Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research

Brain Canada Foundation
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Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research spotlights the daring ideas of early-career scientists. These trailblazers are venturing into the uncharted territory of brain science - tackling everything from childhood brain development, to cutting-edge brain cancer treatments, precision mental health, and the hidden codes of neurological disease.

Episodes

  1. Inside the Tumour

    6d ago

    Inside the Tumour

    When cells in our brain break from the tight control that weaves this complex structure together, they can form a tumour. Across tissue types in the body, we’ve come a long way in advances to treat various cancers. But the complex milieu of the brain poses a unique challenge, and requires a unique lens that brings together new technologies grounded in a fundamental biological understanding of the brain and brain tumours. These tumours are highly variable between patients, diverse within a patient, change over time, evade the immune system, quickly become resistant to front-line therapy, and often recur. Despite decades of efforts, no reliable cure for these glioma brain tumours - including glioblastoma - exists today. These are the most common malignant brain tumours, with the worst prognosis, and they continue to be one of medicine's most stubborn challenges. The science is fascinating, the need is urgent, and researchers across fields and methodologies are using new methods and technologies to try to crack this exceptional problem. Featured guests: Hong Han, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University. Jerome Fortin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University. Louis Gagnon,  Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Université Laval and a Principal Investigator at the CERVO Brain Research Centre. Xian Wang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Queen’s University. This work is supported by the Hewitt Foundation and the Alvin Segal Family Foundation. The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    33 min
  2. The Long Game: Sleep, Aging, and Dementia

    May 26

    The Long Game: Sleep, Aging, and Dementia

    What if we could slow - or even stop - the brain’s decline? Cognitive disorders like dementia affect millions of people worldwide. As Canada faces an increasingly aging population, and more people become caregivers for their elderly loved ones, healthy aging of both brain and body are top of mind for many. Luckily, researchers are revealing a far more hopeful picture as they explore how actions in early life can impact brain aging. They’re learning that cognitive decline has many faces: it's a constellation of biological breakdowns, many of which may be detectable - and even treatable - long before symptoms appear. Featured guests: Ina Anreiter, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Peter Zhukovsky, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and Scientist at CAMH. Julie Ottoy, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine Neurology at the University of Toronto and Scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute. This work is supported by the Tavares Foundation, GJ Garden of Life, and CIHR’s Institute of Aging. The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    29 min
  3. Hidden Codes

    May 12

    Hidden Codes

    On the surface, it might not seem like autism spectrum disorder, obesity, and multiple sclerosis have much in common. But despite the fact that these conditions share very little in terms of symptoms, treatments, and even affected populations, the way they're being explored by researchers on the cutting edge of neuroscience is more similar than you might imagine. Some brain disorders hide in the smallest details of our genetic and protein code - so host Fiona sits down with researchers using tools like next generation sequencing and proteomics to unravel these hidden codes, and hopefully open new paths to treatment. Featured guests: Shreejoy Tripathy, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and a Senior Scientist at CAMH. Simon Thebault, Clinician Scientist and Assistant Professor at the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University. Paul Sabatini, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University. This work is supported by the Azrieli Foundation. The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    27 min
  4. Naomi Azrieli: Fuelling the Future of Neuroscience through Philanthropy

    May 5 ·  Bonus

    Naomi Azrieli: Fuelling the Future of Neuroscience through Philanthropy

    In this special bonus episode of Bold Minds, we’re zooming out from the labs of brain science researchers to take a look at the bigger picture: the philanthropic ecosystem that sustains and supports brain research in Canada. Central to that ecosystem is the Azrieli Foundation. It is the leading non-governmental funder of brain research in Canada, and a longtime donor and partner to Brain Canada. The Azrieli Foundation is deeply committed to building capacity in Canadian neuroscience, and its anchor gift made the Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program possible. But what underpins the Foundation’s commitment to advancing science in such a profound way? And what role does philanthropy play in powering breakthroughs and ultimately improving the health of Canadians? Host Fiona sits down to answer these questions with Dr. Naomi Azrieli, a strategic and visionary leader whose work is reshaping philanthropy, research, and community impact across Canada and Israel. Naomi has championed transformative initiatives in scientific research, as well as in education, caregiving, Holocaust education, community resilience, and social impact for more than two decades. She is an influential thought leader and convenor, a committed social entrepreneur and a passionate advocate for caregivers, Holocaust survivors, and neurodiverse people - as well as for the field of neuroscience itself. Naomi is also a proud recipient of France’s Legion of Honor, and an Officer of the Order of Canada. Featured guest: Naomi Azrieli, O.C., Dhil, Chair of the Azrieli Foundation The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    18 min
  5. The Developing Brain

    Apr 28

    The Developing Brain

    Neurodevelopmental disorders affect roughly 14% of children worldwide. In Canada, just under one in every 10 children is estimated to be affected. Disorders of the brain represent a huge spectrum of conditions: they can be genetic, or structural. They can arise following injuries or infections, or have no known cause. Some conditions are more common, and have treatment options available - like ADHD, or speech language disorders. Some are incredibly rare, and their uniqueness makes them difficult to study, understand and treat. This episode takes a deep dive into frontline research on childhood brain development to discover what neurodevelopmental disorders can teach us about the resilient yet vulnerable frontier that is a growing brain. Featured guests: Anthony Flamier, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at l’Université de Montréal and Principal Investigator at CHU Sainte-Justine. Benjamin De Leener,  Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering and Software Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal and Researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine. Eric Samarut, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at l’Université de Montréal and Principal Investigator at l’Université de Montréal Hospital Research Center. This work is supported by the Azrieli Foundation. The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    27 min
  6. Rewiring for Recovery

