{"id":397,"date":"2018-12-24T12:40:35","date_gmt":"2018-12-24T19:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/SynAD\/?page_id=397"},"modified":"2021-12-22T14:10:16","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T21:10:16","slug":"synad-activities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.psych.ualberta.ca\/SynAD\/synad-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"SynAD Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"

SynAD Initiatives<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\n

\"\"The major goal of SynAD is to launch a series of initiatives that promote new and synergistic ADRD research in NMHI at the University of Alberta. We organize the initiatives in three main clusters: Catalyst Research, Small Equipment and Trainee Support. These initiatives are rolled out sequentially in annual waves of peer-reviewed competitions. The primary outputs for the SynAD program are the individual grants awarded in these clusters. We list all recipients, their affiliations, and the project titles on this page. At present, SynAD has awarded 64 grants across multiple faculties and departments.

<\/span><\/p>\r\n

2018 \u2013 2019 SynAD Small Equipment Grants<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

We are pleased to announce the awarding of the following small equipment grants for ADRD research.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • David Westaway (Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases):\u00a0Wes System Protein Blotter<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • Bo Cao (Psychiatry):\u00a0AI E5-2660 Dual Intel Xeon Artificial Intelligence Workstation<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • Satyabrata Kar & Sue-Ann Mok (Neurology & Biochemistry):\u00a0BMG-415-101 FLUOstar Omega Microplate Reader<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • Marek Michalak (Biochemistry):\u00a0Tissue Culture CO2 Incubator, PAN-MCO19AICUVH(D)<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • Simonetta Sipione & Elena Posse de Chaves (Pharmacology):\u00a0Imaging Platform (Camera: Axiocam 503, and Software: Zen 2.3 Pro) and eBlot L1<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    2018 \u2013 2019 SynAD Catalyst Grants<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

    We are pleased to announce the awarding of the following SynAD catalyst grants for ADRD research.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • Nathalie Daude (Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases):\u00a0Defining Bacteria that Accelerate or Prevent Pathogenesis in a Mouse Model of Human Tauopathy<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Jack Jhamandas (Neurology):\u00a0Exosomes Generated from Amylin Receptor 3 (AMY3) Expressing Cells are Neuroprotective Against Amyloid Beta (A\u03b2) Toxicity<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • G. Peggy McFall (Psychology):\u00a0Enhanced Genotyping to Create a Polygenic Risk Score for the Prediction of Brain Aging Trajectories and Alzheimer’s Disease<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Anthony Ness (Biological Sciences): Glyco-engineered Passive Immunization for Alzheimer\u2019s Disease<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Trevor Steve (Neurology):\u00a0Evaluation of Hippocampal Subfield Volumetry as a Noninvasive Biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Robert Stobbe (Biomedical Engineering):\u00a0Investigation of Sodium MRI in the Assessment of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      2018 \u2013 2019 SynAD Trainee Awards<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

      We are pleased to announce the following awards for enhancing ADRD trainee support.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      SynAD ADRD Graduate Student Awards<\/strong><\/h6>\r\n
        \r\n
      • \r\n
        Mohammad Alam (Psychiatry, FoMD):\u00a0Ambient Temperature Effects in AD Pathology Propagation<\/i><\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
      • \r\n
        <\/i>Sebastian Caballero (NMHI, Science):\u00a0Developing New AD Polygenic Risk Indexes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
      • Paige Grant (Biochemistry, FoMD):\u00a0Kinase as a Novel Target for AD<\/i><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
        SynAD ADRD Postdoctoral Fellow Awards<\/strong><\/h6>\r\n
          \r\n
        • Bibin Anand (Medicine, FoMD):\u00a0Developing Nanoparticles for Treatment of AD<\/i><\/span><\/li>\r\n
        • <\/i>Richard Kanyo (Biological Sciences, Science):\u00a0Modeling Prion Protein, Synaptic Activity, and Sleep in AD Pathology<\/i><\/span><\/li>\r\n
        • Qi Wu (Medicine, FoMD):\u00a0Prion-like Propagation of AD Pathology<\/i><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

