Dr. Brian Christie
Position
Contact
Credentials
BSc (Calgary), MSc (Calgary), PhD (Otago)
Area of expertise
Hippocampus, learning and memory, developmental disorders, aging, sex differences, electrophysiology
Neuroplasticity in the Developing and Aging Brain
Dr. Christie is a neuroscientist studying how the brains natural capacity for synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis can be harnessed to help alleviate neuropathologies associated with trauma, substance abuse, genetic disorders and the aging process. Donations to support this vital work can be made by clicking the following link and specifying you would like to support Dr. Christie.
Support Dr. Brian Christie's research.
Dr. Christie’s profile on Google Scholar
Dr. Christie’s laboratory use a number of sophisticated research techniques (electrophysiology, imaging, molecular, behavioural analysis) in a convergent fashion to identify basic mechanisms involved in learning and memory processes, and how they have been altered by different neuropathologies. His team has made several seminal discoveries, and helped to show that exercise can enhance the production of functional new neurons in the hippocampus, a structure known to be critical for learning and memory processes.
Dr. Christie’s research truly spans from the cell to society, involving both pre-clinical basic research studies, as well as clinical investigations. He believes that by focusing on how a phenomenon (i.e. neurogenesis) can impact a behavior (i.e. learning) that we will be better able to understand normal brain function, and how intrinsic repair processes can be harnessed to ameliorate cognitive deficits associated with a variety of pathological conditions. This may sound grandiose at first, but really we have to look no further than our own skin to see how effective self regenerative mechanisms can be when they respond appropriately.
Dr. Christie’s laboratory has received funding primarily from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and thee National Institutes for Health (NIH), but we have also been recipients of research support from private foundations that include: Fragile-X Research Foundations in Canada and the US (FXRFC, FRAXA), The Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation, Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation, Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals, Roche Parmaceuticals, The Brown Family Foundation, the Victoria Foundation, and a number of private donors. Thanks to this funding many of our former lab trainees hold academic positions across Canada, and around the world. In addition, over 30 laboratory trainees are now practicing physicians in Canada, and we are proud to have averaged 2 trainees being accepted into medical schools each year for the past 15 years. This shows the high caliber of the trainees involved in our work.
Because of the quality of our trainees, and our technical capacity, we also have extensive research collaborations across Canada and around the world. Some of our international collaborations include:
Dr. Jennifer Thomas (San Diego State University) – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Dr. Catherine Winstanley (University of British Columbia) - Prenatal Cannabinoid Exposure and Adolescent Addictive Behaviours
Dr. Pedro Grandes (Spain) – Role of cannibinoids in traumatic brain injury and prenatal ethanol exposure
Dr. Sandy Shultz (Monash University, Australia) – Biomarkers in Traumatic Brain Injury
Dr. Christiane Wrann (Harvard University) and Dr. Henriette van Praag (Florida Atlantic University) – Exercise, myokines and synaptic plasticity
Dr. Sonata Yau (Hong Kong Polytechnic); Dr. Kwok-Fai So (University of Hong Kong) Adipokines and synaptic plasticity.
