Category Archives: Neuroscience

Neuroscience

New Company to Advance Research into Made-in-Canada Therapy for Patients with Chronic Pain – BioSpace

MONTREAL, June 4, 2020 /CNW/ -adMare BioInnovations, Canada's Global Life Sciences Venture, along with partners McGill University and AmorChem II Fund l.p., a leading early-stage venture capital fund, is advancing made-in-Canada research that aims to provide new opiate-sparing pain-relieving drugs.

adMare and AmorChem have created a new company, Neurasic Therapeutics, based on breakthrough research from Dr. Philippe Sgula, professor of neuroscience at McGill University in Montreal, that was validated and further advanced by adMare BioInnovations. Dr. Sgula is a world-expert in ion channel biology and molecular pharmacology. His research lab at the Montreal Neurological Institute (the Neuro) is renowned for investigating genes, cells and circuits involved in pain perception and analgesia.

Neurasic's potential drug therapy targets acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), a gene family of neuronal receptors activated by protons that play a role in multiple neurological disorders. Early research has shown that blocking ASICs elicits analgesia (the inability to feel pain) in chronic pain conditions, therefore eliminating the need for opiate-based drugs. Dr. Sgula and adMare have developed a proprietary method to identify molecules that block the ASICs.

"This drug development program is an excellent example of academic research that has the potential to provide the best-in-class treatments that patients need. adMare is proud to have been able to validate and advance this work, generate valuable IP and data, and bring together McGill and AmorChem to create a very commercially-attractive opportunity," says Gordon C. McCauley, President and CEO of adMare BioInnovations. "We are excited to maximize the potential of Dr. Sgula's discoveries on ASICs, along with the return on public investment in research."

"We have been following Dr. Sgula's work for a few years and see much promise in his research. The validation provided by the collaboration with adMare was an important factor in our decision to invest in this platform. We believe that Neurasic will benefit greatly from our three groups' combined expertise in early-stage investing and preclinical development in this field," added Maxime Ranger, General Partner at AmorChem and President of Neurasic.

"Early stage investing requires important financial resources and sustained collaborative work. It is therefore crucial to foster ties between Canadian stakeholders, and AmorChem is happy to partner with adMare and Dr. Sgula in building a Canadian anchor company in the pain space. AmorChem is particularly pleased to be providing Neurasic with Maxime Ranger's solid start-up management experience," says Ins Holzbaur, Managing Partner at AmorChem.

Dr. Guy Rouleau, CEO, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro)added, "Dr. Sgula and I are thrilled with the launch of Neurasic Therapeutics. This drug development program paves the way towards innovative strategiesto reverse the opioid crisis impacting Canadians countrywide.The creation of Neurasic also spearheads our vision that the Neuro could leverage its position as an open science institute to build attractive business models for its high-value technologies. Neurasic was enabled by NeuroSphere, McGill's neuroscience accelerator funded through HBHL, which was instrumental in driving this new endeavour and securing key partnerships to make this vision a reality."

"Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL) is very proud to be part of Dr. Sgula's efforts to find safer alternatives to opioids through Neurasic Therapeutics," said Krystle van Hoof, Managing Director and CEO, HBHL. "We're dedicated to fueling neuroscience discoveries and innovations at McGill, and NeuroSphere, our neuroscience accelerator, allows HBHL to proactively ensure that critical medical breakthroughs reach patients. We will continue to proudly support Dr.Sgulaand Neurasic in their efforts, and will build on this first success to help advance other ground-breaking innovations in the near future."

For more information on Neurasic Therapeutics, visit http://www.neurasictherapeutics.com.

About adMareadMare BioInnovations is Canada's Global Life Sciences Venture, building the Canadian life sciences industry from sea to sea. We do this by sourcing therapeutically and commercially promising research from leading academic and biotech partners to create new companies of scale, providing specialized expertise and infrastructure to help existing companies scale up, and driving the growth of those companies into Canadian anchors by training the next generation of highly-qualified personnel. admarebio.com

About AmorChemAmorChem is a leading early stage venture capital fund, investing ground-breaking academic innovation. The AmorChem team utilizes its deep understanding of fundamental science to uncover its therapeutic potential and focuses its core expertise in translational research to accelerate therapeutic drug discovery and development across a broad spectrum of disease areas. The fund capitalises on both its venture capital expertise and its entrepreneurial experience to spark the creation of start-up companies and help shape them into the next generation of biotech companies. amorchem.com

About The NeuroThe Neuro The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital is a world-leading destination for brain research and advanced patient care. Since its founding in 1934 by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield, The Neuro has grown to be the largest specialized neuroscience research and clinical center in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. The seamless integration of research, patient care, and training of the world's top minds make The Neuro uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on the understanding and treatment of nervous system disorders. In 2016, The Neuro became the first institute in the world to fully embrace the Open Science philosophy, creating the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute. The Montreal Neurological Institute is a McGill University research and teaching institute. The Montreal Neurological Hospital is part of the Neuroscience Mission of the McGill University Health Centre. theneuro.ca

About Healthy Brains,Healthy LivesHealthy Brains,Healthy Lives (HBHL)aims to accelerate translational discoveries and create a global centre of excellence in neuroinformatics at McGill University.Supported by theCanada First Research Excellence Fund, Quebec'sMinistre de l'conomie et de l'Innovationand the Fonds de recherche du Qubec (FRQS,FRQSCandFRQNT), HBHL builds on McGill's scientific excellence and global leadership in areas of neuroscience that hold great promise for delivering implementable, clinically effective outcomes in brain and mental health. mcgill.ca/hbhl

