Title: Ontogeny of the spinal cord dorsal horn

Speaker: Dr R. Brian Roome, Ph.D, Postdoctoral Fellow at National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral fellow at Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, McGill University

Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm  

Location: 3H-01 Tupper Building

Abstract: “The dorsal horn of the mammalian spinal cord is organized into laminae where each layer is populated by different neuron types, has unique circuit connections, and plays specialized roles in behavior. An outstanding question is how this organization emerges during development from an apparently homogeneous pool of neural progenitors. Here, we show that dorsal neurons are

diversified by time, with families of related cell types born as temporal cohorts, and by a spatial-molecular gradient that specifies individual cell types. Excitatory neurons settle into a chronotopic arrangement that transforms their progressive birthdates into anatomical order and is required to establish proper laminae. We identified essential ontogenetic principles that shape dorsal progenitors into the diverse cell types and structure that subserve sensorimotor function.”

BIANS Holiday Gathering ☃️❄️

BIANS is excited to invite you and your whole family to our Holiday Party on December 5th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Discovery Centre!

Enjoy a fun, welcoming evening with:

• Delicious snacks

• A low sensory environment designed for comfort

• Exciting games and activities

• Fantastic prizes to be won

Best of all — this event is completely FREE!

Bring your loved ones and celebrate the season with us in a relaxed, inclusive space where everyone can have fun and feel supported.

We can’t wait to see you there!

In conjunction with Brain Canada, NS Department of Early Education and Childhood Development, and Dalhousie, the BRC are delighted to formally launch the BRC Roadshow.

The Brain Repair Centre’s Neuroscience Roadshow is an educational outreach initiative aimed at bringing neuroscience education to high schools across Nova Scotia. The Neuroscience Roadshow is a traveling event consisting of two main components: a seminar, and a “Brain Fair”.

Visit the BRC Roadshow page on this website to find out more about this project.

THRIVE Learning Centre for Mental Wellness and Well-Being 

December 3 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.  | On Zoom
Understanding and Living with Depression
Depression can make everyday challenges feel overwhelming. This workshop explores what depression can look and feel like, and how it can affect our thoughts, emotions, and overall well-being. Participants will learn practical tools and strategies to manage difficult moments, build resilience, and support healing — whether you’re living with depression or supporting someone who is.

Register

THRIVE workshops are:

• Free

• Virtual

• Open to all Nova Scotians

  THRIVE is a virtual learning centre that provides accessible, low-barrier mental health education, equipping individuals with the skills and tools to promote and support their mental well-being. 

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It is estimated that 16% of the world's population, or about 1 in 6, experience significant disability. 

Dalhousie stands in strong support with our community of persons with disabilities and joins with the rest of Canada and the world in using this day as a reminder that disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security.

Seminar Speaker: Dr Kazue Semba, Professor, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University

Seminar title: Astrocytic remodeling at synapses as a possible cellular mechanism for Sleep Homeostasis

 Location:  Tupper 3H01

Time:  1 pm - 2 pm (AST)

Date:  November 27, 2025

Title: 

Speaker: Alireza Aleali, MSc student, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University. 

Date: Thursday, November 27th, 2025

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm  

Location: 3H-01 Tupper Building

Description: 

https://braininjuryns.com/pathway-portal/

THRIVE Learning Centre for Mental Wellness and Well-Being 

November 26 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.  | On Zoom
Pathways to Healing: Recognizing and Coping with Trauma  
Learn to recognize the signs of trauma and PTSD, explore practical coping strategies, and discover ways to support your own healing—and the healing of those you care about—in a safe, supportive environment. 

Register

THRIVE workshops are:

• Free

• Virtual

• Open to all Nova Scotians

  THRIVE is a virtual learning centre that provides accessible, low-barrier mental health education, equipping individuals with the skills and tools to promote and support their mental well-being. 

Epilepsy Association’s next Knowledge is Power session is scheduled for November 25th at 7 pm. The invited guest is Dr. Tonya Omisade, Neuropsychologist with the Epilepsy Program in Halifax.

Dr. Omisade will be talking about why cognitive and memory problems often accompany epilepsy/seizure disorders. She will also review some relatively easy adaptations that you can make to help you work with these potential limitations.

Fill out this form to register! https://forms.office.com/r/dVzGLQjq2C

THRIVE Learning Centre for Mental Wellness and Well-Being 

November 24 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.  | On Zoom
Finding Steady Ground: Managing Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder 
When panic strikes, it can feel like the world is closing in — but you’re not powerless. Join facilitator Marissa Menezes for a 60-minute session that will help you understand what’s happening in your body and mind during a panic attack, recognize triggers, and learn practical tools to regain calm and control when anxiety takes hold. 

