老司机直播

Neuroscientist Graham Collingridge is new director of 老司机直播's Tanz Centre

Professor Graham Collingridge, a world-renowned expert in learning and memory, has taken over as the new director of the .

Collingridge works in the area of synaptic plasticity, which is considered the neural basis of learning and memory. His research identifies the molecules and mechanisms in the brain that underlie learning and memory to determine how errors in the process of brain cell signalling and flexibility contribute to major brain disorders such as Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, multiple sclerosis and fragile X syndrome.

In 2016, he was one of three recipients of The Brain Prize, considered the world鈥檚 most prestigious neuroscience award, bestowed by the Lundbeck Foundation in Denmark. The award recognizes Collingridge鈥檚 research into 鈥渓ong-term potentiation,鈥 a model for understanding how memories form. Earlier this year, Collingridge was appointed commander of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to biomedical science.

鈥淲e are so pleased to have attracted someone of Graham鈥檚 calibre to lead the Tanz Centre,鈥 says Professor Trevor Young, dean of the Faculty of Medicine. 鈥淗is deeply impressive body of research into the neuroscience of learning and memory and its role in brain disorders holds great promise in helping millions of people affected by Alzheimer鈥檚 and other devastating neurological conditions.鈥

Under the direction of Dr. Peter St George-Hyslop, who served as director from 1990 to 2019, the Tanz Centre has become a global leader in neurodegenerative disease research, transforming our understanding of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and other dementias, Parkinson鈥檚 disease, ALS, prion diseases and other neurodegenerative conditions.

鈥淧eter is a giant in the field of neuroscience,鈥 says Collingridge. 鈥淲hen he began his pioneering research into Alzheimer鈥檚 in the 1980s, the disease was little understood. Today, thanks to Peter鈥檚 leadership and the Tanz Centre鈥檚 approach to pursuing basic scientific discoveries and translating these into therapies, we are able to more definitively diagnose and offer better treatment options to those suffering from these dreadful disorders of the central nervous system.鈥

Collingridge and his team hope to build on the Tanz Centre鈥檚 success by focusing on promoting excellence in research and fostering collaborations withinthe centre, across the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN), and internationally.

鈥淢y first goal is to maintain and build upon the scientific excellence at the Tanz Centre by defining long-term objectives and securing the funding to bring even more outstanding investigators to work here,鈥 says Collingridge. 鈥淣eurodegenerative disease is a huge problem facing people all over the world, and trying to understand the root causes is best tackled with collaborative, multinational efforts. Here in Toronto and Canada, we are extremely well positioned to do just that.鈥    

From the outset, philanthropy has played an essential role in establishing and supporting the Tanz Centre and the leading researchers who work there.

After witnessing his mother Gertrude suffer from Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, Mark Tanz was determined to speed the progress of Canada鈥檚 research efforts to address the debilitating condition. In 1987, he donated $3.4 million to help establish the Tanz Centre. Since that time, he has contributed an additional $6.1 million to support the Centre.

Jacqueline and Mark Tanz

More recently, the Tanz Centre once again benefited from the support of a visionary group of donors, including a $2-million gift from the Krembil Foundation to establish the Krembil Family Chair in Alzheimer鈥檚 Research, to be held by Collingridge as the centre鈥檚 director. A commitment of $1.5-million from Mark Tanz鈥檚 son, Stuart Tanz, will provide critical support for the Director鈥檚 Priority Fund.

Stuart Tanz, who recently assumed his father鈥檚 role as chair of the Tanz Centre steering committee, says it鈥檚 a great honour to continue his father鈥檚 legacy. 鈥淚t is enormously gratifying and a great privilege to represent my family and fulfil my father鈥檚 vision to boost global research and education in neurodegenerative disease,鈥 he says.  

Mark Krembil, president and CEO of the Krembil Foundation, who also serves on the board of Brain Canada, 老司机直播鈥檚 Governing Council and on the Tanz Centre steering committee, believes that groundbreaking discovery requires both recognition and support.

鈥淲e have great faith in Professor Collingridge鈥檚 ability to oversee the exciting next chapter of the Tanz Centre story,鈥 he says. 鈥淥ur combined support was our way to ensure the centre remains at the forefront of international efforts to untangle the brain鈥檚 mysteries.鈥

This generous donor support that led to bringing Collingridge to the Tanz Centre will enable the centre and its researchers to harness more effectively the knowledge and resources needed to drive discovery.  

鈥淚t is an incredible honour to take over the helm of such an outstanding research centre as the Tanz,鈥 says Collingridge. 鈥淔ew places worldwide are as well positioned as the University of Toronto to lead the global effort to understand, treat and prevent these complex neurodegenerative conditions. I look forward to building our network of researchers, and to the continued support of our community to help us make significant progress in such a socio-economically important field.鈥

           

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