Dr.’s Patricia Brocardo, Ana Lucia Rodrigues, Marcelo Farina (Florianopolis, Brazil) – Lipids, anxiety, depression and neuronal plasticity
Dr. Manuella Kastor (Federal University of Santa Catarina) - anxiety, depression and neuronal plasticity
Dr. Leigh Leasure (University of Houston) – exercise, stress and neurogenesis
Dr. Tatiana Rosenstock (Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences)
Dr. Katerina Akassoglou (University of San Francisco) – microgliaRecent Publications
View all of Dr. Christie's publications
2025
1. E Eyolfson, KRB Suesser, H Henry, I Bonilla-Del Río, P Grandes, R Mychasiuk, BR Christie. The effect of traumatic brain injury on learning and memory: A synaptic focus. Neuroscientist. 2025 Apr;31(2):195-214. Epub 2024 Sep 24. PMID: 39316552; PMCID: PMC11909778. https://doi.org/10.1177/10738584241275583
2. M Sun, GF Symons, G Spitz, WT O'Brien, TL Baker, J Fan, BD Martins, J Allen, LP Giesler, R Mychasiuk, P van Donkelaar, J Brand, BR Christie, TJ O'Brien, MJ O'Sullivan, B Mitra, C Wellington, SJ McDonald, SR Shultz. Pathophysiology, blood biomarkers, and functional deficits after intimate partner violence-related brain injury: Insights from emergency department patients and a new rat model. (2025). Brain Behav Immun. 2025 Jan;123:383-396. Epub 2024 Sep 28. PMID: 39349286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2024.09.030
3. E McDonagh, E Eyolfson, J Brand, SR Shultz, BR Christie. Acute diffuse axonal injury following repeated mild traumatic brain injury in juvenile rats. J Neurophysiol. 2025 Mar 1;133(3):881-891. Epub 2025 Feb 10. PMID: 39925115. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00482.2024
4. JS Thacker, LT Ralph, L Koek, A Abbasian, L Bettio, AS Smith, J Georgiou, BR Christie, GL Collingridge. (2025), Synergistic actions of corticosterone and BDNF on rat hippocampal LTP. Mol Brain 18, 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-025-01213-x
5. A Kit, K Conway, S Makarowski, G O’Regan, J Allen, SR Shultz, TS Bodnar, BR Christie. Can the gut-brain axis provide insight into psilocybin’s therapeutic value in reducing stress? (2025). Neurobiology of Stress, 36, 100732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2025.100732
2024
1. H Reid, O Trepanier, A Gross, P Poberezhnyk, T Snowden, K Conway, KR Breit, C Rodriguez, JD Thomas, BR Christie. Prenatal ethanol and cannabis exposure have sex- and region-specific effects on somatostatin and neuropeptide Y interneurons in the rat hippocampus. (2024). Alcohol, clinical & experimental research, 10.1111/acer.15350. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.15350
2. E Eyolfson, C Acosta, J Brand, KRB Suesser, T Kannangara, C Bostrom, S Sawchuk, BR Christie. Optimizing GABAA receptor antagonism for the induction of long-term potentiation in the mouse and rat dentate gyrus in vitro. J Neurophysiol. (2024). Jul 1;132(1):177-183. Epub 2024 Jun 5. PMID: 38836296. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00188.2024
3. AK Titterness, EL Gräfe, C Acosta, C Rodriguez, JD Thomas, BR Christie. Developmental ethanol exposure produces deficits in long-term potentiation in vivo that persist following postnatal choline supplementation. (2024). Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken). 2024 Aug;48(8):1483-1491. Epub 2024 Jun 8. PMID: 38850072; PMCID: PMC11816008. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.15384
4. JS Thacker, L Bettio, S Liang, I Shkolnikov, GL Collingridge, BR Christie. Adiponectin rescues synaptic plasticity in the dentate gyrus of a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome. (2024). Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2024 Jul 29;379(1906):20230221. Epub 2024 Jun 10. PMID: 38853554; PMCID: PMC11343265. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2023.0221
5. M Zaki-Dizaji, MF Abazari, H Razzaghi, I Shkolnikov, BR Christie. GRM7 deficiency, from excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation to neurodegeneration: Systematic review of GRM7 deficient patients. (2024). Brain Behav Immun Health. 2024 Jun 17;39:100808. PMID: 38983774; PMCID: PMC11231722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100808
