Vol.25 Num(6) - Program in Neuroscience, University of Toronto

University of Toronto Neuroscience ProgramNEUROSCIENCENEWSLETTERPROGRAM NEWSNEWS FROM THE PIN OFFICE:Dear PIN members:Due to the creation of UTNP and the resulting reorganization here, Iwill be leaving my position in the Program as of February 12, 2009.Over the past 10 years, I have enjoyed working with everyone verymuch and I send my best wishes for your future successes. As ofFebruary 12 th , please send all of your correspondence top.neuroscience@utoronto.ca and not to pat.reed@utoronto.ca.Thank you,Pat ReedNEW PIN STUDENTS:We would like to welcome the following students to the NeuroscienceProgram:Student’s Name Degree Supervisor DepartmentMatthew Dubins PhD Laura-Ann PetittoDaniel Lee MA Adam AndersonPsychologyPsychologyEsther Lee MSc John Yeomans CSBIska Moxon-Emre MSc Lyanne Schlichter PhysiologyRyan Salewski PhD Michael Fehlings IMSNatalya Shulyakova PhD Linda Mills PhysiologyGRADUATING STUDENTS:We would like to congratulate the following PIN graduates:Student’s Name Degree Supervisor DepartmentLimor Avivi-Arber PhD Barry Sessle DentistryThesis title: "Face Motor Cortex Neuroplasticity Associated with Alterationsin the Oral Environment of the Adult Rat"Volume 25 Number 6 February 2009Program Committee MembersD.R. Hampson / PHARM. SCI. (Dir)J.O. Dostrovsky /PHYSIOLOGY (Advisor)W.M. Burnham / PHARMACOLOGYP. Carlen / INST. MED. SCIENCEL.F.De Nil / SPEECH LANG. PATHOL.Z. Jia / PHYSIOLOGYM. Lewis / HUMAN DEVELOPMENTAND APPLIED PSYCHOLOGYS. Nag / LAB. MED. PATHOBIOL.Kevin Da Silva PhD JoAnne McLaurin Lab. Med.Path.Thesis title: "Novel adjuvants for Alzheimer's Immunotherapy"Jean Hum MSc Pascal van Lieshout Sp-Lang PathThesis title: "The relationship between diet and the severity of stuttering inpeople who stutter"Vladyslav Kushnir MSc Usoa Busto PharmacologyThesis title: "Investigating Smoking Cue Salience in Individuals withComorbid Nicotine Dependence and Major Depressive Disorder: An fMRIStudy"SPECIAL LECTUREJ. Peever / CELL AND SYSTEMSBIOLOGYJ. Roder / MOL. GENETICSB.J. Sessle / DENTISTRYM. Shoichet / INST. BIOMAT. &BIOMED. ENG.B. Stefanovic / MEDICAL BIOPHYSICSW. Trimble / BIOCHEMISTRYJ.W. Wells / PHARMACYJ.S. Yeomans / PSYCHOLOGYK. Zabjek / REHAB. SCI.UTNP/PIN Office: Room 102, Tanz Neuroscience Building,M5S 3H2.Telephone: 416-978-4894 Fax: 416-978-1878e-mail: p.neuroscience@utoronto.ca.http://www.utoronto.ca/neurosciSpecial lecture jointly hosted by UTNP and the KrembilNeuroscience Centre:Monday, March 2, 2009 5pmBRANKO KOPJAR, University of Washington“Application of Adaptive Statistical Design in RandomizedControlled Trials of Spine Surgery: Theoretical Background andExample from Practice”Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, Auditorium (WestWing, 2nd Floor, Rm 2W-401)- 1 -