SOURCE adMare BioInnovations

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New Company to Advance Research into Made-in-Canada Therapy for Patients with Chronic Pain - BioSpace

Neuroscience

Brain Mapping Instruments Market Recent developments in the competitive landscape forecast 2018 2026 – Cole of Duty

The utilization of brain mapping instruments has expanded because of increasing occurrences of brain ailments in different parts of the world. Increasing health concerns and enhanced healthcare infrastructure are a few of the foremost aspects driving the expansion of the worldwide market for brain mapping instruments. Furthermore, an increasing number of diagnostics centers is likewise driving the expansion of the market. Nonetheless, poor healthcare insurance coverage and high expenses related to the brain mapping procedure are limiting the expansion of the worldwide market for brain mapping instruments. Also, lack of helium for magnetic resonance imaging systems, saturation in mature markets and technological constraints related to independent systems are likewise constraining expansion of the worldwide market.

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High affecting aspects, for example, continuous brain mapping investigation and examination projects, neuroscience-based activities by government bodies as well as technological progressions in algorithms and tools which are applied in neuroscience space are considered to enhance the market expansion. These variables are foreseen to support revenue generation by impelling the product implementation in this market over the years to follow.

The existence of institutes & organizations, for example, NIH, University of Utah, NeuroScience Canada, Ontario Brain Institute, Max Planck Florida Institute, along with the University of Pennsylvania; in the space are anticipated to significantly affect the advancement of neuroscience field. These entities act a significant part in quickening neuroscience-based r&d to enhance patient results in those suffering from neurological ailments.

Various activities are embraced by the healthcare communities to take cerebrum related innovations and studies above and beyond. For example, in 2014, the University of Utah presented the Neuroscience Initiative keeping in mind the end goal to help mitigate the staggering impacts of brain disorders. The launch was made for developing the understanding of the impacts of brain disorders on wellbeing and channelizing the learning into inventive solutions for patient care.

Constant presentation of new products by prominent market players in the market to the battle different neurological issue will probably support the Y-O-Y development of this market. For example, in September 2015, Codman Neuro (functioning unit of DePuy Synthes) presented CODMAN CERTAS plus programmable valve, an MRI-safe programmable valve along with eight dissimilar weight settings.

Moreover, key aspects that have quickened the research studies about in this field is the development of a number of different harmful CNS issues, for example, Alzheimers and Parkinsonism sickness. As geriatric populace is inclined to different central sensory systems related disorders, for example, Alzheimers, schizophrenia and Parkinsonism with the rise in the aging populace, this market is foreseen to see lucrative development.

The requirement for minimally invasive, more precise along with manifold neuron recording system is additionally anticipated that would drive r&d of hardware and software utilized for neuro-scientific analyses. This, thusly, is considered to reinforce the overall product portfolio accessible in the market and enhance revenues all through the years to come.

Enhancing healthcare infrastructure in developing nations, for example, India and China would generate prospects for the worldwide market for brain mapping instruments. Expanding implementation of refurbished diagnostic imaging systems would represent a challenge for expansion of the mind-brain mapping instruments market globally. A few of the foremost companies functioning in the global market are Philips Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Natus Medical, Inc and Siemens Healthcare. Other market players active in the market are Nihon Kohden Corporation, Covidien, PLC., and Advanced Brain Monitoring, Inc.

Partnerships and collaboration are preferred as a feasible strategy to remain competitory in the market by foremost companies. Companies are engrossed in strategic alliances outside the region and within the region, which helps the expansion of both the parties along with the connected regional market.

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Brain Mapping Instruments Market Recent developments in the competitive landscape forecast 2018 2026 - Cole of Duty

Neuroscience

How to make good decisions when you’re paralyzed by the stress of protests and the pandemic – WMTW Portland

