https://simplecast.com Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research 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. Brain Canada Foundation en Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000 Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:00:18 +0000 https://bold-minds.simplecast.com Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/86a43675-c827-4923-bd60-ae87a6e9a93d/b5feb363-803e-4fad-8ca9-122a0ae2510b/3000x3000/max_jpg.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://bold-minds.simplecast.com episodic 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. Brain Canada Foundation false https://feeds.simplecast.com/lq96HpZY non-profit Brain Canada Foundation jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com c0a7560b-1278-4e8e-8889-0ed1a61d6614 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.

]]> Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Dr Hong Han, Dr Jerome Fortin, Dr Louis Gagnon, Dr Xian Wang) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/inside-the-tumour-FZDswBbI 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.

]]> Inside the Tumour Dr Hong Han, Dr Jerome Fortin, Dr Louis Gagnon, Dr Xian Wang 00:33:14 Brain 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. 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. Brain 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. 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. acoustic microbubble microrobots, brain tumor alternative splicing research, infiltrative tumor cells mri detection, diffuse glioma, glioblastoma treatment false full 8 5b7b8df0-f6e1-4c23-a286-e819c50d6cca 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.

]]> Tue, 26 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Dr Ina Anreiter, Dr Peter Zhukovsky, Dr Julie Ottoy) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/the-long-game-jBSVS2yT 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.

]]> The Long Game: Sleep, Aging, and Dementia Dr Ina Anreiter, Dr Peter Zhukovsky, Dr Julie Ottoy 00:28:32 Host Fiona sits down with the researchers who are 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. Host Fiona sits down with the researchers who are 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. biomarker dementia detection, mixed dementia vascular brain disease, cognitive decline prevention, sleep and brain aging, depression and dementia risk false full 7 fa06868a-5960-48da-897a-50b815453737 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.

]]> Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Dr. Shreejoy Tripathy, Dr. Simon Thebault, Dr. Paul Sabatini) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/hidden-codes-FwL8csya 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.

]]> Hidden Codes Dr. Shreejoy Tripathy, Dr. Simon Thebault, Dr. Paul Sabatini 00:26:59 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. 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. next generation sequencing brain disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders genomics, epstein-barr virus multiple sclerosis biomarkers, obesity neuroscience pomc neurons, autism spectrum disorder genetics false full 6 75578210-844a-4ca9-b33c-b8a472a5161f 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.

]]> Tue, 5 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Naomi Azrieli) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/naomi-azrieli-bonus-lAJW76C8 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.

]]> Naomi Azrieli: Fuelling the Future of Neuroscience through Philanthropy Naomi Azrieli 00:17:33 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. Host Fiona sits down with strategic and visionary leader Naomi Azrieli to discuss what underpins the Foundation’s commitment to advancing science in such a profound way, the role does philanthropy play in powering breakthroughs, and ultimately how this philanthropic gift helps to improve the health of Canadians across the country. 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. Host Fiona sits down with strategic and visionary leader Naomi Azrieli to discuss what underpins the Foundation’s commitment to advancing science in such a profound way, the role does philanthropy play in powering breakthroughs, and ultimately how this philanthropic gift helps to improve the health of Canadians across the country. azrieli foundation brain science, canadian brain research, canadian center for caregiving excellence, fragile x disorder research, neuroscience philanthropy canada false bonus 213ab3fe-109e-4393-ba75-0a5f810861b3 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.

]]> Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Anthony Flamier, Benjamin De Leener, Eric Samarut) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/the-developing-brain-gkiBeEk4 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.

]]> The Developing Brain Anthony Flamier, Benjamin De Leener, Eric Samarut 00:27:16 Neurodevelopmental disorders affect roughly 14% of children worldwide, and in Canada, just under one in every 10 children is estimated to be affected. 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. Neurodevelopmental disorders affect roughly 14% of children worldwide, and in Canada, just under one in every 10 children is estimated to be affected. 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. brain growth charts children, rett syndrome gene therapy, childhood epilepsy treatment, lennox-gastaut syndrome research false full 5 b844c33f-e499-4a7f-b63e-0588f19d2b28 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.

