Upcoming events
Thursday, March 5th 2026 – 12:00 (Time zone: America/Toronto)
CNS-PDS March seminars: Marieka DeVuono (Western U) & Pavel Powlowski (University of Toronto)
Talk 1
Marieka DeVuono
Western University
Talk title: Adolescent Edible tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Consumption Produces Sex and Dose-Dependent Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Adulthood
Speaker Bio: Marieka DeVuono, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Associate at Western University specializing in the neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis. She earned her doctorate at the University of Guelph under Dr. Linda Parker, where she investigated cannabinoid regulation of nausea and vomiting, including the paradoxical condition, Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. Building on this foundation, she now works with Dr. Steven Laviolette at Western University, examining the effects of cannabis exposure across the lifespan. Her current research focuses on improving the translatability of preclinical models by implementing edible cannabinoid paradigms during development. Dr. DeVuono’s work explores how adolescent exposure to cannabinoids alters neuronal development, leading to sex-specific cognitive and affective outcomes with implications for psychiatric risk and developing future harm reduction strategies.
Talk 2
Pavel Powlowski
University of Toronto
Talk title: 2-AG as a Target of Interest in Bipolar Disorder
Speaker Bio: I am a post-doctoral researcher working together with Dr. Ruth Ross and Dr. Ana Andreazza. My research centers on the role of the endocannabinoid system in bipolar disorder, using an integrative approach including genetic studies as well as functional studies in iPSC models. I am largely interested in the mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders, and GPCR signaling in health and disease.
Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3217374850132/WN_P5kGw6LDTT2xnWDEZM-Bcw
Organized by Canadian Neuroscience Post-Docs
Contact us: seminars@can-acn.org
Past events
CNS-PDS February seminars: Mumu Aktar (U Calgary) & Earvin Tio (CAMH)
SPEAKER #1 Mumu Aktar
Institution: University of Calgary
Presentation Title: A Multitask Learning Approach for Segmenting Brain Tumor Sub-regions: Towards Better Generalization
Speaker Bio:
Mumu Aktar is a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Calgary and holds a PhD in Computer Science from Concordia University. Her research focuses on applying artificial intelligence and large language models in the medical domain to support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. She is passionate about teaching, mentoring, and developing intelligent tools that help clinicians streamline treatment workflows and save valuable time.
SPEAKER #2 Earvin Tio
Institution:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Presentation Title:
Understanding the Biopsychosocial Mechanisms of Risk for Suicide using a Resilience-Based Machine Learning Approach
Speaker Bio:
Earvin S. Tio completed his PhD in Medical Science with a minor in Neuroscience at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Professor Daniel Felsky at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Earvin’s research focuses on using machine learning to unravel the biopsychosocial mechanisms that underlie mental illness, particularly suicidal behaviours. He has experience working with various data modalities (e.g., clinical/tabular, multiomic, neuroimaging) from multiple sources ranging from treatment-seeking clinical populations to biobank-scale population data. Prior to his PhD, Earvin completed his BASc in Systems Design Engineering with a minor in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Waterloo, during which he held research positions at the university, at SickKids hospital, and at Sunnybrook hospital. He also studied computer science at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
Webinar Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3217374850132/WN_dGwKsK1dTVOUWkh1qv8WuA
CNS-PDS December: Marlaina Stocco & Yalin Sun
SEMINAR HOST: Darren Clarke
SEMINAR CO-HOST: Ryann Tansey
Organized by Canadian neuroscience post-docs
seminars@can-acn.org
CNS-PDS November: Andrew Vo & Amr Eed
SEMINAR HOST: Prabhjot Dhami
SEMINAR CO-HOST: Alessandro Zanini
SPEAKER #1
Speaker Name: Andrew Vo
Institution: Montreal Neurological Institute; McGill University
Abstract Title:
“Convergent large-scale network and local vulnerabilities underlie brain atrophy across Parkinson’s disease stages”
SPEAKER #2
Speaker Name: Amr Eed
Institution: Western University
Abstract Title:
“MRI investigation of orientation-dependent changes in microstructure and function in a mouse model of mild traumatic brain injury”
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2017374850028/WN_tgLb5wOvT0-E19FB-5K7rQ
Organized by: Canadian neuroscience post-docs
seminars@can-acn.org
CNS-PDS October: Pedro Henrique Gonçalves Guedes & Richard Gao
SEMINAR HOST: Mohamed Abdelhack
SEMINAR CO-HOST: Susan Coltman
SPEAKER #1
Pedro Henrique Gonçalves Guedes, University of Saskatchewan.
Title of the presentation: Development of an Optical and Colorimetric Biosensor for the Quantification of Microrna 184 for Late Life Depression.
SPEAKER #2
Richard Gao, Goethe University.
Organised by: Canadian neuroscience post-docs