Funded Grants

Developmental signaling pathways are known to play important roles in normal neural stem cell (NSC) dynamics and can significantly alter the development of gliomas, highly aggressive brain tumours that arise from NSC-like tumour-initiating cells (TIC).

The broad aim of this project is to develop and evaluate nonlinear registration techniques that account for discontinuities in data from tissue resection in order to accurately reflect the deformed brain.

A recent study by the Massague group has identified genes that mediated breast cancer metastasis to the brain by using genomic expression analysis to compare in vivo-selected brain metastasis cell lines to the corresponding parental lines.

Although it is now known that miRNAs act in part via post-transcriptional effects on mRNA stability and/or translation to modulate gene expression, other molecular mechanisms by which non-coding RNAs may effect changes in mRNA and protein expression remains poorly elucidated.

The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) is a protein that clears extracellular serotonin from the synapses and depletion of serotonin is associated with depressive symptoms.

Mr. Baimel’s work focuses upon the role of the neuropeptide, orexin, and its role in modulating the neural region which regulates reward sensations, the ventral tegmental area (VTA).

Abnormal development of neural circuitry is thought to be the major cause of autism and many other mental illnesses.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is ranked among the top ten illnesses contributing to the global burden of disease, yet its etiology is still poorly understood.

The proposed research in this application will significantly broaden our understanding of the molecular basis for how stress leads to anxiety and depression.

Schizophrenia is a common and serious mental illness characterized by psychotic symptoms, social withdrawal and functional disabilities that are generally lifelong.