Register

THRIVE workshops are:

• Free

• Virtual

• Open to all Nova Scotians

  THRIVE is a virtual learning centre that provides accessible, low-barrier mental health education, equipping individuals with the skills and tools to promote and support their mental well-being. 

Title: 

Speaker: Dr Yoshiyui Kubota, Professor, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Division of Multisensory Integration Systems, Okazaki, Japan

Title: Converging perisynaptic astrocytic processes from distinct astrocytes onto active dendritic segments following motor learning in the mouse primary motor cortex

Date: Monday, November 24th, 2025

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm  

Location: THEATRE B - Tupper Building [IN-PERSON meeting]

Abstract:

Astrocytes play a key role in regulating synaptic transmission as part of the tripartite synapse. Each astrocyte typically occupies a distinct, non-overlapping domain. However, the plasticity of these domains—especially during learning-related synaptic remodeling—remains largely unknown. I will discuss our recent finding that after motor learning, perisynaptic astrocytic processes (PAPs) from multiple astrocytes converge onto the same short dendritic segment (<40 µm) of the apical tuft of a layer 5 pyramidal neuron in the mouse primary motor cortex.

Using two-photon imaging in Thy1-GFP mice trained for 8 days on a forelimb seed-reaching task, we first identified dendritic segments that exhibited high spine turnover (Sohn et al., Science Advances, 2022). Correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) using large-scale volume EM (vEM) data collected from these mice with automated tape-collecting ultramicrotome (ATUM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that these active dendritic segments were contacted by PAPs originating from 3–6 distinct astrocytes. Notably, these astrocytic processes extended directly and specifically toward each active dendritic segment. Despite the convergence of processes from multiple astrocytes at the level of dendritic segment, individual dendritic spines were typically contacted by PAPs from only a single astrocyte, indicating highly organized astrocyte-synapse interactions.

Our findings suggest the possibility that astrocytic processes dynamically reorganize in response to experience, contributing to synapse-specific modulation during motor learning.

In addition, I will briefly report our recent progress in developing EM image alignment method using image processing tool, FEABS (Finite-Element Assisted Brain Assembly System; https://github.com/YuelongWu/feabas ) and an automated dense segmentation pipeline for large-scale EM datasets.

All are welcome!

17th Canadian Science Policy Conference

Toward a resilient future for Canada: Mobilizing science, knowledge and innovation

sciencepolicy.ca/conference/cspc-2025/

Seminar Speaker: Dr. Johanna Montgomery, Professor, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Seminar title: Plasticity in the central and peripheral nervous systems and its role in disorders of the brain and heart

Location:  Virtual, TEAMS

Time*:  2 pm - 3 pm (AST)

Date:  November, 20, 2025

THRIVE Learning Centre for Mental Wellness and Well-Being 
November THRIVE Workshops are LIVE!

This month’s sessions are designed to help navigate grief, rebuild confidence, manage anxiety, and heal from trauma.

Each one-hour workshop offers practical tools, meaningful connection, and space to support your mental health journey.

 
November 19 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | On Zoom - Never Give Up: Regaining Confidence and Building Resilience  
Do you ever feel like self-doubt, anxiety, or life’s challenges are holding you back from becoming your best self? You’re not alone. 

In this  workshop, we’ll explore common barriers that can get in the way of achieving your goals and share practical strategies to help you overcome obstacles, build confidence, and stay motivated on your path forward. 

Register

THRIVE workshops are:

• Free

• Virtual

• Open to all Nova Scotians

  THRIVE is a virtual learning centre that provides accessible, low-barrier mental health education, equipping individuals with the skills and tools to promote and support their mental well-being. 

Title: 

Speaker: JJ Parker, MSc Student, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University 

Date: Tuesday, November 18th, 2025

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm  

Location: 3H-01 Tupper Building

Description: 

Seminar Speaker: Shernaz X. Bamji - Professor, Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Co-Director, Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health Founding Member, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada.

Seminar title: Posttranslational palmitoylation in brain development and disease

Location:  Virtual, TEAMS

Time:  1 pm - 2 pm (AST)

Date:  November 13th, 2025

Are you a researcher, student or data partner looking to access health data to advance your patient-oriented research projects?

Join us for a free virtual Lunch & Learn session where we’ll answer all your questions about how to engage with our data centres in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

In this session, you'll get an overview of the data services provided by Health Data Nova Scotia (HDNS), New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT), and the PEI-Secure Island Data Repository (SIDR).

We’ll highlight the types of data available at these centers, including the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and Atlantic PATH datasets, which were recently added.


Key topics include:

• Types of data available

• How to submit a data access request

• What happens once your request is approved

• Key details on working with these data partners
  

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights on navigating data access and the support available to help you achieve your research goals!