Do you find it tough to make decisions these days? What used to be no-brainers, stopping at the grocery for bread and milk, making a pit stop at the gas station or meeting friends for dinner and drinks are now fraught with dangers.Are people wearing masks at the grocery and keeping their carts at a proper distance of 6 feet? Did you bring gloves or hand sanitizer for the gas pump? Will the restaurant have outdoor socially distant seating and just how does one eat with a mask?And now we're fighting back tears and struggling with rage over the killing of George Floyd, the unarmed and handcuffed black man in Minneapolis who died after gasping "I can't breathe" as a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck."It's crazy times, with protests and a pandemic and things at every level appearing untrustworthy," said biochemist Bita Moghaddam, who chairs the behavioral neuroscience department in the school of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University.Moghaddam, who studies how anxiety affects the brain, said it's no wonder our stressed, overworked brains can't spit out a decision. We have become victims of "analysis paralysis.""We don't know exactly what's going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month," Daphna Shohamy, who is a professor of psychology at Columbia University, told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a recent podcast.And we're all forced to make decisions in that state of uncertainty and to just rely on what we do know, which is not good enough," said Shohamy, who studies the cognitive neuroscience of learning, memory and decision-making."I notice it myself all the time," Gupta said in the podcast. "As simple as choosing a tie in the morning, what I'm going to have for lunch, whether I'm going to go for a run or a bike ride."Those were decisions that usually took me just a few seconds, and now sometimes I just find myself struggling," he said.How the brain makes decisionsThe headquarters for our decision-making capabilities is the prefrontal cortex, which controls our higher-level executive functions. Those include focusing our attention, creating and organizing thoughts, setting goals, planning actions and putting a stop to impulsive thoughts and behaviors.Under normal or mild stress conditions, the brain uses "working memory" to regulate our mood and actions from the top down. Working memory marries recent events with memories from long-term storage about what we learned from any experience, and it uses this to make decisions about how we should act, think and feel based on our experiences. And, of course, it helps us anticipate and predict possible consequences from our actions."The brain is constantly estimating risk," Moghaddam said."I'm hungry. I'm going to get up and drive to a pizzeria to grab some pizza. But driving involves risk because you could get into an accident," she said. "If you're suffering from anxiety disorders, you may say, 'No, I'm not going to even risk getting in the car because I couldn't relax.' If you're drunk, then the risk is even higher. And it becomes a computation game."It takes the first quarter of life for the decision-making area of the brain to fully mature in humans. Car rental companies recognize that fact and won't rent to anyone under 25.Other key milestones, such as a driver's license at age 16, voting at 18 and drinking at 21 occur when the brain's ability to make good decisions isn't fully baked.The prefrontal cortex is also the area of the brain that is most sensitive to stress. Even mild stress can cause "rapid and dramatic loss of prefrontal cognitive abilities," while prolonged stress can actually change the brain, according to Amy Arnsten, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Yale School of Medicine.When we are stressed all the time, certain neurotransmitters go awry, flooding the brain with chemicals that change the structure and functioning of the prefrontal cortex and the fight-or-flight emotion and memory centers of the brain. Working memory suffers, and our ability to make quick or well-thought-out decisions declines."In general, decision-making slows down," Moghaddam said. "You could argue it's better for our survival. You learned driving when it's icy is dangerous, you shouldn't be drinking and driving, and you've learned that this virus could kill you."The combo of stress with increased risk is making it much harder to make decisions during the pandemic."If you think about going to the grocery store right now, there's a fair amount of planning consciously or subconsciously what times will be less crowded, do I really need to go, and should I go," Moghaddam said. "Most of us didn't think of going to a grocery store as a dangerous thing before, yet now it has become an anxiety-provoking process."What to do next?Give your brain a break from its constant risk calculations.Try to take 10 to 15 minutes to close your eyes and meditate, pushing all of your worries and decisions to the side during that time.You can see physical changes in the brain in a short time, said psychology and psychiatry professor Richard Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.Davidson did a randomized controlled trial of people who've never meditated before. Using direct measures of brain function and structure, he found it only took 30 minutes a day of meditation practice over the course of two weeks to produce a measurable change in the brain.There are other anxiety-busting activities that can help. Practice good sleep hygiene to improve your sleep quality, one of the best things you can do to ease stress and boost your mood.Studies show exercising at a moderate but not high intensity for 15 to 30 minutes at least three times a week does wonders for stress. Try rhythmic exercises, such as running, swimming, cycling and walking, to get your blood pumping in major muscle groups.Something as simple as taking deep, slow breaths can do amazing things to our brain and therefore our stress and anxiety, said Dr. Cynthia Ackrill, an editor for Contentment magazine, produced by the American Institute of Stress."When you physiologically calm yourself, you actually change your brainwaves," Ackrill said.Yoga, tai chi and qi gong are spiritual disciplines, designed to meld body and mind. A yoga lifestyle incorporates physical postures, breath regulation and mindfulness through the practice of meditation. Brain scans of people using tai chi and qi gong find increased alpha, beta and theta brain wave activity, suggesting increased relaxation and attentiveness.And finally, stop criticizing your brain for its indecisiveness."Why are we so worried about being paralyzed?" Moghaddam asked. "It's normal for a brain to take its time to make a decision. The brain is actually doing its job."

Do you find it tough to make decisions these days? What used to be no-brainers, stopping at the grocery for bread and milk, making a pit stop at the gas station or meeting friends for dinner and drinks are now fraught with dangers.

Are people wearing masks at the grocery and keeping their carts at a proper distance of 6 feet? Did you bring gloves or hand sanitizer for the gas pump? Will the restaurant have outdoor socially distant seating and just how does one eat with a mask?

And now we're fighting back tears and struggling with rage over the killing of George Floyd, the unarmed and handcuffed black man in Minneapolis who died after gasping "I can't breathe" as a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck.

"It's crazy times, with protests and a pandemic and things at every level appearing untrustworthy," said biochemist Bita Moghaddam, who chairs the behavioral neuroscience department in the school of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University.

Moghaddam, who studies how anxiety affects the brain, said it's no wonder our stressed, overworked brains can't spit out a decision. We have become victims of "analysis paralysis."

"We don't know exactly what's going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month," Daphna Shohamy, who is a professor of psychology at Columbia University, told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a recent podcast.

And we're all forced to make decisions in that state of uncertainty and to just rely on what we do know, which is not good enough," said Shohamy, who studies the cognitive neuroscience of learning, memory and decision-making.

"I notice it myself all the time," Gupta said in the podcast. "As simple as choosing a tie in the morning, what I'm going to have for lunch, whether I'm going to go for a run or a bike ride.

"Those were decisions that usually took me just a few seconds, and now sometimes I just find myself struggling," he said.

The headquarters for our decision-making capabilities is the prefrontal cortex, which controls our higher-level executive functions. Those include focusing our attention, creating and organizing thoughts, setting goals, planning actions and putting a stop to impulsive thoughts and behaviors.

