Brain and Nerves

MS is a disabling neurological disease with a highly variable clinical course including acute disability (relapses when symptoms appear or worsen) and disease progression (steady accumulation of disability in the absence of relapses). There is currently no approved treatment for progressive MS. A principal pathology of MS is the destruction of myelin, which surrounds nerves to speed up signal conduction. We have developed a magnetic resonance imaging technique that provides quantitative measurements of myelin.

The purpose of this study is to provide confirmatory evidence of the safety and efficacy of two Dysport® (AbobotulinumtoxinA) doses (600 units [U] and 800 U), compared to placebo in reducing urinary incontinence (UI) in adult subjects treated for neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) due to spinal cord injury (SCI) or multiple sclerosis (MS).

To compare the efficacy and safety of ofatumumab administered subcutaneously (sc) every 4 weeks versus teriflunomide administered orally once daily in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

The Wellness Monitoring for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) study is a prospective, longitudinal, observational study aimed at identifying biomarkers of relapse in MDD. Results may help refine clinical approach to relapse management, and may ultimately help MDD patients sustain wellness while on antidepressant medication.

Recruitment Poster

This is an exploratory biomarker study designed to be hypothesis-generating in order to better understand the mechanism of action of ocrelizumab and B-Cell biology in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). 

The proposed SYNERGIC trial is uniquely designed to evaluate the effect of aerobic and progressive resistance training exercises, combined with cognitive training and Vitamin D3 supplementation, in cognition and mobility in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a comprehensive group education combined with a lifestyle "activation" program that includes (a) sleep hygiene course, (b) physical activity promotion, and (c) bright light therapy, can improve both sleep quality and cognitive function among 96 community-dwelling older adults.

This study investigates the use of eye tracking technology as a diagnostic tool for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and concussion. We are looking at the effect of additional working memory (short-term memory) load on the smoothness of eye movements in both concussed and healthy populations.

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel-group study to assess the cognitive effects of lurasidone in bipolar I and II patients (manic depression) who are in remission from an episode. Participants who show cognitive impairment at the screening visit will be enrolled into the study and randomized at the baseline visit to receive either lurasidone or placebo adjunctive therapy in a 1:1 ratio for 6 weeks.

Recruitment Poster

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive (does not enter the body) technique in improving depressive symptoms.

Recruitment Poster

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an emerging treatment for medically refractory major depressive disorder (MDD). rTMS involves direct stimulation of cortical neurons using externally applied, powerful, focused magnetic field pulses. Dozens of studies and several meta-analyses over the last 15 years have shown that rTMS of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) produces statistically significant improvements in MDD, even when medications have failed. However, other possible targets may also yield improvement in symptoms.

The NeuroBlate® System (NBS) is a minimally invasive robotic laser thermotherapy tool that is being manufactured by Monteris Medical. Since it received FDA clearance in April 2013, the NBS has been used in over 300 procedures conducted at approximately 20 leading institutions across United States. This is a prospective, multi-center registry that will include data collection up to 12 months to evaluate procedural success, local control failure rate, and QoL in up to 1,000 patients and up to 50 sites.
 

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of monthly doses of aducanumab in slowing cognitive and functional impairment as measured by changes in the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score as compared with placebo in participants with early AD.

This multicenter, randomized, open-label study will evaluate the immune response to vaccines (tetanus toxoid [TT], 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine [23-PPV], influenza vaccine, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin [KLH]) after administration of a dose of ocrelizumab (OCR) in participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).

The project targets stroke survivors to investigate the effect of augmented feedback (using robotic force cues and visual feedback) on their upper limb reaching patterns and trunk compensatory movements.

The purpose of this study is to provide subjects who have completed participation in a Phase 2 or Phase 3 trial with TRx0237 continued access to therapy and to evaluate the long-term safety of TRx0237.

The investigators will conduct a 8-week proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial to provide preliminary evidence of efficacy of Fit Brains (Rosetta Stone Canada) training—a mobile cognitive training program—on cognitive and brain plasticity in older adults. The investigators will also explore whether Fit Brains training paired with a brief bout of exercise would enhance the potential cognitive benefits of Fit Brains.

Recruitment Poster

AZD0530 is an inhibitor of Src and Abl family kinases1. It has been developed as treatment for malignancies because these kinases play a role in tumor invasion and proliferation. However, the Src family kinases (SFKs) are highly expressed in brain and have major effects on synaptic plasticity2. Moreover, the investigators have recently shown that a specific SFK, namely Fyn, is aberrantly activated by specific conformations of the Amyloid Beta (Aß) peptide from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Genetic deletion of Fyn rescues AD deficits in preclinical models.

This is a study in patients who recently had a brain attack (stroke) and in whom no clear cause of the stroke could be identified. These strokes are likely due to a blood clot and therefore, can be called embolic stroke of undetermined source. The abbreviation is ESUS. The study will compare 2 blood thinners. Patients will be randomly assigned to either Rivaroxaban 15 mg or Aspirin 100 mg and the study is intended to show, if patients given rivaroxaban have fewer blood clots in the brain (stroke) or in other blood vessels.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic (rTMS) is a safe, noninvasive treatment that involves placing a magnetic coil on a person’s head over an area of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). rTMS has been available as a treatment for depression in Canada since 2002, and although it has also been approved by Health Canada for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are only a limited number of studies that have looked at this.