DMS Research

Dr. Christie

Dr. Brian Christie's research focuses on developing therapies for improving brain function following traumatic brain injury, developmental disorders, and aging in both sexes.

Dr. Brown

Dr. Craig Brown's research focuses on synaptic plasticity, stroke, diabetes, and in vivo imaging.

Dr. Swayne

Dr. Leigh Anne Swayne's research focuses on how nerve cell connections are formed at the molecular level using super-resolution microscopy and biochemistry tools.

Dr. Hector Caruncho studies the molecular biology and pharmacology of GABAA receptors; animal models of neuromotor disorders; and, lately, to the neurobiology of schizophrenia and depression.

Dr. Nahirney's lab is working to provide a structural and molecular framework to a number of human diseases including Alzheimer's disease, stress-induced memory loss, Nemaline myopathy, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Medical research to help communities

Our mission:

Our research team focuses on the science of brain repair also known as neuro-regeneration. The goal of our research is to understand neurological diseases and brain injury to develop new treatment strategies that restore brain function. We provide our research trainees with a sophisticated, cutting-edge environment that fosters the development of transferable skills for a number of careers.

Our focus:

  • Traumatic brain injury (concussion)
  • Stroke, and related risk-factors like diabetes
  • Neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders (anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, fetal alcohol syndrome, fragile-X syndrome, schizophrenia)
  • Neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer, Huntington, and Parkinson diseases)

Our Faculty members are involved in important and relevant research in neurosciences.

Their research areas include learning and memory, developmental disorders, neural stem cell, stroke and diabetes.


Donations support our students and faculty in their mission to produce internationally recognized advances in neuroscience knowledge.
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Academic clinician Dr. Laura Arbour is involved in research related to genetic disorders and conditions specific to Indigenous populations.

Dr. Nicole Fairbrother is an academic clinician with a research focus on prenatal, perinatal and post-partum mental health.