Under normal or mild stress conditions, the brain uses "working memory" to regulate our mood and actions from the top down. Working memory marries recent events with memories from long-term storage about what we learned from any experience, and it uses this to make decisions about how we should act, think and feel based on our experiences. And, of course, it helps us anticipate and predict possible consequences from our actions.

"The brain is constantly estimating risk," Moghaddam said.

"I'm hungry. I'm going to get up and drive to a pizzeria to grab some pizza. But driving involves risk because you could get into an accident," she said. "If you're suffering from anxiety disorders, you may say, 'No, I'm not going to even risk getting in the car because I couldn't relax.' If you're drunk, then the risk is even higher. And it becomes a computation game."

It takes the first quarter of life for the decision-making area of the brain to fully mature in humans. Car rental companies recognize that fact and won't rent to anyone under 25.

Other key milestones, such as a driver's license at age 16, voting at 18 and drinking at 21 occur when the brain's ability to make good decisions isn't fully baked.

The prefrontal cortex is also the area of the brain that is most sensitive to stress. Even mild stress can cause "rapid and dramatic loss of prefrontal cognitive abilities," while prolonged stress can actually change the brain, according to Amy Arnsten, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Yale School of Medicine.

When we are stressed all the time, certain neurotransmitters go awry, flooding the brain with chemicals that change the structure and functioning of the prefrontal cortex and the fight-or-flight emotion and memory centers of the brain. Working memory suffers, and our ability to make quick or well-thought-out decisions declines.

"In general, decision-making slows down," Moghaddam said. "You could argue it's better for our survival. You learned driving when it's icy is dangerous, you shouldn't be drinking and driving, and you've learned that this virus could kill you."

The combo of stress with increased risk is making it much harder to make decisions during the pandemic.

"If you think about going to the grocery store right now, there's a fair amount of planning consciously or subconsciously what times will be less crowded, do I really need to go, and should I go," Moghaddam said. "Most of us didn't think of going to a grocery store as a dangerous thing before, yet now it has become an anxiety-provoking process."

Give your brain a break from its constant risk calculations.

Try to take 10 to 15 minutes to close your eyes and meditate, pushing all of your worries and decisions to the side during that time.

You can see physical changes in the brain in a short time, said psychology and psychiatry professor Richard Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Davidson did a randomized controlled trial of people who've never meditated before. Using direct measures of brain function and structure, he found it only took 30 minutes a day of meditation practice over the course of two weeks to produce a measurable change in the brain.

There are other anxiety-busting activities that can help. Practice good sleep hygiene to improve your sleep quality, one of the best things you can do to ease stress and boost your mood.

Studies show exercising at a moderate but not high intensity for 15 to 30 minutes at least three times a week does wonders for stress. Try rhythmic exercises, such as running, swimming, cycling and walking, to get your blood pumping in major muscle groups.

Something as simple as taking deep, slow breaths can do amazing things to our brain and therefore our stress and anxiety, said Dr. Cynthia Ackrill, an editor for Contentment magazine, produced by the American Institute of Stress.

"When you physiologically calm yourself, you actually change your brainwaves," Ackrill said.

Yoga, tai chi and qi gong are spiritual disciplines, designed to meld body and mind. A yoga lifestyle incorporates physical postures, breath regulation and mindfulness through the practice of meditation. Brain scans of people using tai chi and qi gong find increased alpha, beta and theta brain wave activity, suggesting increased relaxation and attentiveness.

And finally, stop criticizing your brain for its indecisiveness.

"Why are we so worried about being paralyzed?" Moghaddam asked. "It's normal for a brain to take its time to make a decision. The brain is actually doing its job."

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How to make good decisions when you're paralyzed by the stress of protests and the pandemic - WMTW Portland

Neuroscience

Growth factors and Parkinson’s disease — Where next? – Science Codex

Amsterdam, NL, June 4, 2020 - Growth factors such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were initially thought to be exciting new treatments for Parkinson's disease (PD), but trials have been disappointing. A panel of prominent leaders in the field convened to discuss whether there is a future for this approach and what any future PD trial involving GDNF and other GDNF family neurotrophic factors should consider. Their discussions and recommendations are published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease.

"There is clear evidence that GDNF and related growth factors can restore the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway in several animal models of PD," explained lead author Roger A. Barker, PhD, Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience and WT-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, UK. "However, this has yet to translate into a clinically meaningful and robust response in patients."

Growth factors support the development, growth, and survival of cells in the body and brain. The concept of repairing the brain with growth factors has been pursued for many years in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases including primarily PD. Their properties make them an exciting prospect for developing new treatments that could help repair the damage caused in PD.

An international group of experts met to discuss the history and current status of GDNF and related growth factor neurturin (NRTN) therapy for PD, comprehensively reviewing preclinical and clinical studies. Critical evaluation led to conclusions about what has been achieved and what has not been shown using these agents. It was generally agreed that GDNF and NRTN have worked relatively well in neurotoxic animal models of PD, but that their translation to the clinic has so far failed to show a major impact, perhaps highlighting the predictive limitations of toxin animal models being commonly used in the preclinical space in PD to look at disease modifying therapies.

