$10 million for Neuro-led project seeking new Alzheimer鈥檚 biomarkers
Weston Family Foundation grant will fund the first ultra-high-sensitivity whole body PET/CT scanner in Canada
A groundbreaking project led by Dr. Pedro Rosa-Neto at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) of 91社区 has received a major boost thanks to a $10-million grant from the Weston Family Foundation.
The funding is part of a $20-million initiative by the foundation to support highly ambitious scientific endeavors under its Healthy Aging Strategy, comprised of the Weston Brain Institute and the Weston Family Microbiome Initiative.
A powerful new tool for Alzheimer鈥檚 research
Alzheimer鈥檚 disease is the most common form of dementia, characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, more than 750,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Effective personalized treatments for Alzheimer鈥檚 disease depend on the availability of accurate and accessible biomarkers for diagnosing and staging the disease, as well as identifying optimal treatment strategies.
Dr. Rosa-Neto鈥檚 project will leverage and enhance existing infrastructure at the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre (BIC) of The Neuro by acquiring a new Panorama GS tomograph from United Imaging鈥攖he first ultra-high-sensitivity whole body PET/CT scanner in Canada.
The Panorama will aid the discovery of the next generation of Alzheimer鈥檚 biomarkers, with a particular focus on neuroinflammation鈥攁 key driver of cognitive decline in neurodegenerative conditions. This work holds the promise of transforming Alzheimer鈥檚 research and care, enabling earlier diagnosis, more precise disease progression monitoring, and the development of personalized therapies. Ultimately, these innovations could lead to improved outcomes and quality of life for the growing number of Canadians affected by Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.
鈥淭his new technology will allow us to understand better than ever before the mechanisms of disease progression in people with Alzheimer鈥檚,鈥� says Dr. Rosa-Neto. 鈥淲e can then use this information to develop better treatments to prevent, slow, or reverse the effects of this terrible disease. Thanks to the Weston Family Foundation for this critically important investment.鈥�
鈥淭he Panorama adds to the BIC鈥檚 position as a world leader in brain imaging,鈥� says Julien Doyon, PhD, Director of the BIC. 鈥淰ery few institutes worldwide can provide the level of imaging capacity as The Neuro, and our capabilities continue to grow. I look forward to working with Dr. Rosa-Neto鈥檚 on such an exciting research program made possible with this generous donation.鈥�
About The Neuro
The Neuro 鈥� The Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital 鈥� is a bilingual, world-leading destination for brain research and advanced patient care. Since its founding in 1934 by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield, it 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鈥檚 top minds make The Neuro uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on the understanding and treatment of nervous system disorders. It was the first academic institute in the world to fully adopt Open Science, to help accelerate the generation of knowledge and discovery of novel effective treatments for brain disorders. The Neuro is a 91社区 research and teaching institute and part of the Neuroscience Mission of the 91社区 Health Centre. For more information, please visit鈥