    Apr 14

    Rewiring for Recovery

    Your brain is an incredibly complex network. The firing circuits of your brain and nervous system shape everything from what you’ll eat for breakfast, to keeping your heart beating while you sleep. But what happens when the firing of those circuits goes awry? Well, researchers are learning how to fix them: whether it’s using vagus nerve stimulation to safeguard people with epilepsy from the worst outcomes, or exploring the hidden machinery behind confidence, decision-making, and how dopamine shapes the way we learn - there’s a lot we still don’t know about these networks. The research spans different fields and specialties, but shares a strong common thread: if we better understand the circuit, maybe we can change the outcome. Featured guests: Dr. Ana Suller Marti,  Neurologist at London Health Sciences Centre and Associate Professor of Neurology at Western University. Dr. Paul Masset, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at McGill University and Associate Academic Member at Mila Quebec AI Institute. This work is supported by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation and the Azrieli Foundation. The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    31 min
  7. Under the Influence

    Mar 31

    Under the Influence

    Are two of the most talked-about drugs in our culture today quietly reshaping how we understand the brain? Host Fiona Sanderson sits down with two researchers exploring the intersection of metabolic health and neuroscience - including how cannabis impacts the nervous system's ability to regulate blood flow to the brain, why GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic work brilliantly for some people and not at all for others, and what this could mean for the future of personalized medicine. With cannabis now legal in Canada and GLP-1 agonists reshaping how we treat obesity and diabetes, these researchers are asking the questions patients - and the public - most need answered. Featured guests: Dr. Alexandre Caron, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Laval University Dr. Michael Tymko, Assistant Professor in the College of Biological Science, Department of Human Health Sciences at Guelph University This work is supported by the Azrieli Foundation and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    29 min
  8. Mind Forecasting

    Mar 17

    Mind Forecasting

    What if we could stop treating illness by trial and error, and actually understand the signals that our brains are giving us? Host Fiona Sanderson sits down with two of Canada's bold early-career clinician-scientists to explore the cutting edge of mental healthcare - including using brainwave patterns to predict which treatments will work, novel imaging methods that capture the brain in real time, and the surprising promise of psilocybin as a next-generation treatment for bipolar depression. With more than one in three people worldwide living with a neurological condition, the stakes couldn't be higher…and these researchers are tackling the problem from bench and bedside - asking the questions patients need answered, and harnessing neuroscience to find them. Featured guests: Dr. Anthony Gifuni, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, and a Researcher and Psychiatrist at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute Dr. Gayatri Saraf, Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at University of Ottawa This work is supported by The Erika Legacy Foundation. The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    27 min
  9. Repair from Within

    Mar 3

    Repair from Within

    What if the brain could repair itself all along, and we just needed to learn how to help it? In this debut episode of Bold Minds, host Fiona Sanderson sits down with three of Canada's bold early-career neuroscientists to explore the cutting edge of brain regeneration, including stem cell and myelin biology, the support cells in our brains that might be responsible for stress regulation, and the surprising mechanisms behind what might just be the next generation of antidepressants. With more than one in three people worldwide living with a neurological condition, the stakes couldn't be higher…and these researchers are tackling the problem from the inside out, literally - starting with the brain's own cells. Featured guests: Dr. Anastassia Voronova, Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Alberta Dr. Argel Aguilar-Valles, Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University Dr. Ciaran Murphy-Royal, Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at l’Université de Montréal This work is supported by the Azrieli Foundation and Crabtree Foundation. The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    25 min

  10. Feb 24

    Meet the Bold Minds Shaping Our Future

    There are many questions yet to decipher in brain disease research - but advances in neuroscience are providing new tools to explore how treatments may change the brain…making now the right time for the bold minds on the cutting edge to come together and find us the answers we need to improve the lives of Canadians and beyond! Bold Minds premieres March 3, 2026, so subscribe to Bold Minds to be the first to hear about the latest brain research shaping our future! Featured guests: Dr. Anastassia Voronova, Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Alberta Dr. Gayatri Saraf, Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at University of Ottawa Dr. Anthony Gifuni, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, and a Researcher and Psychiatrist at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    3 min

  11. Feb 6

    Introducing Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research

    The human brain is one of the most complex structures we know of in the universe. It’s at the root of who we are as humans. And yet, we know so little about it. Across Canada, researchers are working on the next big breakthrough in brain science. What if we could bring these bold minds together to share their discoveries and build on each other's success? That’s part of our mission at Brain Canada - and the inspiration behind our new show, Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research. Brain Canada brings together funders and researchers to enable health innovations for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Our first episode debuts this March, so make sure you subscribe to Bold Minds to hear about the latest brain research shaping our future! The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, and matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. It supports bold, early-career neuroscientists and helps bring their ideas to life. Our host and executive producer is Fiona Sanderson. Our executive producers are Jillian Donnelly and Kate Shingler. Our lead producer is Jess Schmidt, with editing by Morgane Chambrin. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we’d appreciate it if you could send it to a friend. If you want to learn more about Brain Canada and the amazing research we support, please visit our website at braincanada.ca.

    1 min

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Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research spotlights the daring ideas of early-career scientists. These trailblazers are venturing into the uncharted territory of brain science - tackling everything from childhood brain development, to cutting-edge brain cancer treatments, precision mental health, and the hidden codes of neurological disease.

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