          2019 \u2013 2020 NMHI-SynAD Studentship for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

            \r\n
          • Hailey Pineau (Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases):\u00a0Characterizing Alzheimer’s Disease Strains in a Novel Ex Vivo Model
            <\/em>Supervisor: Valerie Sim<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

            2019 \u2013 2020 SynAD Small Equipment Grants<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

            We are pleased to announce the awarding of the following small equipment grants for ADRD research.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

              \r\n
            • Jack Jhamandas (Neurology):\u00a0ANY-maze Video Tracking Software, Accessories (cable, digital camera, lens, mounting bracket) and Y-maze<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
            • G. Peggy McFall (Psychology):\u00a0Three High Performance Personal Computer Stations for Advanced NeuroInformatics and Machine Learning Applications in ADRD Research (including software)<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
            • Valerie Sim (Neurology):\u00a0Upgrade\/replacement of 555 Laser Line for the LSM 700 Confocal Microscope within Prion Biocontainment at the Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
            • David Westaway (Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases): ANY-maze Controlled Fear Conditioning System (item 60461, Stoelting), One-year Subscription to Aiforia Artificial Intelligence Image Analysis Package<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

              2019 \u2013 2020 SynAD Catalyst Grants<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

              We are pleased to announce the awarding of the following SynAD catalyst grants for ADRD research.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

                \r\n
              • Jeremy Caplan (Psychology): Overcoming Obstacles to Mnemonic Training in Neurocognitive Aging<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
              • Leonardo Cortez (Medicine): Clinical-pathological Correlation in Dementias: Linking Prion Particle Size with Brain Region Tropism<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
              • Fabrizio Giuliani & Satyabrata Kar (Neurology): Effects of Acidic Nanoparticles on \u03b2-amyloid Aggregation and Toxicity of Neurons Derived from Alzheimer’s Disease Patients<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
              • Jitendra Kumar (Biochemistry): Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles in Neuronal Cells<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
              • G. Peggy McFall (Psychology): Machine Learning Multi-modal Biomarker Risk Factor Discovery and Validation in Parkinson’s Disease: A Two Sample Analysis<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
              • Satish Nemani (Medicine): Propagation of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in a Humanized Prion Organotypic Slice Culture Assay<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
              • Elena Posse de Chaves (Pharmacology):\u00a0Testing Cannabinoids as Agents that Reduce Cholesterol Burden in Alzheimer’s Disease Models<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
              • Valerie Sim (Medicine):\u00a0The Role of TREM2 and Microglia in Prion Disease<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
              • Simonetta Sipione (Pharmacology):\u00a0Role of Ganglioside GM1 in the Clearance of Pathogenic Misfolded Proteins by Microglia<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                2019 \u2013 2020 SynAD Trainee Awards<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

                We are pleased to announce the following awards for enhancing ADRD trainee support.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