UPCOMING PIN DISTINGUISHED LECTURESPlease check http://www.utoronto.ca/neurosci for updates.RESCHEDULED - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 1pmMAIKEN NEDERGAARD, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY"Astrocytes Alive!"Medical Sciences Building, Rm 3153Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Time: TBAERIC NESTLER, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NYTitle: TBALocation: TBAThe Eighth Sackler Distinguished Visiting NeuroscientistThursday, April 2, 2009 Time: TBAERWIN NEHER, Max Planck Institute, Göttingen Germany, 1991Nobel Prize Winner In Physiology and MedicineTitle: TBALocation: TBAThursday, April 16, 2009 Time: TBACHRIS McBAIN, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MDTitle: TBALocation: TBAThursday, May 7, 2009 Time: TBAMAY-BRITT MOSER, Norwegian University of Science andTechnology, Trondheim, NorwayTitle: TBALocation: TBAWednesday, June 24, 2009 Time: TBABITA MOGHADDAM, University of PittsburghTitle: TBALocation: TBANOTICE TO GRADUATING STUDENTSPlease notify the PIN office upon your graduation to ensure that youwill receive the notation "completed Collaborative Program inNeuroscience" on your degree transcript as well as a separatecertificate suitable for framing from the PIN office to indicate that youhave completed the program's requirements. Please let the officeknow the address you wish your certificate sent to and please also sendus your thesis title. If you have transferred from a Master’s degree toa Ph.D., please notify the PIN office.Neurosciences & Mental Health (NMH) ResearchProgram at The Hospital for Sick Children presents:Nurturing the Developing BrainFriday, February 6th, 2009Hollywood Theatre (SickKids Auditorium)Rm 1246 – Elm Wing, 555 University Ave8:30 am – 8:55 amRegistration & Coffee in the Rotunda8:55 am – 9:00 amWelcome by Michael Salter, MD, PhD & Elizabeth Pang, PhD9:00 am – 9:50 am“Beyond early attachment: Issues in the design and dissemination ofrelationship building programs for parents of children andadolescents with mental health problems.”Charles E. Cunningham, PhD Psychologist, McMaster Children’sHospital, Offord Centre for Child Studies, Jack Laidlaw Chair &Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences,McMaster University, Hamilton9:50 am – 10:20 am“Maternal early adversity and the parenting of siblings: shared andnon-shared risks in development”Jennifer Jenkins, PhD, CPsych Human Development & AppliedPsychology, OISE, University of Toronto10:20 am – 10:40 amCoffee Break in the Rotunda10:40 am – 11:10 am“Infant-caregiver attachment and later behaviour problems: Areview and meta-analysis.”Sheri Madigan, PhD Neurosciences & Mental Health11:10 am – 11:40 am“Current parenting stress moderates maternal maltreatment historyto influence cortisol reactivity in the infant.”Leslie Atkinson, PhD Department of Psychology, RyersonUniversity, Toronto11:40 am – 12:30 pmOTHER NEUROSCIENCE NEWS“Maternal programming of neuroendocrine systems throughepigenetic mechanisms.”Michael J. Meaney, PhD, CQ, FRSC Associate Director, DouglasInstitute Research Centre, James McGill Professor, Depts of- 2 -

Psychiatry & Neurology/Neurosurgery, Director, Program for Study ofBehaviour, Genes & Environment, McGill University, Montreal12:30 pm – 1:30 pmLunch in the Garden Terrace, Atrium, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenPlease contact Sharon Quilop to RSVP by February 3rd, 2009Phone: (416) 813-5756 Email: nmh.events@sickkids.caThe Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University ofOttawa And The National Research Council of CanadaPresent:Progress in Systems Biology Symposium“The Brain and Mind”April 23-24, 2009Location: National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive,Ottawa, CanadaKeynote Speakers:Dr. Seth GrantWellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, EnglandDr. Hanfa ZouNational Chromatographic R&A Center, Dalian, ChinaDr. Arturas PetronisUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDr. Alexandra GolbyHarvard Medical School, Boston, USADr. Frank SharpUniversity of California, Davis, USADr. Freda MillerUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaEarly Bird Registration Deadline and Poster Submission: March 1,2009For more information and to register, please visit: www.oisb.caContact information: sysbio@uottawa.ca or phone (613) 562-5800 ext.8073Announcing the 2009 Wisconsin Symposium on Emotion"Adolescence, Brain Plasticity and Psychopathology"April 23-24, 2009Monona Terrace, Madison WIPlease see www.healthemotions.org/symposium for more informationand to register.XXXIst International Symposium of the GRSNC"Breathe, Walk and Chew – The neural challenge"May 4-5, 2009Université de MontréalWe are pleased to announce that the XXXIst InternationalSymposium of the Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveuxcentral, entitled "Breathe, Walk and Chew – The neural challenge"will be held on May 4-5, 2009 at Pavillon 3200 Jean-Brillant, RoomB-2245 at the Université de Montréal.The symposium is organized by Dr Arlette Kolta, Dr Réjean Dubucand Dr Jean-Pierre Gossard. This will be a symposium on theneuronal mechanisms, circuits and networks underlying genesis ofthree rhythmic movements in vertebrates: mastication, respirationand locomotion. The symposium will focus on recent developmentsmade at three levels of investigation:1) The molecular and genetic factors determining the functionalorganization of the circuits controlling these three movements;2) The ionic and neuronal mechanisms responsible forrhythmogenesis in these circuits;3) The control and modulation of the circuits by descending inputsand sensory information.The last session will present retrospective and future perspectives ofthe work of Serge Rossignol, James P. Lund, and Jack Feldman allthree pioneers in their own field, locomotion, mastication andrespiration respectively.Registration is now open. Please visithttp://www.grsnc.umontreal.ca/31s/ for information.The poster is available athttp://www.grsnc.umontreal.ca/31s/31s_poster.pdfSubmissions are invited for a limited number of poster presentations.A selection will be made from the submitted abstracts.Deadline for poster submissions: Tuesday, March 31, 2009.POSITIONS AVAILABLEUNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ANDAFFILIATED INSTITUTIONSRESEARCH TECHNICIAN ORRESEARCH ASSOCIATE POSITIONPosition open - February 2009University of TorontoMolecular biologist or biochemist research technician (M.Sc.degree), or Research Associate (Ph.D. degree) wanted for a positionin a neurobiology/molecular pharmacology research laboratory at- 3 -

the University of Toronto. This position requires someone withexpertise in molecular biology and biochemical (protein) techniqueswith at least 1 year experience (post degree). Expertise in DNAcloning and manipulation including PCR is required. Experience withcell culture, protein purification, radioligand binding techniques,and/or working with mutant mice is also desirable. Previousexperience in organizing and running a research laboratory is a plus.Salary range = $45-60K depending on qualifications. Please refer toJOB #9 and send CV to: sam.dalfonso@utoronto.ca.POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONPostdoctoral Fellow Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation(Canada)Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, TorontoRehabilitation Institute and Restorative Motor ControlLaboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, University ofToronto, Toronto CanadaProf. Molly Verrier is an Associate Professor in the Department ofPhysical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University ofToronto www.physicaltherapy.utoronto.ca and Senior Scientist at theSpinal Cord Injury Lyndhurst Centre of the Toronto RehabilitationInstitute (Toronto Rehab) www.torontorehab.on.ca. Dr Milos Popovicis a Professor in the Institute of Biomaterials and BiomedicalEngineering at the University of Toronto and the Toronto Rehab Chairin Spinal Cord Injury Research www.toronto-fes.ca.Description: One postdoctoral position for two to three years isavailable in the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, LyndhurstCentre and the Restorative Motor Control Laboratory, RehabilitativeSciences, University of Toronto. The position will involve examiningcomponents of restorative motor control including recovery andresponse to new interventions in spinal cord injury (SCI), in clinicalstudies. The applicant will be required to have a PhD as well asexperience in Neurorehabilitation and/or Rehabilitation Engineering.Requirements: A PhD is required along with excellent researchtraining. An understanding of rehabilitation and SCI will beconsidered a definite advantage. The candidate must also becommitted to developing funded research projects that involvegraduate students and apply for post doctoral funding during thecourse of the award. As well candidates should consider currentfunding opportunities available from the Ontario NeurotraumaFoundation SCI - 2009 Graduate and Post-doctoral FellowshipAwards www.onf.org .Environment: Important clinical resources include; inpatient andoutpatient SCI population, a specialized SCI neurorehabilitationprogram, a clinical SCI data base as well as neurophysiologylaboratories for electrophysiological, kinematic, kinetic, upper limb,locomotion and postural control testing. Physical therapy, physiatry,rehabilitation engineering and occupational therapy are all strongservices, each linked to the University of Toronto an exemplarydesignated teaching-training location. The spinal cord rehabilitationresearch program has a group of distinguished SCI scientists fundedfrom Canadian Institute of Health Research, Natural Sciences andEngineering Research Council of Canada, the Ontario NeurotraumaFoundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Christopher and DanaReeve Foundation, The Physicians' Services IncorporatedFoundation and the SCI-Solutions Network. The environment is oneof enquiry in association with other investigators, Clinical Fellows,postdoctoral fellows, Master’s and PhD students from Canada andabroad. Presently the team has 14 principal investigators and morethan 70 team members. More information about the presentactivities of the group can be found at www.toronto-fes.ca andwww.torontorehab.on.ca/research/index.htmApplication: Send (email preferred) CV and brief statements aboutyour research interests to:Molly Verrier, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy160-500 University Avenue Toronto, Ontario M5G 1V7 Tel: (416)978-5935 Fax (416)946-8643 m.verrier@utoronto.caOVERSEASPOSTDOCTORAL POSITIONSSydney, Australia3 Post doctoral Positions Available- Mathematical Modeling- Cell Biology- Cellular ElectrophysiologyApplications are invited for three Post-doctoral Research Scientiststo join the Mark Cowley Lidwill Research Program in CardiacElectrophysiology at the VCCRI and to work on the biology ofhERG K+ channels and genotype-phenotype relationships in LongQT syndrome type 2.Please refer to our website www.victorchang.edu.au for furtherdetails on the institute and the positions available.Applicants should send a curriculum vitae and the names of threereferees to:Ms Carla Northam, HR Manager,Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute,405 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.Or Email: c.northam@victorchang.edu.auSUMM ER POSI TI ON WANTEDMy name is Graham Mazereeuw and I am a 3 rd year IntegratedScience student at Carleton University. I am really keen to continuewith research over the summer and, more specifically, I would liketo continue my research in neuroscience. Currently, I am working onmy Honours Thesis at the Department of Neuroscience with Dr.Holahan where I study levels of hippocampal BDNF geneexpression in rats after acute noise stress. I hope to further myresearch experience with a volunteer position at the Institute ofMental Health Research at the Royal Ottawa Hospital in the coming- 4 -

weeks, and eventually apply to medical school. I am open to any typeof research position and I am certainly willing to experience any newarea of study. If I seem like a good fit for your lab, please contactme anytime at: gmazeree@connect.carleton.ca or 613-697-8036.- 5 -