Stimulating the brain's ability to reconfigure itself and making lifestyle changes for lasting brain health

Stimulating the brain's ability to reconfigure itself and making lifestyle changes for lasting brain health

How can stimulating neuronal activity, practicing meditation, improving sleep quality or taking part in physical activity transform the brain and lead to improved brain health and well-being? This is one of the key questions to be answered by the new Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neuroplasticity announced today by Université Laval and the CERVO Brain Research Centre.

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- Dany Vachon

With funding of $8 million over 8 years, this Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) is one of the most prestigious and financially significant individual grants in the world. Ultimately, this major research project could reach total funding of close to $32 million.

Based at the CERVO Brain Research Centre, the Chair will aim to understand how different non-invasive neurostimulation and lifestyle interventions can affect the brain, and to document their potential usefulness in improving prevention and treatment of disorders such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, addictions, and insomnia.

The Chair has made possible the recruitment of Dr. Steven Laureys as a clinical teaching physician in the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval. Dr. Laureys is an internationally renowned neurologist and clinician-scientist who has dedicated his career to the study of the brain and human consciousness as well as to the application of neuroscientific knowledge to improve clinical care. Author of worldwide bestsellers on these subjects, Dr. Laureys is also Honorary Research Director of the Fonds de Recherche Scientifique at the University of Liège, a member of the Royal Belgian Academy of Medicine and a visiting professor at Harvard University.

Dr. Laureys and his team will use the most advanced neuro-technologies and brain imaging to conduct controlled clinical studies to understand the effects of neurostimulation and various lifestyle modifications on the brain's neuroplasticity, i.e., how these modifications affect brain connections. This work will make it possible to better evaluate, in a rigorous and scientific manner, the potential benefits of different complementary approaches, and to use them where necessary in conjunction with conventional pharmacological medical treatment to enhance their efficacy. "If I had to choose one aspect of brain research to make accessible to the public, it would be the concept of neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to reorganize itself in response to experience, learning and environmental factors. Understanding neuroplasticity sheds light on the dynamic nature of the brain and its capacity for change, offering hope to those facing brain diseases in neurology and psychiatry, and highlighting the importance of lifestyle factors in promoting sustainable brain health and resilience," explained Dr. Laureys.

"Being awarded a Canada Excellence Research Chair is a tremendous achievement for any researcher, and particularly for those who have dedicated their lifetime toward addressing the critical challenges facing our planet and our humanity. We commend Dr. Steven Laureys on obtaining his new title as CERC in Neuroplasticity and look forward to seeing where his research takes us and the field of neuroscience," declared the Chair of the CERC Steering Committee and President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Ted Hewitt.

"For the CERVO Brain Research Centre and the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, the arrival of this world-renowned neurologist-researcher is great news. The combination of the strength of the neurotechnologies developed and deployed at CERVO and Dr. Laureys's extensive experience in their clinical application - in collaboration with our physicists, engineers, mathematicians, neuropsychologists and psychiatrists - will propel the advancement of innovative approaches to improve the lives of many people struggling with anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder in a sustainable health perspective," said Yves De Koninck, Director of Research at CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Scientific Director of the CERVO Brain Research Centre and professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval.

"This prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chair consolidates the position of Université Laval and Québec City as an international leader in neuroscience and mental health research," said Université Laval Rector Sophie D'Amours. By combining Dr. Laureys' unique expertise and vision with Université Laval's research strengths, this innovative initiative will bridge the gap between traditional healthcare and various complementary approaches and better integrate them in a sustainable way for the benefit of the Canadian population."

Sources:

Media Relations
Université Laval
418-656-3355
[email protected]

Media Relations, CERVO Brain Research Centre and CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale
Annie Ouellet, spokesperson
418-933-9210
[email protected]

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