News & Media

April 1, 2008
Director's Corner - Eggs for Easter

When I was ten or so, and growing up in New York City, I became acquainted with a friend of my parents, Dr. Emmett Bassett, who lived in our neighborhood. He was the first research biologist I ever met. In my child’s mind as I look back, Emmett was immensely tall, with large hands and a very deep voice. He was also incredibly patient and generous with his time.

Every Friday evening my parents would invite the neighbors over for coffee and politics. At one such soirée, I occupied all of Emmett’s time because I had become curious about embryo development. I pulled him away from what I remember was an intensely heated discussion about Alger Hiss, Richard Nixon, Whitaker Chambers, and the Pumpkin Papers. Emmett thoughtfully addressed my questions, and then I remember he asked me whether I would be home the next morning, the Saturday before Easter Sunday. I said yes, and then he said, could he see my room? I said sure, and I led him there. He went over to my homework desk, examined my desk lamp, smiled and said, I’ll be by tomorrow, about 10AM. I was puzzled of course, since I had no idea hat he was up to, and could hardly sleep that night. And Emmett had said nothing to my parents.

When the doorbell rang the next morning I ran to answer it, but Mom got there first. She opened the door, and there was Emmett with a cardboard box and a big smile. He said, “Ruth, Dave and I are going to be doing an experiment!” My mother invited him in, but not before darting me a “I-am-not-amused - What is THIS about?” glance. At my desk, Emmett propped books under my lamp to elevate it several inches above the cardboard box. He took the lid off, and inside there were 5 white chicken eggs resting on a bed of cotton. He said, Dave, these are embryos on their way to becoming chickens. If you hold them up to the lamp you can observe their growth over time. Take care of them, keep them warm under your lamp, but not too warm, and turn them one quarter way a round three times a day. Make drawings of what you see through the shells each evening.

So over the next 3 weeks I witnessed the miracle of self-assembly, as each embryo bobbed and gyrated and grew more complex inside their translucent shells – I will always remember my first peek at a living, beating heart. The chicks hatched on schedule, lived under my bed for several days, and eventually – at my mother’s insistence – were donated to a farm in a Catskill town. After a while, I showed Emmett my drawings of the chicks in situ, and I remember him gravely commenting how well I had done.

Dr. Emmett Bassett’s personal story did not matter at all to me then. Much later I learned that as an undergraduate at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he had worked extensively with Dr. George Washington Carver, the great African-American inventor. Dr. Bassett, I should note, was himself the first African-American to receive a Ph.D. in an agricultural science (from Ohio State University). He spent his productive career as a microbiologist and protein chemist at Columbia University, later at a large pharmaceutical firm, and then at the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry. And every Easter, when eggs are all the rage, I think back upon this giant of a man, who not only introduced me to the uncontrollable mysteries of embryo development, but, by using his natural grace and some sleight of hand, completely circumvented my extraordinarily vigilant mother, somehow maneuvering live chickens into our New York City apartment.

Please send any comments about the Director's Corner to David Colman

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Recent News & Events

Neuroscience connections: Delhi and Bangalore
Neuroscientists recently introduced their research to colleagues and students in India. MNI researchers Ted Fon, Edith Hamel, Ed Ruthazer, Ajit Dhaunchak (post-doctoral fellow in Dave Colman’s lab), McGill professor Sam David (Centre for Research in Neuroscience) and MNI Associate Director Beth Kofron explored opportunities for collaborative research and training. This group built on earlier visits by MNI faculty to the National Brain Research Center (NBRC) and the National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS), and strengthened our connections at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Delhi) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (Bangalore), the major health care institutions.

With Viji Ravindranath, MNI Advisory Board member and NBRC Director, we presented several proposals for joint brain imaging studies to M.K. Bahn, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Biotechnology, just as the first NBRC student was completing his stage at the MNI’s Brain Imaging Centre. We also plan to develop basic and clinical research projects with other Indian centres when some of these scientists visit MNI later this year.

We benefitted from MNI’s strong history in India, which was established through the work of illustrious former MNI fellows Prakesh Tandon, Jacob Chandy and his son, Matthew Chandy. These insightful leaders developed neuroscience and neurosurgery at institutions across India, creating the platform from which we will grow new and highly productive relationships. This initiative in India will increase MNI’s reach and impact. For assistance with this, we appreciate the support of the Quebec Ministry of International Relations, and the opportunity to build on our participation in McGill’s India mission.

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Upcoming events

Herbert Jasper Lecture, April 29
Paul Glimcher from the Center for Neural Science, New York University, will deliver the Herbert Jasper lecture on April 29. His talk, The neural basis of decision-making, will be in the Jeanne Timmins amphitheatre at 4 pm. Dr. Jasper, who arrived at the MNI in the 1930’s, pioneered the use of electroencephalography (EEG) to find the source of seizures in epilepsy and in other brain disorders.

Neuro Palliative Care lecture, April 30
Raymond Voltz, Professor of Palliative Medicine at the University of Cologne, Germany, will meet researchers, physicians and other health professionals during a visit to MNI in late April. Voltz will share his expertise in a lecture on palliative care in neurological disorders on April 30 at 4 pm in the de Grandpré Communications Centre. For more information, email Beth Kofron or call 514-398-2316.

Spring Fling, May 1
Get ready to share your hidden talents at the annual Spring Fling on Thursday, May 1 in the Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre. Aspiring performers should contact Anthony Bruce at 514-398-1907 by April 18. As a new wrinkle, display tables will be available for those with less demonstrative talents.

Brain Waves Gala, May 7
Students from 10 secondary schools in the English Montreal School Board will host the fourth annual Brain Waves Musical Gala at 7 pm on May 7 at the Leonardo Da Vinci Center, 8350 Lacordaire Blvd, St. Leonard. Funds from this fun event will benefit the MNI’s Brain Tumour Research Centre. For details, email Michael Talevi, telephone 514-352-6730 or Vince Lacroce, telephone 514 483-7200 local 5365.

Canadian Neuroscience Meeting May 25 - 28, 2008
Be sure to visit the MNI booth at the second annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, May 25-28. Neuroscience experts and students from across Canada will present their newest research results and share their passion for learning about the brain at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure Hotel based conference. The Graduate Program in Neurological Sciences, under the leadership of MNI professor Phil Barker, will showcase at their booth the advantages of studying neuroscience at McGill where a critical mass of scientists conducts world class research in departments across campus. To learn about keynote speakers and other meeting details, please go to www.can-acn2008.org.

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Congratulations to…..

Alain Beaudet, MNI professor, and President and CEO of Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec, who was named President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (announcement). Taking up his new position in July, Beaudet will oversee this important Canadian health research funding agency which provides grants to more than 11,000 researchers through 13 specialty institutes.

Thanks to…..

Rosanne Aleong, Penelope Kostopoulos who organized the Brain Awareness Open House for elementary school students, and to their colleagues who demonstrated lab experiments for these visitors.

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Director - David R. Colman, PhD
Senior Management - Mark Angle, MD; Phil Barker, PhD; Rob Dunn, PhD; Tom Gevas; Marilyn Kaplow; Elizabeth Kofron, PhD; Patricia O'Connor; Catherine Rowe
Neuro News: Elizabeth Kofron, PhD & Sandra McPherson, PhD

Please send any items for the Neuro News to Sandra McPherson or Beth Kofron.

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