Author: Julie
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Molecule shown to repair damaged axons
Discovery could be key to treating brain and spinal cord injury A foray into plant biology led one researcher to discover that a natural molecule can repair axons, the thread-like projections that carry electrical signals between cells. Axonal damage is the major culprit underlying disability in conditions such as spinal cord injury and stroke. Andrew…
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Second study from UBC shows “liberation therapy” fails to treat multiple sclerosis
Opening up narrowed veins from the brain and spinal cord is not effective in treating multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study led by the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health. The conclusions about so-called “liberation therapy,” which thousands of people with MS have undergone since 2009, represent the most definitive debunking of…
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Largest international study of its kind finds new schizophrenia risk genes
Results of the International Psychiatric Genomics Consortium unveiled TORONTO – Canadian and international scientists have uncovered six new schizophrenia risk genes in the largest study of its kind. The results of the international Psychiatric Genomics Consortium CNV working group are published in the Nov. 21 advance online edition of Nature Genetics, and further support the…
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University of British Columbia Researchers Have Found A Way To Block The High of Cocaine
“If you got that lose, you want to kick them blues, cocaine When your day is done, and you want to ride on cocaine She don’t lie, she don’t lie, she don’t lie Cocaine.” -Eric Clapton Despite its illegal status, cocaine remains one of the staples of social drug use. The stimulating effect of the…
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How Canadian Neuroscience Researchers Are Helping To Manage The Nation’s Drug Crisis
Opioids, such as morphine and fentanyl, are powerful drugs used to manage a variety of pain conditions. However, chronic opioid use can result in the development of physical dependence. When individuals stop opioid use, they may suffer from a debilitating withdrawal syndrome.
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Discovering The Genetic Cause For Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Of all psychiatric conditions, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD as it’s more commonly known, is perhaps the most widely known and also, misunderstood. Colloquially, this term is used to describe anyone with a penchant for a obsessive nature. Yet, this ailment, which only affects about 2% of the population, is quite difficult to both diagnose and manage.
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UBC scientists create a mouse that resists cocaine’s lure
Scientists at the University of British Columbia have genetically engineered a mouse that does not become addicted to cocaine, adding to the evidence that habitual drug use is more a matter of genetics and biochemistry than just poor judgment. The mice they created had higher levels of a protein called cadherin, which helps bind cells…
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An eye-catching result
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…
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Science as a uniting global force: A statement by the Canadian Association for Neuroscience
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…