UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PROGRAM

Annual Report 2008-09

Director| Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS Collaborative Program in Neuroscience Director| David R. Hampson, PhD Operations & Planning| Alexander A. Velumian, PhD, DSc Program Coordinator| Frazer Howard, MEd Mission| To create an integrated neuroscience program which links and promotes the educational and research activities at the University of Toronto and its affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutes

University of Toronto Neuroscience Program www.neuroscience.utoronto.ca Tel: +1 416 978 8761 [Type text] Fax: +1 416 978 8511

Table of Contents Operating Structure ...... 3 Members’ Affiliations...... 4 Executive Overview ...... 5 Advisory Council ...... 7 Faculty Membership ...... 8 Finances ...... 13 Research ...... 14 Distinguished Lectureship Series ...... 16 UTNP Distinguished Lectureship Selection Committee ...... 17 Collaborative Program in Neuroscience ...... 18 Program Committee ...... 18 Participating Units in the Collaborative Program ...... 19 Neuroscience Poster Day ...... 19 Current Students ...... 20 Enrollment ...... 21 Graduates ...... 22 Graduate Theses ...... 23 MSc ...... 23 PhD ...... 24 Community Outreach ...... 26 Direct support for neuroscience conferences/workshops/rounds/student groups ...... 26 Student Awards ...... 26 Receptions...... 27 Society for Neuroscience 2008 ...... 27 Metro Toronto Convention Centre ...... 28 Brain Bee 2009 ...... 29 International Outreach ...... 30 Website ...... 32

Page | 2 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Operating Structure

Director | Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC, Collaborative Program Director | David R. FACS, is Professor and Research Hampson, PhD, is Professor in Director for the Division of the Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Surgery and a full member of the Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the Institute of Medical Sciences Department of Pharmacology School of Graduate Studies, Co- and Toxicology, Faculty of Director of the University of Medicine and a full member of Toronto Spine Program, Head of the School of Graduate Studies the Spinal Program at the Toronto Western Hospital, Medical Director of the Krembil Neuroscience Program and Krembil Chair in Neural Repair and Regeneration

Page | 3 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Members’ Affiliations

Institutions | Departments | Institutes | Centres | Programs

Page | 4 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Executive Overview

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Toronto established the University of Toronto Neuroscience Program (UTNP) as a new academic program and appointed Professor Michael G. Fehlings as its first Director effective September 1, 2008. By creating the UTNP, the University of Toronto aspires to build a robust, integrated and collaborative academic program in across our Departments and Faculties on campus and with its affiliated hospitals and their research institutes.

The mandate of UTNP is to provide the leadership and administrative support for the development of new educational programs, the review and revision of existing undergraduate and graduate programs in the neurosciences in cooperation with the relevant departments. The ultimate goal of UTNP is to attain the highest level of interdisciplinary neuroscience education in the world. The program will also create opportunities for integrative inter-disciplinary research, enhance the visibility of the UofT neuroscience in all its aspects, and function as an instrument for increased private and government funding for research and teaching. The UTNP will help enhance the student experience at the University through various stipends, awards and student/research exchange opportunities. There will also be the ability to connect the University to the broader community in terms of public policy and outreach.

The program is funded by the Academic Initiative Fund of the Faculty of Medicine of UofT.

Advisory Council • representatives from key divisions, departments and programs involved in Neuroscience at UT • provide high level advice and strategic direction • 24 members

Membership • 302 faculty from 39 departments/divisions (June 2009)

Collaborative Graduate Program in Neuroscience • 15 participating departments and faculties • 35 graduates (22 Master’s/ 13 PhD) • 62 enrollees (44 Master’s/17 PhD) • 186 graduate students currently enrolled (June 2009) o 75 Master’s o 111 PhD • 142 Postdoctoral Fellows • 60 students presented at the Annual Poster Day

Research • CIHR Strategic Training Grant in Biotherapeutics • NeuroDevNet

Page | 5 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 UTNP Distinguished Lectureship Series • 10 lecturers including Raymond and Beverly Sackler Distinguished Neuroscientist • Typically attended by 100-130 faculty and trainees

Direct support for neuroscience conferences/workshops/rounds/student research days • Jerry Silver, 7th Tator-Turnbull Lectureship • Institute of Medical Science Student Association • Branko Kopjar, Krembil Neuroscience Centre Grand Rounds • Canadian Association of Neuroscience, Meeting 2009 • Graduate Association of Students in Physiology, Frontiers in Physiology • 4th Annual Conference in Neurons and Brain Disease • Workshop in adult neurogenesis, BRAIN Research Platform • Arnie Aberman Dinner

Student Awards • BRAIN Research Day Platform Winner • 10x SfN 2008 Student Travel Award • 6x CAN 2009 Student Travel Award

Receptions for UT Neuroscience community • Society for Neuroscience 2008, • Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Winter 2009

Toronto Brain Bee • 9 high schools • 25 Students • Winner went on to win 2nd Annual CIHR Canadian National Brain Bee • Winner placed 5th in International Brain Bee in Toronto August 7-9 2009

International Collaboration with University College • UCL visit to Toronto, October 31, 2008 • UT visit to London, December 2-4, 2009