"As to what any trial should look like, there is still much debate as to what primary end-point should be used and at what time point, and input from the patient community on this will be vital going forward," noted co-author Anders Bjorklund, MD, PhD, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

The workshop participants agreed that the question of whether GDNF has a competitive future in the treatment of PD is still unclear. They offered recommendations about what future trials with GDNF should consider and how they might be designed. For example, compared to the relative complexity of the neurosurgery needed to implant an infusion delivery system and ongoing infusions used in a recent GDNF trial, they felt a viral delivery system using newer modified approaches requiring less complex surgery would be more advantageous. In addition, they indicated that early stage PD patients would most likely benefit from such treatment because this group would have the most neurons and fibers left to rescue, with evidence of fiber loss restricted to the dorsal striatum, where the therapeutic agent could be targeted.

The workshop concluded that future trials with GDNF and related agents should be considered but that much more careful attention is needed to be given to all aspects, including the type of patient enrolled; the form of growth factor given; the dose and volume of agent given; the mode of delivery and length of follow-up along with optimal assessment tools.

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Growth factors and Parkinson's disease -- Where next? - Science Codex

Neuroscience

Chemical messenger in brain could point to better treatments for anxiety – Folio – University of Alberta

New research by a University of Alberta neuroscientist reveals more about how the mechanism the brain uses to regulate our response to stress could lead to better treatments for anxiety.

Bill Colmers and his team discovered that two chemical messengerscorticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY)work in a synchronized opposition to one another to remodel and rewire neurons in a part of the brain responsible for emotions, called the amygdala, as part of the bodys natural response to stress.

The research not only shows the change is occurring in the amygdala, but also reveals the process can be manually reversed, said Colmers.

Anxiety disorders represent a huge unmet medical need. Any new information we can gather in relation to understanding the mechanisms involved with anxiety provides new targets for possible drug development, said the U of A professor of pharmacology.

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure in the brain where information from our senses is combined with our memories and experiences.

When you see a car, its just a carunless you were previously T-boned by a red convertible. Then, thanks to your amygdala, that red convertible will elicit negative feelings in you, explained Colmers.

We see abnormal functioning in the amygdala in individuals who suffer from conditions such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Its an interesting part of the brain thats responsible for many essential processes, and its where we see the NPY and CRF in action.

In previous research, Colmers team showed that NPY reduced anxiety in rats. Repeated exposure to NPY made the animals more resilient to stress for weeks or even months, and the team was able to identify the exact mechanism that elicits this response.

Building on this research, Colmers team observed that the bodys ability to react to a stress or threat is the result of CRF increasing the number and length of dendrites (or branches) found in neurons located in the amygdala. The lengthening and expansion of the neural network allows the brain to increase its signalling power and trigger the rest of the body to get ready to respond.

But the longer and more often our brains are in hyperdrive, which makes us feel anxious, the more difficult it is to get back to a healthy state.

Because its harmful for our bodies to be in this amped-up state for too long, NPY is normally released in our brains once the perceived threat has passed.

The NPY has the opposite effect of CRF and reduces or shrinks the number and length of the dendrites, effectively telling the brain to stand down from the alert and let the body relax.

Colmers research also revealed that one of the first steps in getting back to this relaxed state begins when NPY binds with the Y5 receptor, which occurs on the surface of a neuron. This binding activates the pathway that reconfigures the dendrites. According to Colmers, understanding each step in the pathway is important because each represents a potential target for drug development.

My research areas have varied throughout my career and included anxiety, obesity, cachexia and energy balance. However, the common thread that has run through all of it is my friend neuropeptide Y, said Colmers.

While we definitely answered some of our questions with this latest study, it also revealed new questions, as the work was only conducted in male rats. The very important next question is whether this works the same in females.

Colmers, a member of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, and his collaborator Janice Urban from the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, published the study, Contribution of NPY Y5 Receptors to the Reversible Structural Remodeling of Basolateral Amygdala Dendrites in Male Rats Associated With NPY-Mediated Stress Resilience, in The Journal of Neuroscience.

The research was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the University Hospital Foundation. Trainees were funded by Alberta Innovates and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Colmers was a medical scientist with the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research at the time.

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Chemical messenger in brain could point to better treatments for anxiety - Folio - University of Alberta

Neuroscience

Kali Ladd’s Powerful Words on the Protests in Portland – Portland Monthly

Editors Note: On Sunday, May 31, Kali Ladd, Executive Director of Kairos Pdx, spoke at SEI along with other community leaders about the ongoing protests in Portland over the killing of George Floyd. With permission, we're running thistranscript of her speech to the city.

Good afternoon,

As I thought about my remarks this morning, all I could see was my children. My 8-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. The wondering of what does all of this look like through their eyes? I see their beauty and innocence, their intellect and brilliance, and wonder how the world will snatch it away from them. And then my head begins to spin.

You see, because Ive devoted my life and career to children, I am always palpably aware of their presence. I know they are watching what we do, and what we dont do. Watching what we say, and what we dont say. Every moment is instructive. They are listening for something, and if they only hear silence their heads are filled with noise. And this noise can be fear, this noise can be depression, this noise can be complacency, the noise can be grief.

And while I dont condone the looting and vandalism, I know that it is a symptom, not the problem. I know it personifies how I feel inside and I wonder if its not an opportunity to help my children see this too. That as wrong as it may be, it is a symbol of our shattering, our devastation, and our internal beating every time we see a life lost like George Floyd.

George Floyd called out to his mother. His cry reaches the heart of all of us moms. We see our sons and our daughters and we are in shambles.

But I think there is hope. I think there is hope because I come from a people who carry hope across generations. A people who despite devastation and terrorization and oppression have written spirituals that lift this whole nation up in hope. A people that have strengthened the fiber of our being even when forces are taking away our breath.

