDP, we will only return to the level of support science had 10 years ago. We believe that Canada’s demonstrated excellence in research can only be sustained with support that reaches 3% of the GDP, which would make Canada’s research investment comparable to Germany’s and the USA’s research investments. Doubling funds that are available in open competitions through the CIHR and the NSERC would be essential to stop the downward trend experienced by fundamental discovery research laboratories across Canada. 2) An increase of $150 million to the 2017 Budget for CIHR. In the latest competition, the 13% success rate was made possible by moving the 2016- Autumn competition to the 2017 budget of the CIHR. This means that next year the expected success rate will be 5-6% unless the government decisively steps in and restores science funding in Canada. These investments would ensure that the standard of research excellence is maintained in Canada. Canadian scientists are willing and ready to continue to make important contributions that benefits all Canadians. It is important to ensure that we have the means to do so.
New CAN CIHR survey
Thank you to all who completed the new CIHR survey today. Results of the survey are being shared with the Science Review panel, launched by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science.
Please view the advocacy corner section, on the right hand side of this page to view current Calls to action and recent articles of interest.
Letter by Jim Woodgett about CIHR Peer-review reforms
We invite you to read a letter by Jim Woodgett, Director, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, to the right Honorable Jane Phillpott, Minister of Health, about the CIHR reforms. You can read and sign the letter here:
Research Canada held its 11th Annual General Meeting last week where the Honourable Dr. Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, was honoured for her six years of service to the Parliamentary Health Research Caucus, a non-partisan forum which educates Parliamentarians about the social and economic benefits of Canadian health research and health innovation.
The CAN advocacy committee invites you to a special advocacy and public outreach session at the upcoming 2016 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, May 30th from 5:30 to 7PM. Two neuroscientists with extensive experience in public speaking and outreach, Paul Zehr and Wendy Suzuki, will make presentations, and awards will be given to the best neuroscience outreach initiatives in Canada. More details here: Advocacy & Public Outreach
The Canadian Association for Neuroscience sponsors the Welcome reception of the new Health Research Caucus in Ottawa
The Canadian Association for Neuroscience was happy to sponsor the welcome reception of the new Health Research Caucus, which took place March 7th, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. It was an occasion for members of the CAN advocacy committee to meet members of parliament and talk with them about the importance of government support of scientific research. The reception was hosted by the honorouble Jane Philpott, Minister of Health. Dr. Philpott was one of the speakers at the event.
Budget 2016: The Canadian Association for Neuroscience thanks the honourable Bill Morneau for his support of scientific research
The Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN), is grateful to the Federal Government for increasing the budgets of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the National Science and Engineering Council by $30 million and supporting the Brain Canada Foundation with $20 million for the next 3 years.
CAN contribution to the Canadian government pre-budget consultation
The CAN Advocacy committee has submitted recommendations to the honorable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, for the pre-budget consultation by the Canadian government. Read the letter signed by CAN President Doug Munoz and the Chair of the Advocacy Committee, Katalin Toth: CAN-Pre-budget20160121
CAN is looking for the best neuroscience outreach and advocacy initiatives in Canada
Parliament Hill event hosted by the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health on March
CAN-ACN is now a member of Research Canada and will have a booth at a Parliament Hill event hosted by the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health on March 7th. More details to be posted here soon.
Press review – October- December 2015
Read recent articles, interviews and opinion pieces by Canadian neuroscientists in our October – December 2015 Press review. We share these articles on our social media streams, so please inform us of papers we should be sharing with our membership.
Invitation to write to your local MPs and ministers – Nov 27th letter from Katalin Toth
Dear CAN Members,
1) Last summer, in response to our survey you expressed your concerns about changes implemented at CIHR. CAN has forwarded these results and your comments to CIHR in hope of influencing positive changes.
2) The Board of CAN has launched a major new initiative in advocacy. A new Advocacy committee, chaired by Katalin Toth (Laval), has been struck with representatives from across Canada . This committee has been charged with developing concrete plans for advocacy to government, calling for an increase basic research funding. CAN has started to develop strategic partnerships with CSMB (please see below a letter from the President of CSMB) and Research Canada.
3) CAN is now working to build bidirectional communication with the new federal government and hope to see changes in science funding policy in the near future. We encourage you to contact your local MPs and ministers handling science portfolios to let them know about the important work you do and the challenges you are facing.
We have all been impacted by the CIHR reforms and many of you have told me that you felt helpless in effecting change. Today Michael Rudnicki took a stand on the issue. When talking to Elizabeth Payne at the Ottawa Citizen last week about his recent discovery on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Michael let her know about the crisis that is occurring at CIHR and how it is impacting researchers across the country. This led to an outstanding article on the front page of the Ottawa Citizen today:
Michael, along with many other scientist and societies across Canada have begun the discussion. Indeed, this article instigated a series of meeting today in Ottawa. But more scientists need to be engaged in the discussion. It is critical that new Liberal government hear about how the CIHR reforms have impacted your research program. Email/letter volume on a topic remains an important advocacy tool.
I encourage you to contact Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of HealthJane Philpott, Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Singh Bains and your newly elected MP. Demand changes at CIHR!
The Liberal Government has strongly indicated that Science will once again become a priority. Not only does Canada now have two Minsters with science portfolios and the mandate letter from Prime Minister Trudeau to Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan outlined one of her top priorities to “Examine options to strengthen the recognition of and support for fundamental research to support new discoveries.”
The time is right to tell the Liberal Government your concerns about fundamental research funding in Canada and demand changes at CIHR.
If you are not already a member, today I ask you to please join the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences. We are working hard on your behalf to advocate for increased funding for discovery research – including our petition, advertisements targeted to MPs/policy makers, letters to committees and speaking to MPs on your behalf. Our next focus will be on advocating for change at CIHR. Our membership fees are essential for paying for advertisements, website designs, PR consultants and hosting networking events on Parliament Hill. Without increased membership we will be limited in our ability to advocate for the changes we need to keep Canada’s innovation pipeline strong.
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” -Mother Teresa
At one time or another, everyone experiences moments of social isolation, when there is no one around and the world is confined to one’s own existence. In short bursts these moments of solitude can be therapeutic and may lead to moments of emotional regeneration or creativity. Yet when loneliness becomes chronic, the effects may be deleterious to one’s emotional health. Continue reading →
Scientists at McMaster University’s Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute in collaboration with Sick Children’s Hospital have discovered genetic alterations in the gene DIXDC1 in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This gene was found to change the way brain cells grow and communicate.
This finding, published today in Cell Reports, provides new insights into ASD that will guide identification of new medications for people with ASD. This is critical because ASD affects one in 68 individuals, and there are no medications that target the core symptoms of this complex disorder. Continue reading →