Register Now

Department of Psychiatry Research Day 2025

We’re excited to invite you to the 35th Annual Psychiatry Research Day at Dalhousie University!

This event highlights student research and showcases the wide range of expertise within the Department of Psychiatry to the university and local community.

Call for Abstracts – Now Open!
We welcome submissions from students, residents, staff, and faculty (within and outside the department).

Deadline to submit: September 1, 2025
Submit your abstract here: https://dalpsychiatry.ca/rd

Event Details
Date: Friday, November 7, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Atlantica Hotel Halifax
This event will be accredited by Dalhousie University Continuing Professional Development for the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Joshua Rosenblat
University of Toronto psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Rosenblat specializes in treatment-resistant depression and is leading cutting-edge clinical trials on new treatments like ketamine and psilocybin. Learn more about Dr. Rosenblat →

Awards
Prizes will be awarded for the best presentation in each of the following categories:

• Undergraduate

• Graduate

• Resident

Questions?
Email us at psych.research@dal.ca

Dalhousie’s Department of Psychiatry is hosting a public panel discussion “Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Innovation, Risks, and Realities” on Thursday, Nov. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Peggy Corkum Music Room.

See poster below, visit the event page or scan the QR code below for more information.

THRIVE Learning Centre for Mental Wellness and Well-Being 

This month’s sessions are designed to help navigate grief, rebuild confidence, manage anxiety, and heal from trauma.

Each one-hour workshop offers practical tools, meaningful connection, and space to support your mental health journey.

 
November 6  | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | On Zoom: Understanding and Coping with Loss and Grief

Grief is a natural response to loss — but navigating it can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re mourning a loved one, adjusting to change, or supporting someone through loss, this workshop offers tools and insights to help you cope.

Register

THRIVE workshops are:

• Free

• Virtual

• Open to all Nova Scotians

  THRIVE is a virtual learning centre that provides accessible, low-barrier mental health education, equipping individuals with the skills and tools to promote and support their mental well-being. 

Title: Understanding, Predicting and Preventing Concussion Susceptibility

Speaker: Saara Mansoor, PhD Student, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University 

Date: Tuesday, November 4th, 2025

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm  

Location: 3H-01 Tupper Building

Description: 

Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (rmTBI) are common in contact sports and military settings, yet individuals differ greatly in their vulnerability to long-term neurological consequences. To model this variability, we used 9-week-old Sprague Dawley rats that underwent four rmTBIs. Neurological Severity Scores (NSS) revealed a bimodal distribution after the second injury, allowing animals to be classified as “susceptible” or “resilient.”

We investigated the biological basis of this divergence, focusing on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Susceptible rats consistently showed a blunted corticosterone response to stress, which we traced to adrenal rather than central dysfunction. Pharmacological enhancement of glucocorticoids promoted resilience, underscoring the role of hormone modulation in protection and recovery after rmTBI.

To determine whether HPA axis impairment is innate or injury-induced, we conducted ACTH stimulation tests before and after the rmTBI protocol. Our findings indicate that innate variability in adrenal responsiveness predicts which animals are more likely to be susceptible to concussion. Current work is aimed at further dissecting the mechanisms underlying this susceptibility and resilience, including whether pre-injury traits such as social dominance contribute to susceptibility.

Topic:

Author(s):

DOI:

Presented by: R

Location:

Contact/RSVP: Delaney

Topic(s): The Drosophila memory transcriptome in healthy and disease-like states

Presented by: Jamie Kramer, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Location/Platform: Dalhousie University | Biology 5th Floor Seminar room

Contact info: Shelley Adamo or Jamie Kramer

All are welcome

9:30am Faculty of Science

12:30 Faculty of Medicine

We are proud to congratulate the many BRC trainees being conferred with their degrees today:

• Jamil Muradov, PhD (Friedman/BBB Lab)

• Nicole Ponto,  MSc (Tibbo & Crocker Labs)

• Reynaldo Popoli, PhD (Akay Lab)

• Paige Reynolds, MSc (Zhang Lab)

• Gracious Kasheke, PhD (Robertson Lab)

• Parabhjot (Pooja) Labana, MSc (Fawcett Lab)

• Emily Thomson, MSc (Fawcett Lab)

• Laith AlHadeed, MSc (Friedman/BBB Lab)

• Abdullah Alshanti, MSc (Friedman/BBB Lab)

• Corey Monroe, PhD (Perrot & Neyedli/CaMP Labs)

• Laura Dauphinee, MSc (Christie Lab)

• Lorielle Dietze, PhD (Hajek Lab)

• Maya Selitser, MSc (Hajek Lab)