6. AB Sheriff, V Scarapicchia, EL Mazerolle, BR Christie, JR Gawryluk. A comparison of white matter microstructure and correlates with neuropsychological measures in younger and older adults. (2024). PLoS One. 2024 Jun 24;19(6):e0305818. PMID: 38913655; PMCID: PMC11195942. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305818
2023
1. KJ Neale, HMO Reid, B. Sousa, E McDonagh, J Morrison, S Shultz, E Eyolfson, BR Christie. Repeated mild traumatic brain injury causes sex-specific increases in cell proliferation and inflammation in juvenile rats. (2023). Repeated mild traumatic brain injury causes sex-specific increases in cell proliferation and inflammation in juvenile rats. Journal of Neuroinflammation 20, 250. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-023-02916-5
2. T Snowden, L Ohlhauser, J Morrison, J Faubert, J Gawryluk, BR Christie. A Protocol for Remote Cognitive Training Developed for Use in Clinical Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic. (2023). Neurotrauma Rep. 2023 Aug 14;4(1):522-532. https://doi.org/10.1089/neur.2023.0009
3. T Snowden, J Morrison, M Boerstra, E Eyolfson, C Acosta, E Grafe, H Reid, J Brand, M Galati, J Gargaro, BR Christie. Brain changes: aerobic exercise for traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.(2023). Front. Hum. Neurosci. 17:1307507.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1307507
2022
1. S Hasanpour, L Karperien, T Walsh, M Jahanshahi, Z Hadisi, KJ Neale, BR Christie, N Djilali, M Akbari. (2022). A hybrid thread-based temperature and humidity sensor for continuous wound monitoring. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. 370: 132414.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2022.132414
2. EL Grafe, MMM Wade, CE Hodson, JD Thomas, BR Christie. (2022). Postnatal Choline Supplementation Rescues Deficits in Synaptic Plasticity Following Prenatal Ethanol Exposure. Nutrients. 14(10): 2004.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14102004
2021
1. MR Islam, S Valaris, MF Young, EB Haley, R Luo, SF Bond, S Mazuera, RR Kitchen, BJ Caldarone, LEB Bettio, BR Christie, AB Schmider, RJ Soberman, A Besnard, MP Jedrychowski, H Kim, H Tu, E Kim, SH Choi, RE Tanzi, BM Spiegelman, CD Wrann. (2021). Exercise hormone irisin is a critical regulator of cognitive function. Nature Metabolism. 3(8): 1058-1070.
http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-021-00438-z
2. Jonathan S Thacker, Delaney Andersen, Stanley Liang, Natalia Zieniewicz, Juan S Trivino-Paredes, Patrick C Nahirney, Brian R Christie. (2021). Unlocking the brain: A new method for Western blot protein detection from fixed brain tissue. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 348(1): 1-9.
http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108995
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12035-021-02441-7
4. EL Grafe, CJ Fontaine, JD Thomas, BR Christie. (2021). Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on cholineinduced long-term depression in the hippocampus. Journal of Neurophysiology. 126(5): 1622-1634.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00136.2021
5. Snowden, T. Reid, H. Kenny, RA. McQuarrie, A. Stuart-Hill, L. Garcia-Barrera, M. Gawryluk, J. Christie, BR. (2021). Heading in the right direction: A critical review of studies examining the effects of heading in soccer players.Journal of Neurotrauma. ePub: 1-10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/neu.2020.7130
http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.14708
7. T.H. Lee, B. R. Christie, H. van Praag, K. Lin, P. M-F. Siu, A. Xu, K-F So, S-y Yau. (2021). AdipoRon Treatment Induces a Dose-Dependent Response in Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(2068): 1-15.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms22042068
8. Itziar Bonilla-Del Río, Nagore Puente, Amaia Mimenza, Almudena Ramos, Maitane Serrano, Leire Lekunberri, Inmaculada Gerrikagoitia, Brian R Christie, Patrick C Nahirney, Pedro Grandes. (2021). Acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol prompts rapid changes in cannabinoid CB1 receptor immunolabeling and subcellular structure in CA1 hippocampus of young adult male mice. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 1(1): 1-15.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cne.25098
9. H.M.O. Reid, N. Chen-Mack, T. Snowden, B.R. Christie. (2021). