News & Media

October 2004
Director’s Corner: On Institute Design

Penfield's concept of The Neuro evolved from his own relentlessly creative energies, from his friendship with his contemporaries, many of whom were powerful figures in medicine, and much more broadly, from his marvellous sense of history - he was fascinated by the goals and motivations that drove the prominent figures who had shaped science over the centuries.

In formulating his plan for The Neuro, Penfield must have been well-acquainted with the work and the influence that Joseph Henry had over science in America in the 19th century. Henry had been a celebrated member of the Princeton faculty in the first part of the 1800's who, during his tenure there, made a variety of seminal discoveries that moved the science of physics in a vastly new direction; Henry's basic science discoveries paved the way for many practical devices (the telegraph, telephone and electric motor.)

While a student at Princeton more than half a century later, Penfield would have naturally learned about this brilliant American scientist, and it would not have escaped a careful observer like Penfield that Henry was a visionary (I do not use this word lightly) in terms of his concept of the 'true' purpose of a scientific institute. Joseph Henry's ideas had a purity and clarity that would have appealed to the idealistic young scholar and, intentional or not, a distillation of Henry's ideas may be found in Penfield's articulations of the mission of The Montreal Neurological Institute. By the way, at the high point of his career as an experimentalist, Henry was tempted by the Devil to direct a new Institute (only a bit of an exaggeration here as the offer came from the United States Congress). He wrestled with his conscience but ultimately succumbed, abandoning his major work at Princeton to become the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was thus instrumental in shaping its initial course, and he set forth, in documents submitted to Congress, a plan for the Smithsonian that resonates well with Penfield's later conception of The Neuro.

While Henry was Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 -1878, every Annual Report reiterated his 'Programme' which set forth the principles by which the Smithsonian was to be guided. The paramount purpose was the "increase of knowledge through original research" and the subordinate mission was "teaching" or the "diffusion of knowledge". Henry wrote: "...The most prominent idea in my mind is that of stimulating the talent of our country to original research.....to pour fresh material on the apex of the pyramid of science and thus to enlarge its base...."

As for the Smithsonian building design, there is no doubt that Henry understood that 'form follows function': "...the plans and dimensions of the (Smithsonian) building should be determined by the plan of the organization, and not the converse. It is surely better in the construction of such an edifice to imitate the example of the mollusc, who adapts it to the form and dimensions of its body rather than forces itself into a house intended for a different occupant..."

Please send any comments about the Director's Corner to david.colman@mcgill.ca

(All lectures are posted on the MNI website) October 12 Dorothy J. Killam Lecture 'Leadership: McGill in a new century' Principal Heather Munroe-Blum will deliver the inaugural Dorothy Killam Lecture at 4:30 pm in the Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre.

October 18 Hughlings Jackson Lecture/Gairdner Foundation Lecture 'Humanity's Genes' Dr. Sydney Brenner, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, 2002, and Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies will deliver this lecture in partnership with the Gairdner Foundation Program at the Centre Mont-Royal, 2200 Mansfield. The Gairdner Foundation Program will start at 2:00 pm with Dr. Brenner's lecture at 4:30 pm.

Neurology Conferences (Fridays, 8:30-9:30 am)

October 15 at Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre, The Neuro 'The Heart of the Matter: An Unusual Case of Stroke in a Young Person' Paul S. Giacomini, M.D. and George Thanassoulis, M.D.

October 22 at the Jewish General Hospital 'The many facets of prion protein' Andrea Leblanc, Ph.D. October 29 at the Montreal General Hospital 'Peripheral Neuropathy and Monoclonal Gammopathies' Colin Chalk, M.D.

Recent Events

Chinese Academy of Sciences

On September 23, 2004, the Neuro hosted a visit from delegates representing the Chinese Academy of Science, the premier academic institution devoted to science and technology in China. The delegation was led by Dr. Chuanjie Guo, Member of Standing Committee of General Administration. Our visitors toured the Neuro, spoke with several scientists and met with Dr. Colman and Mr. Patrick Cheung of the MNI Advisory Board. Since its inception in 1949, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has fostered research in the natural sciences and in high technology. The Academy is now making a strong effort to recognize major scientific innovations and pursue international collaborative arrangements. We had an extraordinarily successful meeting with the CAS delegates and we agreed to begin planning a series of workshops on highly innovative projects of mutual interest between MNI and CAS scientists, such as NeuroEngineering and Brain Repair. It is expected that the long range outcomes of such workshops will be cutting edge, highly productive projects, components of which will be pursued in the long term at MNI and CAS laboratories.

The Japan Chapter of the MNI Mr. Royal Govain, Executive Director of External Affairs and Dr. Mirko Diksic are currently attending the 2004 Reunion of the Japan Chapter of the MNI in Tokyo, Japan.  Alumni speakers at the reunion will include Dr. Hideaki Nukui, who was recently named President of the University of Yamanashi, Dr. Tatsuya Tanaka, Dr. Shinji Nagahiro, and Dr. Shu Hasegawa.   More than eighty Japanese fellows have trained at the Neuro over the years, many with Dr. Mirko Diksic and the late Dr. Lucas Yamamoto. The Japanese fellows have an MNI Alumni office in Yamanashi and have long been generous supporters of the Neuro library.

Another success The MNI’s 6th Annual Golf Tournament was a great success again this year.

On Monday, October 4, the golfers enjoyed a round at the Royal Montreal despite wind and rain in mid-afternoon. In a post golf seminar, Dr. Alan Evans explained MCBIR, the Montreal Consortium for Brain Imaging Research. This project, an expansion of the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, will receive the funds generated this year’s tournament. Many thanks to the committee of volunteers, headed by Steve Jones (Siemens Corporation), Franca Monti and Lorena Cook, who organized such a wonderful event.

Condolences

Dr. Preston Robb We are sad to report the death of Dr. Preston Robb on September 25. We were privileged recently to have Dr. Robb join us when the Neuro community gathered for the Convocation Ceremony on September 13. Fittingly, Dr. Robb, a retired neurologist, dedicated teacher and mentor, and pioneer in pediatric neurology, received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Robb's service to McGill and the Neuro are well known. He obtained his B.Sc. (1936), M.D.C.M. (1939) and M.Sc. (1946) from McGill University and played for the McGill Redmen Football team from 1931 - 1938. Dr. Robb began his career at McGill in 1946 as Assistant Registrar at the Montreal Neurological Institute. When he retired in 1979, he was Neurologist-in-Chief (1968-1976, 1978-1979) at the MNH and acting Chairman of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery. During his illustrious career, Dr. Robb served many clinical and administrative roles at the Neuro, the Montreal Children's Hospital, the Montreal General Hospital and at the veterans' hospital in Ste Anne de Bellevue. He authored a book on the development of Neurology at McGill University and established a fellowship for advanced students at the Neuro and a summer stipend for younger students. He also supported renovations to the Neuro Day Centre which is named in his honour. Dr. Robb's enthusiasm for life and his deep commitment to the Neuro will be greatly missed.

We extend our condolences to his family and friends.

Dr. Mina Deutsch Dr. Mina Kimmel Deutsch, mother of Dr. Eva Andermann and mother-in-law of Dr. Fred Andermann, died on Sunday October 3, 2004. Dr. Deutsch was born in Poland and received her medical training in Prague. As young doctors, she and her husband, Leon, were recruited by the Nazis during WWII to fight a typhus epidemic, only to be persecuted once the crisis was over. Dr. Deutsch's strength and spirit allowed her family to survive in hiding for a year and a half during the Nazi occupation. After the war, the family immigrated to Canada and both Dr. Deutsch and her husband pursued their training in Psychiatry. The family eventually settled in Montreal, when Eva was accepted into McGill at the age of 15. Dr. Deutsch treated patients at the Douglas Hospital for over 20 years, and, on retiring from clinical work, continued to be active in research. Dr. Deutsch was deeply committed to education, establishing a Chair in Psychopharmocology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and inspiring her grandchildren, Lisa, Anne and Mark Andermann, as they pursued medical and scientific training. To the many at the Neuro who knew her, Dr. Deutsch's life was a remarkable lesson in courage and strength. We offer our deepest sympathies to the Andermann family.

Congratulations

to Dr. William Feindel who was recently named as a “Great Montrealer / Grand Montrealais".  Dr. Feindel will be honoured in a ceremony on October 21 at City Hall, along with the three other 2004 inductees: André Chagnon (Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon), Daniel Langlois (President and founder Ex-Centris and Daniel Langlois Foundation) and Denis Brott (Cellist and Professor, Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and Founder and director Montreal Chamber Music Festival).

Kay Rasmussen Photography Competition

The Friends of the Neuro are pleased to announce that the photography competition is now underway.  Please forward a maximum of two photos (8" x 10", 5" x 7" also accepted) per contestant to Mary Evangelinelis, room 156. Please indicate "Photography Competition" on your envelope. The deadline is November 30, 2004. Please note that the competition is open to employees of the MNH and MNI only.