October 2012 - Neuro-All - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Neuroscience Seminar - Dr. Kunjumon Vadakkan | Nov 2 @ 12:00noon
by Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience 31 Oct '12

31 Oct '12

Everyone invited! Neuroscience Seminar - Dr. Kunjumon Vadakkan (Hosted by Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Manitoba) view online: http://www.sbrc.ca/2012/10/neuroscience-seminar-dr-kunjumon-vadakkan/ Date: Friday, November 2, 2012 Time: 12:00 - 13:00 Location: Samuel Cohen Auditorium, St. Boniface Research Centre (Video-linked to Bannatyne Campus, Pharmacology Library | Room A229 Chown Building) <http://www.sbrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Vadakkan.jpg> Kunjumon Vadakkan, Ph.D. Post-Graduate Medical Education Student University of Manitoba TOPIC: "Formation of internal sensations of higher brain functions: How can we get some grip on it?" Recently large number of pharmaceutical companies pulled out of Neuroscience drug development research. This is likely to impact the field. Why did they leave? My research interest may have some explanations to offer. Behavioral motor effects can be studied using animals; but not the internal sensations of higher brain functions. Since understanding the latter is required to reverse its defects in most of the disorders of higher brain functions, studies in this direction may help to select appropriate pharmaceutical agents that can reverse the disease symptoms. I will focus my talk on some of the theoretical approaches that I have been taking to understand internal sensations. Research summary: I am interested in understanding how internal sensations are created from neuronal activities. Specific features of some of the diseases are likely to provide clues to understand the normal functioning of the nervous system from which formation of internal sensations may be understood. Short bio sketch: After graduating Medicine in 1988 and practicing family medicine for a short period, I did MD program in Biochemistry at the Calicut University, India. This was followed by a Research Associate position at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi to study negative regulatory elements upstream of p53 gene. I moved to Canada in 1999, did MSc (under Dr.Umberto DeBoni) and PhD (under Dr. Min Zhuo) from the University of Toronto. Later, I did post-doctoral training in Dr. Mark Zylka's laboratory at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Currently, I am a 4th year Resident in Neurology at the University of Manitoba and am spending part time in Dr. Albensi's laboratory to identify a biomarker for stroke. For further information please contact: Dr. Ben Albensi, Seminar Coordinator T: 204.235.3942 E: balbensi(a)sbrc.ca Kelly Jorundson Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience R4046 - 351 Tache Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 Email: wcsn(a)sbrc.ca

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Neuroscience Seminar - Dr. K. Vadakkan
by Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience 25 Oct '12

25 Oct '12

(Hosted by Dept Pharmacology, University of Manitoba) Kunjumon Vadakkan, Ph.D. Post-Graduate Medical Education Student University of Manitoba TOPIC: "Formation of internal sensations of higher brain functions: How can we get some grip on it?" Friday, November 2, 2012 12:00 - 13:00 Samuel Cohen Auditorium, St. Boniface Research Centre** **Video-linked to Pharmacology Library Room A229 Chown Building Kelly Jorundson Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience R4046 - 351 Tache Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 Email: kjorund(a)sbrc.ca OR kjorund(a)yahoo.ca

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REMINDER - MNN SEMINAR FRIDAY OCT 26
by Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience 24 Oct '12

24 Oct '12

Manitoba Neuroscience Network Seminar Friday, October 26th, 2012 | 9:00 - 10:00 am Dr. Jun-Feng Wang Associate Professor - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Adjunct Professor - Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine University of Manitoba TOPIC: "Oxidative stress in bipolar disorder: implications for mood stabilizing treatment." Location: PZ236/238 Psychiatry Bldg., Bannatyne Campus Short Biosketch: Dr. Jun-Feng Wang recently joined the University of Manitoba, in March 2012, as Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry. His research focuses on the role of oxidative stress and oxidative stress-induced protein modifications in bipolar disorder; and on understanding the neuroprotective mechanisms of mood stabilizing drugs. Dr. Wang received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience in 1991 from Peking University. He did his Post Doc training at University of California San Francisco and McMaster University. Dr. Wang received his first academic appointment as Assistant Professor at McMaster University from 2001 to 2003. Later he joined the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto as a Research Scientist and Assistant Professor from 2003 to 2007. Dr. Wang was at in the Department of Psychiatry at University of British Columbia as Assistant Professor from 2007-2010, and as Associate Professor from 2010-2012. Dr. Wang has received considerable research support, including grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ontario Mental Health Foundation, Stanley Foundation Research Grants, and the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation. He has twice received National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression Young Investigator Awards. His research is currently supported by grants from the Manitoba Health Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and University of Manitoba start-up funding. Dr. Wang has some 72 publications including 59 articles, 7 reviews and 6 book chapters. For more information, contact the MNN Office at (T) 235.3939 or email: mnn(a)sbrc.ca Presented in co-operation with University of Manitoba Clinical Neuroscience Rounds Kelly Jorundson Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience R4046 - 351 Tache Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 Email: kjorund(a)sbrc.ca OR kjorund(a)yahoo.ca