Development of new website (www.neuroscience.utoronto.ca) • Portal for UT neuroscience community • Facilitate collaborative opportunities • Augment educational activities

Page | 6 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Advisory Council

Michael G. Fehlings (Chair) David R. Hampson Director UTNP Director, Collaborative Program in Neuroscience Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy | Department of Surgery | Institute of Medical Science Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Sandra E. Black Peter Lewis Sunnybrook Research Institute Associate Vice President, UT Research Vera Bril Howard Mount Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases Malcolm Campbell Vice-Principal, Research, UTSC Beverley Orser Department of Anesthesia Sabine Cordes Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute Randy McIntosh Rotman Research Institute of Baycrest Centre | Brian Corman Department of Psychology UT School of Graduate Studies Ashley Monks Sidney Croul Department of Psychology, UT Mississauga Neuropathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology Kieran Murphy Neuroradiology, Department of Medical Karen Davis Imaging Toronto Western Research Institute | Institute of Medical Science James Rutka Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Jonathan Dostrovsky Surgery Department of Physiology| Past PIN Director Michael Salter Avrum Gotlieb Centre for the Study of Pain (Interim) Vice Dean of Research and International Relations, Faculty of Medicine Martin Steinbach Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences David Kaplan UT Department of Molecular Genetics | Institute Carter Snead of Medical Science Hospital for Sick Children, Centre for Brain and Behaviour James Kennedy Centre for Addiction and Mental Health | Melanie Woodin Department of Psychiatry Cell and Systems Biology

Page | 7 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Faculty Membership

By Primary Departmental Affiliation 302 Members, 39 Departments/Divisions

Anesthesiology Computer Science Arsenio Avila Geoffrey E Hinton Andrew Baker Richard Zemel James Duffin Joseph A. Fisher Dalla Lana School of Public Health Gregory Hare Sharon M Abel Wei-Yang Lu Beverley Orser Dentistry Limor Avivi-Arber Biochemistry James Hu James Gurd Ze'ev Seltzer David MacLennan Barry Sessle William Trimble Xian-Min Yu Biomedical Communications Family and Community Medicine Linda Wilson-Pauwels Mary Tierney Cell and Systems Biology Human Development and Applied Michelle M Aarts Psychology Rudy Boonstra Kang Lee Ian Brown Marc Lewis Les Buck Hazel McBride Belinda Chang James Fullard Institute of Biomaterial and Angela Lange Biomedical Engineering David Lovejoy Berj Bardakjian Nicholas Mrosovsky Tom Chau Joanne Nash Sasha John Ian Orchard Mary K. Nagai John Peever Milos Popovic Stephen Reid Molly Shoichet Betty Roots Willy Wong Marla Sokolowski Richard Stephenson Laboratory Medicine and Bryan Stewart Pathobiology Vincent Tropepe Isabelle Aubert Melanie A Woodin Catherine Bergeron Joan Boggs

Page | 8 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Miles Johnston Robert Chen Clifford Lingwood Tiffany Chow Don Mahuran Elizabeth Donner JoAnne McLaurin Sherali Esmail Mario Moscarello Susan Fox Sukriti Nag Richard Gladstone Janice Robertson Allan Gordon Gerold Schmitt-Ulms Paul Hwang Anthony Lang Medical Biophysics Brian Levine Paul Fraser Howard Mount Simon Graham Brian Murray Mark Henkelman Paul O’Connor John Sled James Perry Greg Stanisz Terence Picton Bojana Stefanovic Demetrios J Sahlas Stephen Strother James Sharpe Shun Wong Frances Skinner Antonio Strafella Medical Imaging Donald Stuss Richard Aviv Anurag Tandon Douglas Cheyne John Wherrett Allan Fox Catherine Zahn David Mikulis Liang Zhang Sandra Moses Sean P Symons Medicine, Division of Rehabilitation Medicine Medicine Angela Mailis-Gagnon Nicholas Diamant Susan George Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Critical Care Medicine Anne-Marie Guerguerian Richard Horner Medicine, Division of Cardiology Molecular Genetics John S Floras Ben Blencowe Gabrielle Boulianne Medicine, Division of Endocrinology Sabine Cordes Robert F Casper Joseph Culotti David Kaplan Medicine, Division of Neurology Freda Miller Danielle Andrade Lucy Osborne Sandra E Black John Roder Dianne Broussard Derek van der Kooy Peter L Carlen Mei Zhen

Page | 9 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Nursing Carter Snead Adam Dubrowski Uri Tabori Margot Taylor Nutritional Sciences Hilary Whyte Carol Greenwood Pharmacology and Toxicology Obstetrics and Gynecology McIntyre Burnham Theodore Brown Larry Grupp Clifford Librach Bernard Le Foll Ian Rogers Jane Mitchell Cecil Pace-Asciak Occupational Science and Philip Seeman Occupational Therapy Edward Sellers Angela Colantonio Rachel Tyndale Deirdre Dawson Martin Zack Michelle Keightley Helene Polatajko Pharmacy Usoa Busto Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences David Hampson Rod Bremner Jeffrey T Henderson Herbert Goltz Peter O'Brien Rand Simpson Peter Pennefather Martin Steinbach Peter Wells Carol Westall James Wells Agnes Wong Yeni Yucel Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Otolaryngology Cathy Craven Karen A. Gordon Judith Hunter Robert Harrison William McIlroy Jonathan C Irish Nancy Salbach Paediatrics Molly Verrier Karl Zabjek Brenda Banwell Susanne Benseler Physiology John Callahan Harold Atwood Gabrielle deVeber Denise Belsham Darcy Fehlings Milton Charlton Elizabeth Lee Ford-Jones Jonathan Dostrovsky Maureen Lovett Zhong-Ping Feng Donald Mabbott Paul Frankland Irena Nulman Zheng-Ping Jia Elizabeth Pang Sheena Josselyn Jose Luis Perez-Velazquez Hon Kwan Joanne Rovet

Page | 10 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Evelyn Lambe Joel Sadavoy William MacKay Paul Sandor Stephen G Matthews Russell Schachar Linda Mills Chanth Seyone Philippe Monnier Colin Shapiro Kenneth Norwich Kenneth Shulman Maire Percy Rosemary Tannock Michael Salter Rob van Reekum Lyanne Schlichter Nicolaas Verhoeff Elise Stanley Jerry Warsh Shuzo Sugita Albert H Wong Douglas Tweed Lu-Yang Wang Psychology Martin Wojtowicz Nicole Anderson Min Zhuo Gerald Cupchik Eve De Rosa Psychiatry Kevin Dunbar Adam Anderson Gillian Einstein Paul Arnold Suzanne Erb Cathy Barr Susanne Ferber Anne Bassett Alison Fleming James Cantor Robert Gerlai Eva Chow David Haley Bruce Christensen Lynn Hasher Jeff Daskalakis Gwendolyn Ivy Kim Edelstein Sidney Kennedy Paul Fletcher Geoffrey MacDonald Cheryl Grady Mary Pat McAndrews Robin Green Randy McIntosh Nathan Herrmann William Milgram Allan S. Kaplan Ashley Monks James Kennedy Morris Moscovitch John Kennedy Matthias Niemeier David Kreindler Ted Petit Krista Lanctτt Laura-Ann Petitto Peter Li Jason Plaks Fang Liu Jay Pratt Harvey Moldofsky Martin Ralph Jose Nobrega David Regan Mark Rapoport Mark Schmuckler Arun Ravindran Sara Shettleworth Neil Rector Mary Lou Smith Peggy Richter Kaori Takehara-Nishiuchi Sean Rourke Endel Tulving

Page | 11 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Franco Vaccarino John Yeomans Radiation Oncology Cynthia Menard Speech-Language Pathology Tim Bressmann Luc De Nil Carla Johnson Rosemary Martino Pascal van Lieshout Elizabeth Rochon Yana Yunusova Surgery Karen Davis Maureen Dennis Mojgan Hodaie Brian Maki Jean Saint-Cyr Surgery, Division of Anatomy Soheila Karimi Paulo D. Koeberle Cindi M Morshead Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery Mark Bernstein Michael Cusimano James Eubanks Michael Fehlings Fred Gentili Abhijit Guha David Houlden William Hutchison Andres Lozano R. Loch MacDonald Eric Massicotte Paul Muller Richard Perrin James Rutka Charles Tator Michael Tymianski Alexander Velumian

Page | 12 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Finances

The UTNP is funded by the Academic Initiative Expenditure Amount ($ CAD) Fund of the Faculty of Medicine of the Web Development 1,600.00 University of Toronto. Technology/Software 1,901.80 Office Expenses 2,722.44 Conference Support 8,750.00 Student Support 9,085.18 Lectureships 12,431.53 Community Outreach/Receptions 17,734.62 Salary/Benefits 82,023.30 Total Expenditures 136,248.87 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program Expenditures July 2008 - June 2009

Salary/Benefits 60%

Community Outreach/Receptions 13%

Lectureships 9%

Web Development Office 1% Student Support Conference Support Expenses Technology/Software 7% 7% 2% 1%

Page | 13 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Research

A significant component of the UTNP mission is the creation of opportunities for integrative inter- disciplinary research. Two programs which highlight the collaborative research fostered under the UNTP are the CIHR Training Grant in Biological Therapeutics and NeuroDevNET. While not an exhaustive index of the multi-disciplinary neuroscience research at the University of Toronto, these are exemplary of supported projects at the local and national level. CIHR Training Grant in Biological Therapeutics www.utoronto.ca/biotherapeutics_training Principal Investigator | Dr. David R. Hampson, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Co-Investigators | Dr. Christine J. Allen, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy; Dr. Reina Bendayan, Associate Dean, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy; Dr. Shelley R. Boyd, St. Michael’s Hospital, Dept of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, UT; Dr. Rod Bremner, Head, Division of Genetics Toronto Western Research Institute (TWRI); Dr. Jean Gariépy, Ontario Cancer Institute (OCI); Dr. Tak Mak, Director, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at Princess Margaret Hospital and OCI; Dr. J. Andrea McCart, Department of Surgery and Toronto General Research Institute (TGRI); Dr. Jeffrey A. Medin, OCI and Dept. of Medical Biophysics and the Institute of Medical Sciences, UT; Dr. Philippe Monnier, TWRI; Dr. K. Sandy Pang, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy; Dr. Raymond M. Reilly, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy; Dr. Aaron Schimmer, Department of Hematology/Oncology at the Princess Margaret Hospital, OCI and Medicine and Medical Biophysics, UT and head of Experimental Hematology , UT; Dr. Derek van der Kooy, Department of Molecular Genetics, UT

• 1.79 million in funding over 6 years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research • Encompasses three major therapeutic areas of application: neuroscience/CNS drugs, cancer, and infection and immunity • Focus on three key parameters: Design, Development and Delivery of biologically based medicine • 14 researchers with laboratories based at the University of Toronto, Ontario Cancer Institute, MaRS, the Toronto Western Research Institute, and Toronto General and St. Michaels Hospitals • Postdoctoral Fellows and graduate students will receive training in techniques in bioinformatics, the use of RNAi, new methods and formulations for the delivery of nucleic acids and proteins and the analysis of the metabolism and fate of these macromolecules (pharmacokinetics) in in vivo animal models • Collaborative training environment o provides a deeper level of knowledge and substantially enhance the technical skills of the students and PDFs o facilitate the ability of the trainees to work collaboratively together and promote team oriented research with colleagues o greatly increase the exposure of each trainee to cross-disciplinary research in the fields of neuroscience, cancer, immunology, and drug delivery

Page | 14 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 o through an industrial internship program, provide an opportunity to work temporarily in the private sector where they will acquire additional technical skills and potentially make connections for future job placements

NeuroDevNET www.neurodevnet.ca Scientific Director | Dr. Daniel Goldowitz, University of British Columbia, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child & Family Research Institute UT Participation | Associate Scientific Director Dr. Michael G. Fehlings, Neurosurgery; Research Team| Dr. Darcy Fehlings, Department of Paediatrics and Bloorview Kids Rehab; Dr. Evelyn Lambe, Department of Physiology; Dr. Freda Miller, Department of Molecular Genetics and SickKids Hospital; Dr. Stephen Scherer, Department of Molecular Genetics and SickKids Hospital; Dr. Derek van der Kooy, Department of Molecular Genetics • first trans-Canada initiative dedicated to studying children’s brain development from both basic and clinical perspectives. • $19.6 million in funding over five years from the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada (NCE) • Interdisciplinary network of researchers from across Canada, with expertise that ranges from child development to brain imaging, and genetics to developmental biology. • 70 researchers from 12 institutions across Canada • Vision: accelerate the pace of understanding the causes of neurological deficits, with an initial focus on autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy • Train the next generation of researchers in pediatric brain development, and it will disseminate new knowledge into improved diagnosis, treatments and interventions to inform care delivery and policy decisions • Explore how the normal brain develops, how to detect abnormalities, and how to repair the damaged brain

Page | 15 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Distinguished Lectureship Series

September 2008-June 2009 “Schizophrenia: From Genes To Brain" Daniel Weinberger Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, National Institute Of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD "Serotonin Neurons, Breathing And Arousal: Implications For Sudden Infant Death Syndrome" George Richerson Department Of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT "Experience (And Genes) Shape Human Brain Development And Function" Helen Neville Department Of Psychology, University Of Oregon, Eugene, OR "Synapse Evolution And The Emergence Of Plasticity And Behaviour" Seth Grant Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK "Astrocytes Alive!" Maiken Nedergaard University Of Rochester, Rochester, NY "Transcriptional And Epigenetic Mechanisms Of Addiction" Eric Nestler Mt. Sinai School Of Medicine, New York, NY The Eighth Sackler Distinguished Neuroscientist "Ca++ Signals And Short-Term Synaptic Plasticity In The Central Nervous System" Erwin Neher Max Planck Institute, Göttingen Germany 1991 Nobel Prize Winner In Physiology And Medicine "Mglur7, A Bidirectional Switch Controlling Plasticity In A Hippocampal Feedforward Inhibitory Circuit" Chris McBain National Institutes Of Health Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development Program In Developmental Neuroscience, Bethesda, MD "The Brain’s Mechanisms For Mapping And Remembering The Spatial Environment" May-Britt Moser Norwegian University Of Science And Technology, Trondheim, Norway “Thinking Differently About Schizophrenia” Bita Moghaddam University Of Pittsburgh, PA

Page | 16 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 UTNP Distinguished Lectureship Selection Committee David R. Hampson (Chair) Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy| Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Michael G. Fehlings (Ex- officio) Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery| Institute of Medical Science| Toronto Western Research Institute John Peever Department of Cell and Systems Biology| Centre for Sleep and Circadian Biology Michelle Aarts UTSC, Centre for the Neurobiology of Stress| Cell and Systems Biology Bojana Stefanovic Sunnybrook Health Science Centre| Department of Medical Biophysics Taufik Valiante Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery Gerold Schmitt-Ulms Center for Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases| Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology Evelyn Lambe Department of Physiology Dianne Broussard Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine| Institute of Medical Science| Toronto Western Research Institute Paul Fletcher Centre for Addiction and Mental Health| Department of Psychology

Page | 17 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Collaborative Program in Neuroscience

Program Committee David R. Hampson (Chair) Jonathan O. Dostrovsky Director Advisor Pharmaceutical Sciences Physiology W.MacIntyre Burnham Barry J. Sessle Pharmacology Dentistry Peter Carlen Molly Shoichet Institute of Medical Science Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering Luc F. De Nil Speech Language Pathology Bojana Stefanovic Medical Biophysics Zheng-Ping Jia Physiology William Trimble Biochemistry Marc Lewis Human Development and Applied Psychology James W. Wells Pharmacy Sukriti Nag Laboratory Medicine Pathobiology John S. Yeomans Psychology John Peever Cell And Systems Biology Karl Zabjek Rehabilitation Science John Roder Molecular Genetics

This was the 22nd year of the Collaborative Program in Neuroscience. During this period the Program was brought into the newly formed UTNP. Dr. David R. Hampson took over directorship of the Collaborative Program from Dr. Jonathan Dostrovsky who continues to serve in an advisory capacity.

During the past academic year 62 new graduate students were accepted into the program and 35 students graduated. This brought the total number of students registered in the program to 186 at the end of the academic year.

We regretfully said goodbye to Pat Reed, who left the position of Program Coordinator for the Program in Neuroscience due the reorganizations related to creation of UTNP. Her hard work and dedication helped the program flourish and take the form it does today.

Page | 18 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Participating Units in the Collaborative Program Faculty of Arts and Science Department of Cell and Systems Biology Department of Psychology Faculty of Dentistry Graduate Department of Dentistry Faculty of Medicine Department of Biochemistry Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology Department of Medical Biophysics Department of Molecular Genetics Department of Pharmacology Department of Physiology Department of Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering Institute of Medical Science Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology Faculty of Pharmacy Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Neuroscience Poster Day The Poster Day for CPIN students was held Thursday April 16 2009 in conjunction with Chris McBain’s Distinguished Lecture.

Prizes were awarded to the top 5 posters as judged by a set of volunteer faculty: • Alonso Martinez-Canabal Title: Chronic over-expression of transforming growth-factor beta1 (tgf-b1) negatively impacts brain function and cognition • A.J. Marsolais Title: The role of notch signaling in learning and memory • R.H.C. Chen Title: Characterization of rab3a and α-synuclein interaction and consequences on α-synuclein compartmentalization • Norman Farb Title: Letting go of sadness: mindful detachment in emotion regulation • L. Zavalishina Title: Mbd2, another methyl-cpg-binding protein, contributes to autism-like behavioural phenotype in mice Each won a $100 gift certificate to the UofT Bookstore. Thank you to all those who presented and attended and a very special thank you to the poster judges.

Page | 19 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Current Students Total number of students: 186 (June 2009) Current students by degree Current students by gender

MSc/MA Male PhD 40% 40% Female 60% 60%

Current students by collaborating department

Physiology 24%

Psychology Institute of Medical 18% Science 29%

HDAP 3% Cell & Systems Biology Medical Biophysics 5% 0% Pharmaceutical Rehabilitation Sciences Speech-Language Pharmacology Sciences 5% Pathology 4% 5% 2% Mol. Genetics 2% Lab Med & Patho 3%

Page | 20 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Enrollment Total Number of new enrollments: 62 (July 08 – June 09) New students by degree New students by gender

Ma/MSc 71% Female PhD Male 53% 29% 47%

New students by collaborating department

Institute of Medical Cell & Systems Science Biology 23% 14%

Physiology 27% Psychology 15%

Pharmacology 2% Rehabilitation Sciences Medical Biophysics Lab. Med. & Patho. HDAP 6% 2% Pharmaceutical 3% 5% Sciences 3%

Page | 21 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Graduates Total number of graduates: 35 (July 08 – June 09) Graduates by degree Graduates by gender

MSc Female 63% Male PhD 49% 51% 37%

Graduates by collaborating department

Institute of Medical Rehabilitation Science Sciences 23% 11%

Physiology Speech-Lang. Path. 28% 8%

Dentistry 6%

Psychology Pharmacology 3% Cell & Systems 6% Medical Biophysics Inst. Biomat. & HDAP Biology 3% Biomed. Eng. 3% 3% Laboratory Medicine 3% and Pathobiology 3%

Time to completion (months) Master's 50 PhD 21 69 117 33 75 min median max

Page | 22 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Graduate Theses

MSc Institute of Medical Science James Doherty Supervisor: Cindi Morshead Thesis Title The Isolation and Identification of the Definitive Adult Neural Stem Cell Following Ablation of the Neurogenic GFAP Expressing Subependymal Cell Allison Bethune Supervisor: Brenda Banwell Thesis Title A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Investigation of White Matter in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Liam Kaufman Simpkins Supervisor: Sandra Black Thesis Title Antisaccades: A Probe Into The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Alzheimer's Disease Giannina Descalzi Supervisor: Robert Chen Thesis Title Cortical Representation of Lower Facial and Masticatory Muscles Hwa-Lin Hsiang Supervisor: Sheena Josselyn Thesis Title Acutely increasing alpha-CaMKII into Lateral Amygdala enhances fear conditioning Medical Biophysics Jessica Sturgess Supervisor: Derek van der Kooy Thesis Title Caffeine has dopamine D2 receptor-dependent aversive properties that are independent of the adenosine A2A receptor Pharmacology Vladyslav Kushnir Supervisor: Usoa Busto Thesis Title Investigating Smoking Cue Salience in Individuals with Comorbid Nicotine Dependence and Major Depressive Disorder: An fMRI Study Erin Rose Supervisor: David R. Hampson Thesis Title Modulation of Glutamate Transporter Activity by Na,K-Atpase Physiology Vishanthan Sivagnanam Supervisor: Lyanne Schlichter Thesis Title Immunomodulation Following Bacterial Interaction with Primary Rat Microglia Anthony Senzel Supervisor: Zhong-Ping Feng Thesis Title Long-Term Memory of Aversive Operant Conditioning Requires New Synapse Formation and a Putative Cation Channel John Kim Supervisor: Howard Mount Thesis Title Distinct behavioural and neurochemical effects of wild type and mutant forms of human alpha-synuclein in mice Ting-Chieh Chou Supervisor: Shuzo Sugita Thesis Title Roles of syntaxin isoforms in dense core vesicle fusion Veronique Kena-Cohen Supervisor: Lyanne Schlichter Thesis Title Defining a physiological model of classical activation in microglia Kristin Johnson Supervisor: Martin Wojtowicz Thesis Title The relationship between adult hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial learning and memory in natural populations of food-storing red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) Rehabilitation Science Peter Glazer Supervisor: William McIlroy Thesis Title The Role of Attention Switching in Control of Balance in Healthy Young Adults Won Hyung A. Ryu Supervisor: Deirdre Dawson Thesis Title Early Identification of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Page | 23 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Amanda Chisholm Supervisor: William McIlroy Thesis Title Characterization of the Centre of Pressure Trajectory during Gait in Stroke Patients Speech-Language Pathology Andrea Gauster Supervisor: Yana Yunusova Thesis Title The Effect of Speaking Rate on Velopharyngeal Function in Healthy Speakers Jean Hum Supervisor: Pascal van Lieshout Thesis Title The relationship between diet and the severity of stuttering in people who stutter PhD Cell & Systems Biology Gina Trubiani Supervisor: David Lovejoy Thesis Title Elucidating the Neuroprotective Mechanism of Teneurin C-terminal Associated peptide Dentistry Limor Avivi-Arber Supervisor: Barry Sessle Thesis Title Face Motor Cortex Neuroplasticity Associated with Alterations in the Oral Environment of the Adult Rat David Lam Supervisor: Hu, J. Sessle, B. Thesis Title Neural Mechanisms of Temporomandibular Joint and Masticatory Muscle Pain Human Development and Applied Psychology Rebecca Todd Supervisor: Marc Lewis Thesis Title Cortical patterns of social-emotional processing in early childhood: Electrophysiological responses to facial affect and familiarity in a go-nogo task Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering Scott Young Supervisor: Tom Chau Thesis Title Visual Discrimination of Speed-Accuracy Tradeoffs Elan l. Ohayon Supervisor: Kwan, H. Burnham, W.M. Thesis Title Architectures of Activity: Network Structure and Neural Dynamics from Epilepsy to Autonomous Action Vasan Persad Supervisor: O.Carter Snead Thesis Title The Role of Sex Hormones on Atypical Absence Seizures Naama Levy Supervisor: Sandra Black Thesis Title Subcortical ischemic vasculopathy in Alzheimer's disease: Brain- behaviour Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology Kevin Da Silva Supervisor: JoAnne McLaurin Thesis Title Novel adjuvants for Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Physiology Luka Srejic Supervisor: William Hutchison Thesis Title Evaluation of anti-stroke and anti-epileptic pharmacology on the rat cortex using an 8- channel neurophysiological model of ischemia and epilepsy Sabiha Gardezi Supervisor: Elise Stanley Thesis Title Analysis of the CAV2.2-PDLIM5-PKC Epsilon Protein Complex and the Role of PDLIM5 Protein at the Presynaptic Nerve Terminal Jeffrey Dason Supervisor: Atwood, H. Charlton, M. Thesis Title Role of Frequenin1 and Frequenin2 in Regulating Neurotransmitter Release and Nerve Terminal Growth at the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction Natalya Shulyakova Supervisor: Linda Mills

Page | 24 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Thesis Title Proteasome Inhibition and Mitochondrial Protein Import; Their Role in Mitochondrial Psychology Caroline Ko Supervisor: Martin Ralph Thesis Title Functional Organization of Central and Peripheral Circadian Oscillators in Mammals Rehabilitation Science Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo Supervisor: Verrier, M. Steinbach, M. Thesis Title Manipulation of Afferent Feedback from Extraocular Muscles via Jendrassik Maneuver in Binocularly Intact Observers and Deafferented Patients: Effects on Vergence, Version and Higher Order Perceptual Judgements Speech-Language Pathology Aravind Namasivayam Supervisor: Pascal van Lieshout Thesis Title Speech Motor Skills in Persons Who Stutter

Page | 25 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Community Outreach

Direct support for neuroscience conferences/workshops/rounds/student groups

• 7th Annual Charles Tator-Barbara Turnbull Lectureship Series in Spinal Cord Injury Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jerry Silver, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio November 14, 2008, 89 Chestnut, University of Toronto • Institute of Medical Science Student Association • Branko Kopjar, Krembil Neuroscience Centre Grand Rounds Visiting Professorship March 1-3, 2009 • Canadian Association of Neuroscience, 3rd Annual Meeting May 24-27, 2009 Vancouver, British Columbia • Graduate Association of Students in Physiology, Frontiers in Physiology research symposium 1st place BRAIN poster winner: Wayne Huang (Jia Lab) 2nd place poster winners: Lidiya Zavalishina (Eubanks Lab) 2nd place poster: Eliane Proulx (Lambe Lab) BRAIN oral winner: Nasrin Nejatbakhsh (Feng Lab) • 4th Annual Conference in Neurons and Brain Disease July 21-23, 2009 Medical Science Building, University of Toronto • Workshop in adult neurogenesis, BRAIN Research Platform July 3, 2009, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto • Arnie Aberman Tribute Dinner November 3, 2008 Sheraton Centre, Toronto • The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Membership Student Awards BRAIN Research Day Platform Winner 10 x Student Travel Award, Recipient: Society for Neuroscience, November 15-19 2008, Nathalie Goodfellow Washington, DC Recipients: 6 x Student Travel Award, Slide Presenters: Canadian Association of Neuroscience, 3rd Annual Sherri Robins (Fehlings Lab) Meeting, May 24-27, 2009 Moran Weinberger (Dostrovsky Lab) Vancouver, British Columbia Taylor W. Schmitz (Anderson Lab) Recipients: Leigh Botley (De Rosa Lab) Taryn Grieder (van der Kooy Lab) Poster Presenters: Eliane Proulx (Lambe Lab) Robert P. Bonin (Orser Lab) Maria Hersht (Salter Lab) Anne Wheeler (Frankland Lab) Luka Srejić (Aarts Lab) Anna Lomanowska (Kraemer Lab) Wen-Jia Zhang (Tymianski Lab) Keri Taylor (Davis Lab) Nasrin Nejatbakhsh (Feng Lab) Alexander Weber (Stanley Lab) Shira Rosenzweig (Wojtowicz Lab)

Page | 26 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Receptions

Society for Neuroscience 2008

The University of Toronto Neuroscience Program held a reception for University of Toronto attendees of the Society for Neuroscience Meeting 2008 in Washington, DC. The reception was an opportunity for faculty, past and present student, postdocs and research staff to meet in an informal setting.

Dr. Michael Fehlings, Director of the UTNP, presented certificates to the 10 UofT neuroscience graduate students who each received $500 travel support from the Program.

Page | 27 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Metro Toronto Convention Centre The Metro Toronto Convention Centre supported a UTNP reception on January 7, 2009 to bring together the neuroscience faculty of the University. The new UTNP logo was introduced at the reception.

Page | 28 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Brain Bee 2009 The University of Toronto Neuroscience Program hosted the 11th annual neuroscience competition for high school students on Friday, February 13, 2007. March 27, 2009. Twenty-six students from 10 different Toronto secondary schools took part in this oral competition modeled after a "spelling bee". The first place winner was Sean Amodeo from the York Memorial Collegiate Institute. Second place went to Jason Kwok, and third place to Josh Budman, both from University of Toronto Schools. The winner of our local contest, Sean Amodeo, took top spot at the 2nd Annual CIHR Canadian National Brain Bee competition held at McMaster University in Hamilton on May 29-30, 2009 where the winners from other local University-sponsored competitions in Canada participated. Sean went on to compete in the 10th Annual International Brain Bee (IBB) held in association with the American Psychological Association's Convention in Toronto, Canada August 7th-9th, 2009. In the 10 year history of the IBB, three U of T brain bee winners also won first place in the IBB. Sean placed 5th out of 8 competitors at the IBB. The U of T competition is organized by Professor Jonathan Dostrovsky, past-Director of CPIN with the help of UTNP faculty member Dr. Eve DeRosa. Many thanks go to CPIN graduate students Massieh Moayedi (IMS), Javeria Hashmi (IMS), Danielle Desouza (Rehabilitation Science), Beverly Francis (Physiology), Kuang Da Zhu (Psychology), Eric Tsang (IMS), Andree Cyr (Psychology), Kathleen Mak-Fan (Psychology), Vishanthan Sivagnanam (Physiology) and Leigh Botly (Psychology) for assisting with the Bee. Special thanks to Massieh Moayedi, Eric Tsang and Danielle DeSouza for giving presentations on their research.