]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Dr. Ana Suller Marti, Dr. Paul Masset) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/rewiring-for-recovery-p7wFBrsv 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.

]]> Rewiring for Recovery Dr. Ana Suller Marti, Dr. Paul Masset 00:30:57 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: because if we better understand the circuit, maybe we can change the outcome. 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: because if we better understand the circuit, maybe we can change the outcome. computational neuroscience, neuromodulation therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, drug-resistant epilepsy, brain circuit dysregulation false full 4 c362716c-fec7-4042-933d-bca77088f0c8 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.

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Dr. Alexandre Caron, Dr. Michael Tymko) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/under-the-influence-Qnlwrkly 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.

]]> Under the Influence Dr. Alexandre Caron, Dr. Michael Tymko 00:28:57 With cannabis now legal in Canada and GLP-1 agonists reshaping how we treat obesity and diabetes, host Fiona sits down with are asking the questions patients - and the public - most need answered. With cannabis now legal in Canada and GLP-1 agonists reshaping how we treat obesity and diabetes, host Fiona sits down with are asking the questions patients - and the public - most need answered. neurometabolic research, glp-1 receptor agonists, obesity neurobiology, brain blood flow regulation, cannabis thc research false full 3 1b43cf79-ecb4-4f60-83dd-ab1e36ca6b92 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.

]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:04:55 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Brain Canada Foundation) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/mind-forecasting-qPUo_cwV-R2Vj4MFQ 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.

]]> Mind Forecasting Brain Canada Foundation 00:26:48 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. 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. social rejection brain research, pet imaging neuroscience, personalized medicine psychiatry, bipolar disorder treatment, brain imaging mental health false full 2 10572a5c-e814-4a20-8723-95380ec52a93 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.

]]> Tue, 3 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Dr. Anastassia Voronova, Dr. Argel Aguilar-Valles, Dr. Ciaran Murphy-Royal) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/repair-from-within-TsR7dF52 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.

]]> Repair from Within Dr. Anastassia Voronova, Dr. Argel Aguilar-Valles, Dr. Ciaran Murphy-Royal 00:25:11 With more than one in three people worldwide living with a neurological condition, the stakes couldn't be higher in enabling brain repair…and these researchers are tackling the problem from the inside out, literally - starting with the brain's own cells. With more than one in three people worldwide living with a neurological condition, the stakes couldn't be higher in enabling brain repair…and these researchers are tackling the problem from the inside out, literally - starting with the brain's own cells. neurological disorders canada, psychedelics mental health treatment, neural stem cells therapy, stress response neuroscience, brain repair and regeneration false full 1 a13c4fc9-5ba0-4860-9b7a-8b52e3adf802 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.

]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Dr. Anastassia Voronova, Dr. Gayatri Saraf, Dr. Anthony Gifuni) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/meet-the-bold-minds-shaping-our-future-PFuUPTPX 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.

]]> Meet the Bold Minds Shaping Our Future Dr. Anastassia Voronova, Dr. Gayatri Saraf, Dr. Anthony Gifuni 00:03:03 Bold Minds premieres March 3, 2026 - subscribe to Bold Minds to be the first to hear about the latest brain research shaping our future! Bold Minds premieres March 3, 2026 - subscribe to Bold Minds to be the first to hear about the latest brain research shaping our future! early career neuroscience researchers, depression research breakthrough, brain research canada, canadian brain scientists, brain health innovation false trailer 6fb458b0-948e-4514-a042-f9baeb633447 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.

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2026 23:35:11 +0000 jessdoespodcasting@gmail.com (Brain Canada Foundation) https://bold-minds.simplecast.com/episodes/introducing-bold-minds-QrBIcGY7 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.

]]> Introducing Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Brain Canada Foundation 00:00:52 Brain Canada's new show Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research launching this March, aims to unite researchers across the country to share breakthroughs in brain science and accelerate discoveries about one of the universe's most complex yet poorly understood structures - the human brain Brain Canada's new show Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research launching this March, aims to unite researchers across the country to share breakthroughs in brain science and accelerate discoveries about one of the universe's most complex yet poorly understood structures - the human brain future leaders brain research, canadian brain research, brain canada podcast, brain science innovation, neuroscience breakthroughs canada false trailer