News & Media

Director's Corner

Today we launched the Thinking Ahead Campaign, a 5 year $40 million fundraising campaign to sustain the MNI as one of the world’s premier centres for neuroscience research and clinical care. This campaign will succeed through the efforts of a spectacular group of business and civic leaders who are committed to the Neuro. Some have personal reasons for their commitment – a friend or family member who is afflicted with a neurological disease, but others spend their time raising funds for the Neuro because of the promise our work holds for patients around the world. It is our shared dream for better treatments, cures and even prevention of disease, combined with the history of outstanding performance at the Neuro that inspires this group to help us.

We are privileged to work with these prominent leaders. They have incredible demands on their time and requests from many deserving organizations for help, but they choose to help the Neuro. We are indebted to them in more than 40 million ways: the funds they help us raise are critical for our current programs and our new initiatives, but it is their vote of confidence in our work that is most gratifying.

Dominic D’Alessandro, Jacques Bougie, the illustrious Cabinet they have recruited and our loyal Advisory Board members are all people with broad vision and astute judgment. It honours and humbles us that they choose to volunteer for the Neuro.

These volunteers and the donors who respond to their call make it possible for the researchers, physicians, nurses, therapists, students, fellows, technicians and all the MNI staff to reach our shared goal. It is because of these volunteers that we will come to better understand the brain and nervous system, to uncover the secrets of neurological disease, and to improve the treatments and find the cures that we all urgently seek. The plight of the patient with neurological disease is always on our minds – the student who stays late in the lab, the scientist who works through the weekend and the physician taking call are all driven by questions that eventually must be answered. They, and we, are driven by a commitment to make a real difference.

So we truly appreciate the dedication of our Neuro colleagues and volunteers. As we launch our campaign, we are tremendously excited by the new programs we will put in place, with the help and support of the entire Neuro family.

Recent News & Events

The Thinking Ahead Campaign
The Neuro launched its largest capital campaign in our 73-year history. The ‘Thinking Ahead’ Campaign, a five year, $40 million initiative, will invest in people and expand facilities and services at the MNI. With this campaign, the MNI, newly designated a National Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research, will

• become the largest, most innovative brain imaging centre in the world;
• pursue new treatment avenues for brain disease;
• establish a pioneering neuropalliative care program and
• a world class spine and spinal cord repair centre; and
• maintain its global leadership in understanding and repairing the brain.

Heather Hiscox, CBC Morning News Anchor and MNI Advisory Board member, hosted the October 1 launch. Campaign co-chairs Dominic D'Alessandro and Jacques Bougie introduced the prominent business and community leaders who spear-head the campaign as the Campaign Cabinet. This team has already raised $20 million with lead gifts from Manulife Financial, Manulife CEO Dominic D’Alessandro, Dr. Brenda Milner, The Cyril & Dorothy and Joel & Jill Reitman Family Foundation, Dr. Shirley Rayport, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, The Molson Foundation and the Estates of Dorothy Sexton and John Gordon. (see press releases)

www.mni.mcgill.ca launched
The MNI’s new website is now live at www.mni.mcgill.ca. This newly designed site, the effort of a team at the Neuro with help from design and programming experts, provides web readers with information about the Neuro, the physicians and scientists on The Neuro Team, clinical care and clinical trials studies, our newest programs and a host of other details. New features include a section about the Thinking Ahead Campaign LINK, our $40 million capital campaign, introduced with a message from co-chairs Dominic D’Alessandro and Jacques Bougie, the members of the Campaign Cabinet and a description of Campaign priorities. Former Fellows LINK of the MNI will find a section devoted to their contribution to the Neuro and to neurology and neurosurgery worldwide, and are asked to stay tuned for information on the web about upcoming events of special interest to them.

Self-management of chronic disease
Deborah Radcliffe-Branch will direct a self-management program for patients with chronic diseases. Last spring, a group completed the My Tool Box workshop, brought to the MNI through the efforts of Iris Biteen, Lucia Fabijan, Maria Mastracchio, Nancy Wright and others. The pilot program has grown into an expanded, MUHC-funded initiative. Self-management is recognized as an effective and integral part of care for individuals living with chronic illness.

Upcoming events

MNI’s Golf Tournament, October 10
On October 10, golfers will play the Royal Montreal Club at the MNI Golf Tournament to raise funds for the Neuro-Patient Resource Centre, the Neuro-Palliative Care Program and other new initiatives. To register for golf or for the post match dinner, see mni.mcgill.ca/mnigolf.

Benefit for Multiple Sclerosis program
On October 25, Eleanor Stubley, MS patient and Director of Graduate Studies at the McGill’s Schulich School of Music, will conduct Living Gestures, a program of music, voice and dance. The program will raise awareness about MS and funds for research and patient care at the MNI. Please join us at Living Gestures (Living Gestures Program [.pdf]), at the Tanna Schulich Hall, School of Music, 555 Sherbrooke Street West, at 8 pm, October 25. Tickets cost $100 and may be purchased from Véronique Geoffrion, 514-398-2274 or Veronique Geoffrion.

Laughlin Taylor symposium
The full day Neuropsychology Symposium to honor Laughlin Taylor will be Monday, October 29 at the MNI. Michael Petrides will open the event, Brenda Milner will recap Laughlin’s career and colleagues will deliver scientific talks. Keynote lectures will be delivered by Bryan Kolb at 10:30 am and Fred Andermann at 3:30 pm. Please see the program for details.

Congratulations to …..

George Karpati who was elected to Honorary Membership in the American Neurological Association, the highest honor conferred by ANA.

Edith Hamel who received the Prix Adrien-Pouliot 2007 from the l’Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas), marking the impact of her research collaboration with scientists in France.

Georgia Niarchos who was recently appointed to the position of Nurse Manager for the neuroscience unit at the MGH.

Condolences to friends and family of …

Boyd Graham, son of Mary and John who died September 23 following a brief but unremitting illness. Boyd holds a special place in the hearts of his siblings and the many who are proud to have called him friend. The funeral service was held September 28. Donations in his memory may be made to the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital.

In memoriam ….

The memorial service for Joseph Stratford, retired neurosurgeon and former Medical Director of the McGill-MGH Pain Centre, was held September 29 in Montreal. Those who wish to make a donation in his memory may give to the Dr. Joe Stratford Memorial Fund at the McGill University Faculty of Medicine.

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

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