Guest Speakers

Dr. Vivian K. Mushahwar, Professor, University of Alberta

“Tapping into Spinal Networks to Restore Mobility after Spinal Cord Injury”

Dr. Mushahwar is a Professor in the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at University of Alberta. An engineer by training (electrical), Dr. Mushahwar obtained her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Utah. Research in the Mushahwar lab focuses on many aspects such as the restoration of standing and walking after spinal cord injury and the detection and prevention of deep tissue pressure sores using functional electrical stimulation (FES) techniques. The Mushahwar lab is working with other groups of the Project SMART team to develop implantable devices that utilize intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) to stimulate the "control centre" for standing and stepping in the spinal cord and thereby restore this ability after spinal cord injury. In addition, in collaboration with researchers in the Stein, Chan, and Dukelow research groups, Mushahwar’s lab is developing a garment to detect and prevent the onset of pressure sores in wheelchair and bed ridden patients.

Dr. Timothy Kennedy, Professor, McGill University 

“Making connections: guiding synaptic plasticity in the CNS”

Timothy E. Kennedy, Ph.D., is a Full Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Anatomy and Cell Biology, at McGill University. The Kennedy laboratory (1996-present) at the Montreal Neurological Institute investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate axon extension, myelination, synapse formation, and synaptic plasticity, focusing on the role of CNS extracellular matrix (ECM) in neural development and neurodegenerative disease. He is co-director of the McGill Program in NeuroEngineering which promotes collaboration between neuroscientists, physical scientists, and engineers to develop new tools to study the nervous system and new methods to promote recovery of function that has been lost due to injury or disease. Supporting these translational goals, he is a co-founder and current CTO of DendroTEK Biosciences (dendrotek.ca), which provides advanced polymer matrices to support cutting edge long-term neural cell culture. He has published 177 papers in his career, with over 18,000 citations and an h-index of 68.     

Scientific Presentations

Presenters: Name  (PI - if applicable) Title

• Aram Amiree (Ying Zhang): “Mapping Recruitment and Connectivity Patterns of Spatially and Temporally Distinct V3 Interneuron Subpopulations in Spinal Locomotor Circuits”

• Araz Dolatkhah (Turgay Akay): “Supraspinal Integration of Proprioception: A Crucial Factor in Homolateral Leg Coordination.”

• Colin MacKay (Ying Zhang) “Characterizing spinal V3 interneurons in a SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS”

• Francesca Di Cara: “Intestinal Metabolic alteration as a leading cause of idiopathic neurodegenerative conditions”

• Jack Guthrie (Vic Rafuse): “Using human iPSC derived motor neurons to model ALS and the neuromuscular junction”.

• Jeremy Slayter (Colleen O'Connell) "Spinal Cord Injury Retrospective Rapid Clinical Reviews: An Overview of the Project Structure and Clinical Outcomes"

• JJ Parker (Adam Johnston): “Uncovering the Function of Schwann Cells in Chronic Non-Healing Diabetic Skin Wounds”.

• Kareem Elassy (Ying Zhang): “Mapping Recruitment and Connectivity Patterns of Spatially and Temporally Distinct V3 Interneuron Subpopulations in Spinal Locomotor Circuits”

• Kelly Meaney (George S. Robertson): “Effects of the psychedelic ibogaine and its active metabolite noribogaine on mitochondrial function and glycolysis”

• Kenzie MacKinnon (Turgay Akay): “Age-Related Decline in Postural Stability: Investigating the Influence of Proprioception”

• Lauren Gaudet (Joel Ross): “Developing a platform for evaluating lipid nanoparticle delivery to human neurons and myofibers”

• Madison Oulton (George S. Robertson): "Protective and restorative effects of IRX4204 in models of ischemic stroke."

• Shelby Squires (Joel Ross): “Promoter hijacking by LINC00473 disrupts a CREB-PDE10A feedback loop in primates”. 

• Stephanie Makdissi (Francesca Di Cara) “Intestinal metabolic dysfunction affects the gut-brain axis and neurodegenerative disease”

Speaker Agenda

Sunday         
19:00     Dr. Vivian Mushawar          

Monday        
09:00     Dr. Tim Kennedy      

10:30     COFFEE BREAK         

11:00     Francesca Di Cara       
11:20     Jeremy Slayter
11:40     Colin MacKay    
12:00    Kenzie McKinnon  
12:20    J J Parker         

Tuesday       

9:00     Kelly Meaney
9:20     Jack Guthrie  
9:40     Lauren Gaudet         
10:00     Araz Dolatkhah        

10:20     COFFEE BREAK & CHECK-OUT  

11:00     Shelby Squires
11:20     Stephanie Makdissi
11:40     Aram Amiree/Kareem Elassy      
12:00     Madison Oulton       

Trainee Presentation Session Chairs:

• Borbala Podor

• Corey Baimel

• Danielle Stanton-Turcotte

TRIVIA Organizer & MC:

• Shane McCullum, Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation