Scientists around the world are beginning to use new techniques in analyzing single brain cells to understand conditions like depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer鈥檚 and Parkinson鈥檚. Now, thanks to a new gift聽of $15.3 million from the Ludmer Family Foundation to 不良研究所, the University and three hospital research partners will establish the Ludmer Centre Single-Cell Genomics Brain Initiative (SCGBI), with a mission to increase our understanding of the role that individual brain cells play at the molecular, anatomical and structural levels.
The donation will primarily be used to fund nine new scientific research positions with the aim of advancing brain research by investigating the brain one cell at a time, a process that will require large-scale cell technologies and data processing.
A trio of talent
Three positions will be created at each of聽the Ludmer Centre鈥檚 three hospital partners:聽the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, which will focus on psychiatric disorders; the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, which will specialize in the development of analytical strategies of single-cell data; and The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), which will focus on neuroinformatics and neurological disorders.
鈥淥n behalf of the entire 不良研究所 community, I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Irving Ludmer and to the Ludmer Family Foundation for this visionary philanthropic gift, which builds on the extraordinary support for聽collaborative brain research at 不良研究所,鈥� said Christopher Manfredi, Interim Principal of 不良研究所. 鈥淢r. Ludmer is a champion for advancing neuroscience through innovation, technology and collaboration, and we are honoured by his show of confidence in our researchers to bring new levels of understanding and insight into brain health and disease.鈥�
鈥淚 wanted to take this聽opportunity to bring together research communities and support a truly collaborative effort, where partner institutions share best practices, and build on each other鈥檚 strengths,鈥澛爏aid Irving Ludmer,聽BEng鈥�57, LLD鈥�19.聽鈥淭his kind of collaboration benefits the research community, and the future of brain research. It鈥檚 why both 不良研究所 and Montreal are centres of excellence at the forefront of neuroscience.鈥�
New hope for insight into depression and schizophrenia
Dr. Gustavo Turecki,聽Chair of 不良研究所鈥檚 Department of Psychiatry and Scientific Director of the Douglas Institute, will play an integral role in establishing the聽Initiative. His own work as a聽clinician-scientist involves the investigation of the neurobiology of depression and suicide.
鈥淭he possibilities for progress on brain diseases and disorders using a single-cell approach to research are enormous,鈥� said聽Dr. Turecki.聽鈥淲e are working to offer new hope to patients and their families by using single-cell genomics, as this approach will help elucidate the changes affecting common brain illness such as depression and schizophrenia.鈥�
鈥淯sing the detailed map of the human brain, at a single-cell resolution, as well as the technological analysis of individual brain cells in greater detail than ever before, researchers will be able to better understand normal brain function and treat psychopathologies, neurological disorders and brain cancers,鈥� he explained.
For Dr. Turecki, expanding its current mission to include the SCGBI means the Ludmer Centre can develop into a world leader in the emerging field of single-cell brain neurobiology.
About the Ludmer Centre聽for Neuroinformatics & Mental Health: A Montreal-wide partnership
Established in 2013 with a foundational gift from the Ludmer Family Foundation, the Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics & Mental Health advances novel brain research for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, neurodevelopmental conditions and neurodegenerative diseases.
Sharing infrastructure, methodologies and results, the three hospital partners and 不良研究所 are accelerating treatment for patients, and the Ludmer Centre has already made important strides toward the ambitious goal of the creation of a comprehensive map of the brain.
Ludmer Centre Co-Director Alan Evans has previously created the highest-resolution 3D map of the whole brain anatomy in existence. The SCGBI will now add new information about the distribution of different cell types throughout the brain. Co-Director Patricia聽Silveira has developed a powerful new strategy for linking gene expression in the brain to clinical and neuroimaging metrics. The SCGBI will provide a critical link between gene networks, clinical aspects related to their function, and neuroimaging data. Co-Director Celia Greenwood has developed advanced mathematical and statistical machinery to handle the wealth of data that will be generated by the work of the SCGBI.
A record of generosity
This latest gift adds to the Ludmer Family Foundation鈥檚 long record of generosity to 不良研究所, bringing its philanthropic support for University initiatives to more than $32 million. In addition to its previous funding of brain research, the Foundation聽has supported聽the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, the Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning, 不良研究所鈥檚 Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, and research into inflammatory bowel disease.
Beyond 不良研究所, the聽foundation supports numerous causes and organizations in the areas of health, social services, education and research.