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MNN Seminar - Oct 26/12 DR. JUN-FENG WANG
by Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience 19 Oct '12

19 Oct '12

Manitoba Neuroscience Network Seminar Friday, October 26th, 2012 | 9:00 - 10:00 am Dr. Jun-Feng Wang Associate Professor - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Adjunct Professor - Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine University of Manitoba TOPIC: "Oxidative stress in bipolar disorder: implications for mood stabilizing treatment." Location: PZ236/238 Psychiatry Bldg., Bannatyne Campus Short Biosketch: Dr. Jun-Feng Wang recently joined the University of Manitoba, in March 2012, as Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry. His research focuses on the role of oxidative stress and oxidative stress-induced protein modifications in bipolar disorder; and on understanding the neuroprotective mechanisms of mood stabilizing drugs. Dr. Wang received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience in 1991 from Peking University. He did his Post Doc training at University of California San Francisco and McMaster University. Dr. Wang received his first academic appointment as Assistant Professor at McMaster University from 2001 to 2003. Later he joined the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto as a Research Scientist and Assistant Professor from 2003 to 2007. Dr. Wang was at in the Department of Psychiatry at University of British Columbia as Assistant Professor from 2007-2010, and as Associate Professor from 2010-2012. Dr. Wang has received considerable research support, including grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ontario Mental Health Foundation, Stanley Foundation Research Grants, and the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation. He has twice received National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression Young Investigator Awards. His research is currently supported by grants from the Manitoba Health Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and University of Manitoba start-up funding. Dr. Wang has some 72 publications including 59 articles, 7 reviews and 6 book chapters. For more information, contact the MNN Office at (T) 235.3939 or email: mnn(a)sbrc.ca Presented in co-operation with University of Manitoba Clinical Neuroscience Rounds Kelly Jorundson Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience R4046 - 351 Tache Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 Email: kjorund(a)sbrc.ca OR kjorund(a)yahoo.ca

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REMINDER: DND SPEAKER | DR. SHEENA JOSSELYN - TODAY NOON THEATRE C
by Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience 19 Oct '12

19 Oct '12

DND Visiting Speaker - Dr. Sheena Josselyn Date: Friday, October 19, 2012 Time: 12:00 noon Location: Theatre C, Banantyne Campus <http://www.sbrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/josselyn.jpg> Dr. Sheena Josselyn <http://www.sickkids.ca/AboutSickKids/Directory/People/J/Sheena-Josselyn .html> Senior Scientist, Neurosciences & Mental Health Canada Research Chair <http://www.chairs.gc.ca/> , Molecular and Cellular Cognition Associate Professor, Department of Physiology University of Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON TOPIC: Making and Breaking Memories A fundamental goal of neuroscience is to understand how memories are encoded and stored in the brain. Indeed, identifying the physical basis of memory within the brain (the memory trace) has been a long-standing challenge for scientists since Karl Lashley's "search for the engram" in the 1950's. Memories are thought to be encoded by sparsely distributed groups of neurons. However, identifying the precise neurons supporting a given memory (the memory trace) has been a long-standing challenge. We have shown previously that lateral amygdala (LA) neurons with increased CREB are preferentially activated by fear memory expression, suggesting they are selectively recruited into the memory trace. Here we used an inducible diphtheria-toxin strategy to specifically ablate these neurons. Selectively deleting neurons overexpressing CREB (but not a similar portion of random LA neurons) after learning blocked expression of that fear memory. The resulting memory loss was robust and persistent, suggesting that the memory was permanently erased. These results establish a causal link between a specific neuronal subpopulation and memory expression, thereby identifying critical neurons within the memory trace. Short bio: The research in Dr. Josselyn's lab is dedicated to understanding the neural basis of cognitive function and dysfunction. To unravel the molecular, cellular and circuit processes that underlie learning and memory, her lab uses a multidisciplinary approach include the use of genetically-engineered mice, viral vectors, cellular imaging, electrophysiology and detailed behavioral analysis. Her program of research focuses on two main elements 1) examining the brain regions and molecules responsible for normal memory formation and 2) using this knowledge to intervene in conditions in which memory is impaired (for instance in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease). She has published extensively in the top scientific journals on these subjects and has shown that fear memories in mice can be "erased" and is currently examining novel treatments for the memory disorders that characterize Alzheimer's disease. For more information, please contact the DND Office at : t. 204.235.3939 e: dnd(a)sbrc.ca Kelly Jorundson Administrative Manager Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders St. Boniface Hospital Research Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics University of Manitoba Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 Email: kjorund(a)sbrc.ca OR kjorund(a)yahoo.ca Website: www.sbrc.ca/dnd OR www.umanitoba.ca/medicine/units/pharmacology