I also think there is hope because I study neuroscience and psychology and child development and these things tell us we can create a new narrative. But as mothers and fathers and educators we need to be intentional. This does not happen by chance.

Our brains are incredible, miraculous things that can be wired and rewired by our words and our actions. They call it neuroplasticity.

The science tells us that children are not born hating other children or rendering certain people invisible. This happens over time. You see every circumstance is a data point that forms an idea. Watching that black boy in pre-school get kicked out of class repeatedly is a data point, pretending as though the founding of this country did not come at the hands of genocide is a data point, silence in the aftermath of a killing is a data point.

And these data points form ideas. And these ideas begin to cluster and form schema. And this schema dictates behavior.

We are developing racist schema and reinforcing racist ideas in the minds of our children when we fail to talk to them about racism. When we fail to tell the truth about history. When we fail to point out injustice whether its overt or covert.

You see, when we put children at the center of our lives, our comfort or discomfort become less and less important. Our words today can save lives tomorrow. Our children are the souls we will send into a time we will likely never see.

Because when were stressed, whats inside of us, come out. When Amy verbally attacked Mr. Cooper watching birds in central park, what was inside of her came out. Let this be a warning to us all.

But what was inside of Mr. Cooper also came out. Let him be an example of what happens when we build in our children the moral character of calm, grace and forgiveness even amidst our lives being threatened.

The neuroscience and social science tell us that diversity matters. As human beings we dehumanize what we dont know; we fear what we dont understand. Our brains will rely on data derived by soundbites and stereotypes instead of facts when we don't have real people of different races and backgrounds in our lives.

Toya Fick wrote an op-ed in yesterdays Oregonianabout the importance of retaining teachers of color. So well timed. because this is something we can do now. This is a way to actively combat racialized violence. When we do this, we make our schools safer for our black and brown children. We break down fear for our white children. And collectively our children get one step closer to seeing the humanity of another.

This is everything because I believe that when a white child can see the humanity of my black son, it becomes that much harder to crush him with their knees. Diversity is not just anti-racist, its humane.

The list can go and on, but I will stop here. Let there be no question that there is something we can do right here and right now to change the course of history. It lies with our children. It lies with the roadmap we are building in their brains. It lies in the ways that we wire and reinforce their wiring.

We are giving them the data that informs their schema with the words we use or dont; the care we give or withhold and the people they see or dont. Every. Sing. Day. I cant think of any greater light in the darkness than them.

Lets collectively illuminate these lights, strengthen them to understand the tenuous tentacles of racism so they can dismantle them. Let us collectively seek to build strong and resilient children rather than repair broken adults. Love them, love them, love themespecially our black boysso they are resilient and strong in the face oppression. Do not dismiss them or their pain and dont exacerbate it. Talk up and not down to them. Collectively lets do what it takes to build in our children, a foundation that can effectively disrupt the patterns of injustice and destroy the stronghold of hatred that brings us all here today. Children are not just our future, I really do believe. they are our greatest hope.

Read Ladd's essay from our February 2020 issue here:Black Girls Matter: Navigating Portlands Systemic Racism as a Parent of Daughters

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Kali Ladd's Powerful Words on the Protests in Portland - Portland Monthly

Neuroscience

Neuroscience | CNAS Undergraduate Academic Advising Center

The Neuroscience major is an intercollege major offered by the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. As an interdepartmental, cross-college program, the major offers access to more than 40 faculty from the departments of Molecular, Cellular and Systems Biology (MCSB; formerly Cell Biology and Neuroscience); Psychology; Biomedical Sciences; Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology (EEOB; formerly Biology); Entomology; Bioengineering and Chemistry.

The interdepartmental structure of the major provides our students with excellent and diverse opportunities for training in classes and in research. Research interests of faculty in the major include molecular, cellular, systems and behavioral approaches. There are also numerous multi-faculty research groups, including interests in glial-neuronal interactions (through the Center for Glia-Neuronal Interactions), neurodevelopmental disorders, cortical processes and plasticity, neuroinflammation, and gut-brain interactions. The program strives for excellence in research, teaching, and public service, and members of our faculty have been recognized in each of these areas, including as Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Several have received awards for teaching, including the Academic Senates Distinguished Teaching Award, the Innovative Teaching Award, and the Distinguished Campus Service Award, and awards for excellence in undergraduate mentoring.

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Neuroscience | CNAS Undergraduate Academic Advising Center

Neuroscience

Neuroscience – Harvard University – Department of …

Neuroscience - Harvard University - Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology

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In Neuroscience, students investigate the biological mechanisms that underlie behavior as well as how brains process information. We study the nervous system at every level: from the macroscopic (behavior and cognition) to the microscopic (cells and molecules).

Consequently, the questions that neuroscientists ask are wide-ranging: how do electrical and molecular signals allow neurons to process and transmit information from the environment? What guides the development of the immense number of precise connections in the nervous system? How can the complex signals of many thousands of active neurons be recorded and interpreted? What causes the profound behavioral deficits in Alzheimers disease or Autism Spectrum Disorders?

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Neuroscience

Best Master’s Degrees in Neuroscience 2020

Sleeping disorders, bad dreams, strange behavior, worsening memory and concentration, psychotic disorders and all sorts of addictions these diagnoses stem from a dysfunctional nervous system, or the system that has been compromised. Everything mentioned above is covered by Neuroscience, which is a scientific study of the nervous system and students can explore these issues and more with a Read more

Sleeping disorders, bad dreams, strange behavior, worsening memory and concentration, psychotic disorders and all sorts of addictions these diagnoses stem from a dysfunctional nervous system, or the system that has been compromised. Everything mentioned above is covered by Neuroscience, which is a scientific study of the nervous system and students can explore these issues and more with a Master in Neuroscience.

