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@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@sbrc.ca