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)

Undergraduate Neuroscience Society Journal Club

Topic(s): How the use of cannabis during pregnancy impacts synaptic plasticity

Presented by: Rebecca Przy, PhD trainee at University of Victoria

Location/Platform: Dalhousie Killam Macme Room

Contact: Liam Ready

Join Alzheimer Society Nova Scotia for this year's 36th Annual Dementia Care Conference, where we'll focus on Fostering Curiosity in Care. This meeting will broaden our understanding of behavioural changes in dementia, explore innovative strategies for creating dementia friendly rural communities, witness the transformative power of music therapy, and more. Be sure to attend our keynote address by Dr. Agnes Chinelo, an author and advocate who will share practical, culturally-informed insights drawn from her distinctive perspective as both a physician and family caregiver.

Registration and more at Eventbrite. Early Bird rates available.

Bowling for Brains annual event is back! 🎳

Get ready for some strikes, laughs, and fun at our Annual Bowling for Brains event! 

Join BIANS on Saturday, October 25th, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Bowlarama in Dartmouth for an afternoon of bowling, games, and great company.

Highlights include:

• Free bowling and pizza for all participants

• Exciting costume contest — dress to impress and win prizes!

• 50/50 raffle with chances to win big

This event is completely FREE, but spots are limited, so be sure to register today!

Register Here

October 18 is Persons Day in Canada. www.canada.ca

It marks the day in 1929 when the historic decision to include women in the legal definition of “persons” was handed down by Canada’s highest court of appeal. This gave some women the right to be appointed to the Senate of Canada and paved the way for women's increased participation in public and political life. Though this decision did not include all women, such as Indigenous women and women of Asian heritage and descent, it did mark critical progress in the advancement of gender equality in Canada.

Today we celebrate the many ‘persons’ who make up our research and admin team at the BRC!

Talk abstract: Presented as the 2025 Jacob Hamilton Memorial Lecture, Dr. Lambe will share her research on bullying and youth mental health, highlighting the urgent need to support healthy relationships for healthy development. The talk will begin with an overview of current trends in youth mental health, emphasizing the growing crisis in adolescent well-being. Dr. Lambe will then introduce bullying as a serious public health concern, examining its prevalence across Canada and highlighting disparities in who is most affected. She will examine how bullying “gets under the skin,” affecting biological and psychological systems in ways that can lead to long-term challenges across the lifespan. The lecture will conclude by focusing on the power of the peer group in bullying prevention, offering insights into how fostering positive relationships can promote resilience and support healthy development.

Short bio: Dr. Laura Lambe (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. She is also a registered clinical psychologist and holds adjunct and affiliate positions at Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health, respectively. She completed her undergraduate degree at Dalhousie University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University. Before joining StFX, she also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Dalhousie University. At StFX, Dr. Lambe leads the Interrupting Victimization in Youth (IVY) Lab, where her research centres on the intersection of youth relationships and mental health, with particular emphasis on bullying and bystander intervention.

Vendors open 10:00am
Lunch served 11:00am while supplies last
Grand Entry 12:00 noon

Join Dalhousie as it celebrates 15 years of gathering for the Annual Mawio’mi. First organized and held in 2009 by a group of Indigenous students. The Mawio’mi is a Mi’kmaq/Indigenous cultural sharing and celebration, which includes vendors, lunch, drumming and dancing. Come support the vendors, dance an intertribal and enjoy some lunch.

The MS Research and Care in Nova Scotia Panel Discussion is an opportunity to learn about MS research taking place in Nova Scotia and to hear how health care providers are supporting people affected by MS through innovative care and clinical expertise. The session will open with a panel discussion*, followed by a networking opportunity. The aim of this gathering is to foster connection, learning, and knowledge sharing, while inspiring one another within the MS community. 

*Panelists are Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie, Professor of Medicine and Community Health and Epidemiology at Dalhousie University; Dr. Caitlin Tarlton, MS neurologist, Assistant Director of the MS Clinic, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University; and Trudy Campbell, Nurse Practitioner of Neurology Multiple Sclerosis Clinic Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre and an Adjunct Professor, Dalhousie University School of Nursing, Halifax, Canada.

 
Event Details: 

• When: Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm 

• Where: Delta Dartmouth Hotel (240 Brownlow Ave, Dartmouth, NS B3B 1X6) 

• How: In person  

• Cost: Attendance is free, but registration is required. Please note—transportation and travel expenses are the responsibility of attendees.

https://mscanada.ca/take-action/community-events/ms-research-and-care-in-nova-scotia

Dr. Lindsay Wallace, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie, will be holding a seminar on an Update on the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national research platform that follows more than 50,000 Canadians between the ages of 45 and 85 at baseline to better understand the aging process and its impacts on health, social, and economic factors over time.

Participants are followed for up to 20 years. Data are collected every 3 years through questionnaires (on health, lifestyle, social, and economic factors), in-depth physical assessments at data collection sites, and biological samples (like blood and urine) for biomarker and genetic analyses. Data collection happens across 11 sites in 7 provinces, making it one of the largest and most detailed aging studies in the world. In this presentation, Dr. Wallace will review the platform, including information on data availability, access, and research impact, as well as focus on its utility for student researchers, as well as the resources available to support its use.

Click here for link or contact che@dal.ca