On the synchronic level, Master in Neuroscience programs are considered to be an interdisciplinary science. Neuroscience collaborates with many branches of science that broaden its scope drastically. Currently the field of Neuroscience counts more branches than a number of developed sciences with a long history. These branches include chemistry, physics, psychology, mathematics, medicine, computer science and engineering. Some of the cutting-edge technologies connected to Neuroscience help to unravel the mysteries of brain activity, sensation, memory, learning ability, perception, sleep and neurologically based dysfunctions. With a Master in Neuroscience, graduates have excellent career opportunities in academic institutions, research facilities, and private companies and organizations.

Scroll this page to find out more about various Master in Neuroscience programs and find the one that suits you best. Take the next step toward your career with a Master in Neuroscience, today!

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Best Master's Degrees in Neuroscience 2020

Neuroscience

Neuroscience < University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

The Neuroscience Graduate Program at UC Berkeley is a unique, diverse PhD training program that offers intensive, integrated training in multiple areas of neuroscience research.

The program involves more than 60 faculty from different campus departments, with expertise ranging from molecular and cellular neuroscienceto developmental neuroscience, systems and computational neuroscience, and human cognitive neuroscience.

We provide a highly interdisciplinary, intellectually dynamic training environment of coursework, research training, and mentoring, within a strong research program that produces fundamental advances in knowledge and cutting-edge techniques.

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The following minimum requirements apply to all graduate programs and will be verified by the Graduate Division:

The Graduate Council views academic degrees not as vocational training certificates, butas evidence of broad training in research methods, independent study, and articulation of learning. Therefore, applicants who already have academic graduate degrees should be able to pursue new subject matter at an advanced level without the need to enroll in a related or similar graduate program.

Programs may consider students for an additional academic masters or professional masters degree only if the additional degree is in a distinctly different field.

Applicants admitted to a doctoral program that requires a masters degree to be earned at Berkeley as a prerequisite (even though the applicant already has a masters degree from another institution in the same or a closely allied field of study) will be permitted to undertake the second masters degree, despite the overlap in field.

The Graduate Division will admit students for a second doctoral degree only if they meet the following guidelines:

Applicantsmay apply only to one single degree program or one concurrent degree program per admission cycle.

If applicants have previously been denied admission to Berkeley on the basis of their English language proficiency, they must submit new test scores that meet the current minimum from one of the standardized tests.Official TOEFL score reports must be sent directly from Educational Test Services (ETS). The institution code for Berkeley is 4833. Official IELTS score reports must be mailed directly to our office from the British Council. TOEFL and IELTS score reports are only valid for two years.

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Divisionapplication page.

Applicants to the program should have a bachelor's degree in science from a four-year college and at least one year of laboratory experience. Applicants are required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores.

During the first year of graduate study, each neuroscience graduate student spends three 10-week periods performing research projects in different faculty laboratories. The goal is to expose students to different techniques and approaches in neuroscience and to provide training in experimental design, critical analysis of data, and presentation of research findings. Performance in rotations is evaluated and graded. Rotations also allow students to identify the laboratory in which their thesis research will be performed. During the first-year students also take Neurosci 290A/B Methods & Career Skills Classes whichintroduce a broad range of modern neuroscience research methods in didactic lectures and provide advising in initial career skills. Neurosci 290A (Fall) includes a survey of cutting-edge research methods, advising on how to choose a thesis mentor, training in scientific rigor and reproducibility, and an introduction to the use and misuse of statistics in neuroscience research. Neurosci 290B (Spring) includes in-depth training on how to give a top-notch scientific talk, advising on how to write effective research papers, and on scientific project management.

Step II: Qualifying Exam

Students complete an oral qualifying exam during the spring semester of Year 2. This exam is structured around two written proposalsone in the students proposed area of thesis research, and the other in an area of neuroscience outside the thesis topic. During the exam, a faculty committee tests the students knowledge of these areas and general neuroscience. Students must demonstrate the ability to recognize important research problems, propose relevant experimental approaches, and display comprehensive knowledge of relevant subjects. Students must pass the qualifying examination before advancing to doctoral candidacy.

Students undertake research for the PhD dissertation under a four-person committee in charge of their research and dissertation. Students do original research using a wide variety of cutting-edge neuroscience methods. The students then write a dissertation based on the results of this research. On completion of the research and approval of the dissertation by the committee, the students are awarded the doctorate.

Total normative time is 5.5 years.

Students can either take one graduate-level course from each category, or three graduate level coursesfrom two areas, plus a selected advanced undergraduate course from a third area. They are taken in years 12. Courses offered will vary depending on the semester. The courses below are samples of courses that fulfill the area requirements.

Students must take one additional elective course. This can be either a graduate-level seminar or graduate-level lecture course, and can be 1 unit or more. This is typically taken in years three-four. You may also select a foundation course as an elective. Consult your thesis adviser and thesis committee to select the most appropriate course for you.

There is no formal defense of the completed dissertation. Neuroscience students are required to publicly present a thesis seminar about their dissertation research in their final year.

During their fourth year of study, students are required to make a presentation on the progress of their thesis work while enrolling in NEUROSC294(Neuroscience Graduate Student Presentation Seminar), a journal club, for a letter grade.