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NEW U of M Neuroscience Faculty positions available
by Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience 17 Oct '12

17 Oct '12

Dear Neuroscientists, Exciting times for neuroscience at the University of Manitoba continue with a new recruitment drive for 2 tenure-track faculty positions in the Traumatic Brain Injury Program at the Kleysen Institute for Advanced Medicine. Please see the attached advertisement and help bring the best candidate pool forward by encouraging qualified collaborators, acquaintances and past colleagues to apply. If you have any questions, let me know at canderson(a)sbrc.ca. Chris Anderson President, Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience

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Pharmacology/DND Seminar - Oct 12 @ noon
by Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience 10 Oct '12

10 Oct '12

Everyone invited... Pharmacology Seminar - Dr. Jim Davie view online: http://www.sbrc.ca/2012/10/pharmacology-seminar-dr-jim-davie/ Print PDF <http://www.printfriendly.com/print/v2?url=http://www.sbrc.ca/2012/10/ph armacology-seminar-dr-jim-davie/> Date: Friday, October 12, 2012 Time: 12:00 PM Location: Pharmacology Library A229 Chown Bldg. Bannatyne Campus** **Video-linked to R1002 SBRC, St. Boniface Campus <http://www.sbrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/jim_davie.jpg> Jim Davie, Ph.D. Leader - Terry Fox Research Institute Prairie Node Scientific Director - Manitoba Health Research Council Scientist, Manitoba Institute of Child Health Senior Scientist, Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology Professor, Dept Biochemistry and Medical Genetics TOPIC: Histone modification dynamics and regulation of gene expression Jim Davie received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of British Columbia. His post-doctoral training in the area of chromatin structure and function was done in the lab of Dr. Ken van Holde at Oregon State University. Dr. Davie is presently the Scientific Director of the Manitoba Health Research Council, Leader of the Terry Fox Research Institute Prairie Node, and Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics at the University of Manitoba. He serves on several Editorial Boards of journals publishing in Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Biology and is Editor of the journal Biochemistry and Cell Biology. He has served as a Chair and panel member on CIHR and NCIC/CCSRI Peer Review Committees. His research interests include epigenetic regulation of gene expression in normal and disease (cancer) cells, nuclear matrix structure and function, sub-cellular trafficking of transcription factors and chromatin remodeling complexes, signal transduction pathways, chromatin structure and function, and biomarkers in the early detection of disease. He currently holds a Canada Research Chair in Chromatin Dynamics (Tier 1). Dr. Davie is the Past-President of the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences. /sent on behalf of Dr. Ben Albensi Seminar Coordinator, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics University of Manitoba e: balbensi(a)sbrc.ca Kelly Jorundson Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience R4046 - 351 Tache Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 Email: kjorund(a)sbrc.ca OR kjorund(a)yahoo.ca

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International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia: Application for Grants, Postdoctoral Fellowship and Schellenberg Prize
by Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience 02 Oct '12

02 Oct '12

Dear Madam, Dear Sir, Please find enclosed 3 annoucements from IRP - International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia, regarding: * IRP/IFP Research Grants in the field of "basic and clinical research on CNS regeneration neuroprotection and functional restoration" up to CHF 150'000.- for 2 years; * IRP/IFP Postdoctoral Fellowship in the field of "basic research in one or several aspects of CNS & spinal cord lesions and repair" up to CHF 80'000 for 1 year; * IRP/IFP Schellenberg Prize 2012 in the field of "spinal cord development, plasticity and regeneration following lesions" worth CHF 150'000.-. Deadline for applications is October 31st, 2012, with decisions to be made by the IRP/IFP Scientific Council in February 2013. We would be greatful if you could publish these annoucements through your usual channels and on your website. You'll find further useful information on www.irp.ch <http://www.irp.ch/> . We thank you in advance for your collaboration and remain at your disposal for any request. With best regards. IRP - Fondation internationale pour la recherche en paraplégie Joëlle Snella Assistante administrative Secrétariat IRP Rue François-Perréard 14 CH - 1225 Chêne-Bourg Tél. +41 22 349 03 03 Fax +41 22 349 44 05 jsnella(a)irp.ch www.irp.ch <http://www.irp.ch/> Retrouvez les photos du Bal du Printemps 2012 et les résultats de la loterie sur www.irp.ch <http://www.irp.ch/> ! Kelly Jorundson Winnipeg Chapter Society for Neuroscience R4046 - 351 Tache Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 Tel: 204.235.3939 Fax: 204.237.4092 Email: kjorund(a)sbrc.ca OR kjorund(a)yahoo.ca

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