Page | 29 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 International Outreach

University College London (UCL) – University of Toronto Collaboration UCL Neuroscience http://www.ucl.ac.uk/neuroscience

• >30% of UK neuroscientists • ₤500 M in 5 years • 33% of research income across UCL • 2nd in the world for citations in neuroscience & behaviour (Thomson ISI Essential Science Indicators) UCL visit to Toronto, October 31, 2008: Meeting on future collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine, UofT and the UCL School of Medicine, U.K: neuroscience is one of main fields of UCL interest. UCL: Ed Byrne, Executive Dean, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Vice-Provost Health (now Vice-Chancellor of Monash University, Australia). UofT: Peter Lewis, Mingyao Liu (Director, International Relations), David Hampson (UTNP) UofT visit to London, Dec 2-4, 2009 UofT: Peter Lewis (also representing cardiovascular program on behalf of Mansoor Husain), Jack Mandel (Global Health), Brian Wilson (Imaging), Alexander Velumian (UTNP, on behalf of Michael Fehlings); Peter St. George-Hyslop (Dec 2 only: came from Cambridge to join the Round Table Discussion) Meetings in London: UCL Introduction and Round Table Discussion (Dec 2): 14 key people from UCL. Among them: UCL Neuroscience: Trevor Smart (Head of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology); Alan Thompson (Director of Institute of Neurology) Graham Cadwallader (UCL Neuroscience Strategic Co-ordinator) UCL Leadership: (Provost and President of UCL); Chwen J. Lim (Pro-Provost for North America (Canada, Mexico & US)); Mike Spyer (Vice-Provost - Enterprise: academic/industry liaison; commercialization of research technology, capitalization of intellectual property; spin-out companies and clinical trial activities; Mary Phillips (Director of Research Planning, Office of the Vice-Provost (Research)). UofT Neuroscience: Velumian (on behalf of Michael Fehlings, who was in Stockholm accepting a prestigious Olivecrona Award and Medal from Karolinska (the “Nobel in Neurosurgery”); Peter St. George-Hyslop (continued on strengths in neurodegenerative diseases)

Page | 30 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Neuroscience- specific meetings (Dec. 3, A. Velumian) UCL Neuroscience Executive Group (6 members; they don’t have an Advisory Council): Jon Driver (Inst of Cognitive Neurosci, Inst of Neurology, Wellcome Trust Centre for , Inst of Movement Neurosci; Vision@UCL); Michael Hausser (Wolfson Inst for Biomed Res); Trevor Smart (Head of Neurosci, Physiol & Pharmacol); Alan Thompson (Director of Inst of Neurology); Steve Wilson (Professor of Developmental Genetics); Graham Cadwallader (Strategic Coordinator of UCL Neuroscience) Research Labs/Centers visits

Michael Hausser (Wolfson Inst for Biomed Research); Stuart Cull-Candy, Paola Pedarzani, Martin Stocker (Dept of Neurosci, Physiol and Pharmacol); (Director of Inst of Cognitive Neurosci); Geoff Raisman, David Choi, Patrizia Ferretti (Inst of Neurology); David Attwell (Dept of Neurosci, Physiol and Pharmacol) Joint Neuroscience and Global Health Meeting (Dec 3, A. Velumian and J. Mandel): Sushrut Jadhav (Sr Lecturer in Cross-Cultural Psychiatry; links with CAMH); Michael King (Head, Department of Mental Health Sciences at ); Irwin Nazareth (mental health; specializes in Chile; links with CAMH & Baycrest); Jon Roiser (Deep brain stimulation; molecular genetics; NIMH post doctoral grants); Ms. Sarah Ball (coordinator, UCL Global Health); Graham Cadwallader Wrap-up meeting (Dec. 4): UCL-UofT delegations, with participation from Canadian Embassy: Dr Caroline Martin, Manager, Science & Technology Programme, Canadian High Commission; Ms Clare Barnett, Counsellor (Commercial), Ontario International Marketing Centre. Prospects for UT-UCL collaboration in neuroscience Potential areas: Neurodegeneration; Traumatic/ ischemic brain and spinal cord injury and stroke; Regenerative Medicine; Demyelinating diseases and conditions. Next steps: UCL delegation visit to Toronto (early 2010); Joint symposia on selected topics? (funding sources in discussion: expecting support from Canadian High Commission; CIHR & Wellcome Trust matching?)

Page | 31 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09 Website

A significant component of the UTNP communications strategy was the redevelopment of the website to reflect the new structure of the Program: www.neuroscience.utoronto.ca.

The site will be a portal for UT neuroscience community offering profiles of the faculty members, information on the collaborative program, local, national and international neuroscience news, and upcoming seminars and conferences from all the participating units.

The site will facilitate collaborative opportunities amongst the diverse faculty and locations. Forums for technical advice and equipment are open to enhance communication between the labs and students.

The searchable faculty profiles highlight current research interests and offer links to labs, affiliated programs and an automatic Pubmed search for publications.

A Program facebook page was recently created to offer another way for students and faculty to interface with the Program and keep up to date with upcoming Program – sponsored lectures and events such as the Distinguished Lectureship Series.

www.facebook.com/pages/University-of-Toronto-Neuroscience-Program/212564644049

Page | 32 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09

University of Toronto Neuroscience Program www.neuroscience.utoronto.ca Tel: +1 416 978 8761 Fax: +1 416 978 8511

© 2009 Copyright University of Toronto Neuroscience Program

Page | 33 University of Toronto Neuroscience Program | Annual Report 2008-09