Neuroscience students are required to serve as graduate student instructors (GSIs) for two semesters. Whenever possible, GSI assignments are determined with an eye toward student research interests. Teaching occurs during fall semester of the second year and spring semester of the third. Teaching affords students supervised experience in a variety of educational situations, including labs, discussion sections, and demonstrations. GSIs also participate in record-keeping, grading, advising, and student consultations.

GSIs are evaluated by both supervising faculty and the students they teach. These evaluations become a permanent part of the student file. Deserving GSIs are nominated for the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award.

Expand all course descriptions [+]Collapse all course descriptions [-]

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013This course will survey the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD) from a biological and public health perspective by reading original research papers in the fields of medicine, neuroscience, and epidemiology. The course will begin with a historical survey of the concept of AD, followed by a description of clinical and neuropathological features. Subsequent classes will cover the genetics and molecular biology of the disease, as well as biomarkers, epidemiology, risk factors, treatment, development of new diagnostic approaches, and ethical issues. The course will also serve as a model for the analysis of complex diseases with multiple genetic and environmental causes, and late onset neurodegenerative diseases. The course will also serve as a model for the analysis of complex diseases with multiple genetic and environmental causes and late-onset neurodegenerative disease.Biological and Public Health Aspects of Alzheimer's Disease: Read More [+]

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018This course covers the molecular/cellular basis of neuron excitability (membrane potentials, action potential generation and propagation, ion channels), synaptic transmission and plasticity, sensory receptor function, and developmental neurobiology.Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology: Read More [+]

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018Advanced coverage of current research problems in systems-level neuroscience, and experimental and computational techniques used for these studies.Circuit and Systems Neurobiology: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Also listed as: MCELLBIC262

Circuit and Systems Neurobiology: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Prior to 2007This course provides an introduction to the theory of neural computation. The goal is to familiarize students with the major theoretical frameworks and models used in neuroscience and psychology, and to provide hands-on experience in using these models. Topics include neural network models, supervised and unsupervised learning rules, associative memory models, probabilistic/graphical models, and models of neural coding in the brain.Neural Computation: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Calculus, differential equations, basic probability and statistics, linear algebra, and familiarity with high level programming languages such as Matlab

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Instructor: Olshausen

Also listed as: VISSCIC265

Neural Computation: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015Seminar on the presentation and evaluation of research results for first-year neuroscience graduate students. During the first weeks, faculty present their research (FERPS); later, students present individual research results and evaluate their own and each other's work. Course enrollment limited to 15.Neuroscience First Year Research: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Neuroscience Graduate Group; concurrent enrollment in 291A-291B

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Instructor: Ngai

Neuroscience First Year Research: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018Professional core competency training for graduate students involved in neuroscience research at Berkeley. Includes survey of modern research methods, and professional skills including principles of experimental design and data reproducibility.Neuroscience Research Design and Analysis: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Restricted to 1st year PhD students in Neuroscience-related PhD Programs (Neuroscience PhD Program, MCB PhD Program, Psychology PhD Program, Biophysics PhD Program), or permission of instructor

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 8 weeks - 1.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.

Instructors: Feldman, Neuroscience Graduate Advisors, Guest faculty speakers

Neuroscience Research Design and Analysis: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018Professional core competency training for graduate students involved in neuroscience research at Berkeley. Includes training in giving scientific presentations, scientific writing, and project management.Neuroscience Career Skills: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Restricted to 1st year PhD students in Neuroscience-related PhD Programs (Neuroscience PhD Program, MCB PhD Program, Psychology PhD Program, Biophysics PhD Program), or permission of instructor

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5 hours of seminar per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.

Instructors: Feldman, Neuroscience Graduate Advisors, Guest faculty speakers

Neuroscience Career Skills: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018Closely supervised, intensive laboratory experimental research under the direction of an individual faculty member. For first-year neuroscience graduate students, this course will provide an introduction to experimental methods and research approaches in the different areas of neuroscience. Grade awarded on completion of sequence, which includes 3 ten-week laboratory rotations spread out over the fall and spring semesters.Neuroscience Introduction to Research: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Neuroscience Graduate Group; consent of instructor

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 20-40 hours of laboratory per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade. This is part one of a year long series course. A provisional grade of IP (in progress) will be applied and later replaced with the final grade after completing part two of the series.

Instructor: Ngai

Neuroscience Introduction to Research: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018Closely supervised, intensive laboratory experimental research under the direction of an individual faculty member. For first-year neuroscience graduate students, this course will provide an introduction to experimental methods and research approaches in the different areas of neuroscience. Grade awarded on completion of sequence, which includes 3 ten-week laboratory rotations spread out over the fall and spring semesters.Neuroscience Introduction to Research: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Neuroscience Graduate Group; consent of instructor

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 20-40 hours of laboratory per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade. This is part two of a year long series course. Upon completion, the final grade will be applied to both parts of the series.

Instructor: Ngai

Neuroscience Introduction to Research: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Summer 2020 10 Week Session, Spring 2020For graduate students in neuroscience in their second or later years. During the summer, the course will count for 3-6 units. Individual research under faculty supervision. In this course each graduate student conducts basic thesis and dissertation research after successful completion of the first-year laboratory rotation, Neuroscience 291A-291B. Laboratory work provides the basis for students' thesis research, preparation for the preliminary examination, and continued progress toward completion of Ph.D. dissertation.Neuroscience Graduate Research: Read More [+]

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Neuroscience < University of California, Berkeley