                SynAD ADRD Graduate Student Awards<\/strong><\/h6>\r\n
                  \r\n
                • \r\n
                  Abhishek Dahal (NMHI, FoMD): Role of Astrocytes and Tau in Kainic Acid-induced Animal Models<\/i><\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
                • \r\n
                  <\/i>Shelaine Fleck (Biochemistry, FoMD): Structural Analysis of Human and Transgenic Mouse-derived Tau Protein Aggregates<\/i><\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
                • John Monyror (Pharmacology, FoMD): The Role of Gangliosides in the Secretion and Clearance of Misfolded Proteins in ADRD<\/i><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                • Samantha Perreault (Psychiatry, FoMD):\u00a0Machine Learning Predicted Outcomes of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                • Wojciech Pietrasik (Biomedical Engineering, Engineering): Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Prefrontal White Matter Across the Lifespan: Associations Between Microstructure, Genetics, and Cognitive Ability<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                • Andrew Schmaus (NMHI, FoMD):\u00a0Thermal Response of Amyloidogenic Elements in Cultured N2a Cells: Potential Relevance to Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                • Fernanda Talarico (Psychiatry, FoMD): Sleep Quality as a Potential Predictor of Alzheimer’s Disease<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
                  SynAD ADRD Postdoctoral Fellow Awards<\/strong><\/h6>\r\n
                    \r\n
                  • Karthivashan Govindarajan (Medicine, FoMD): Potential Role of PLGA Nanoparticles on APP Metabolism in Mouse Primary Cultured Neurons<\/i><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                  • <\/i>Yang Liu (Psychiatry, FoMD): Developing Brain Age Indices over the Lifespan of Non-human Primates<\/i><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                  • Ivana Noelia Machado (Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, FoMD): Behavior Evaluational of TgTau P301L Mice Model of Frontotemporal Dementia<\/i><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                    2020 \u2013 2021 SynAD Small Equipment Grants<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

                    We are pleased to announce the awarding of the following small equipment grants for ADRD research.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

                      \r\n
                    • Richard Camicioli (Neurology): OPAL Body Worn Sensors<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                    • Bo Cao & Andrew Greenshaw (Psychiatry): Portable Wireless Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy System by Soterix Medical<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                    • Roger Dixon (Psychology): Two High Performance Personal Mobile Computer Stations for Remote Machine Learning Analytics in Neurodegeneration<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                    • Satyabrata Kar & David Westaway (Neurology & CPPFD): Leica CM1950 Cryostat: A Multi-use Freestanding Cryostat with Encapsulated, Splash-proof Microtome<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                      2020 \u2013 2021 SynAD Catalyst Grants<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

                      We are pleased to announce the awarding of the following SynAD catalyst grants for ADRD research.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

                        \r\n
                      • Bo Cao & Andrew Greenshaw (Psychiatry): A Pilot Study on the Effects of Routine Medication on Aging Using Cognitive Assessments and Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                      • Jeremy Caplan (Psychology): Adapting Mnemonic Training for Neurocognitive Aging<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                      • Satyabrata Kar & Holger Wille (Neurology & Biochemistry): Effects of Acidic Nanoparticles on Spontaneous Tau Protein Aggregation and Their Ability to Disassemble Aggregated Tau Isolated from Alzheimer’s Disease Brains<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                      • Nikolai Malykhin (Psychiatry): Episodic Memory Function in Healthy Aging: Contribution of the Dentate Gyrus Activity to Memory Performance<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                      • Elena Posse de Chaves (Pharmacology): Regulation of the Release of A\u03b2-containing Extracellular Vesicles by Statins<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                      • Valerie Sim (Medicine): Correlating Amyloid Beta Size Distributions with the Rate of Alzheimer’s Disease Progression<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n
                      • Simonetta Sipione (Pharmacology): Role of Gangliosides and Siglec-1 in the Clearance of Pathogenic Misfolded Proteins by Microglia<\/em><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                        2020 \u2013 2021 SynAD Trainee Awards<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

                        We are pleased to announce the following awards for enhancing ADRD trainee support.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

                        SynAD ADRD Graduate Student Awards<\/strong><\/h6>\r\n
                          \r\n
                        • \r\n
                          Laszlo Locskai (Biological Sciences, Science): Neural Activity During Traumatic Brain Injury May Reveal Mechanistic Links to the Development of Tauopathies<\/em><\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
                        • \r\n
                          Wojciech Pietrasik (Psychiatry, FoMD): Aging of Prefrontal White Matter: Linking Microstructure, Genetics, and Cognitive Ability<\/em><\/i><\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
                        • \r\n
                          <\/i>Isha Ralhan (Physiology, FoMD): Mechanisms of Lipotoxicity in Alzheimer’s Disease<\/em><\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
                          SynAD ADRD Postdoctoral Fellow Awards<\/strong><\/h6>\r\n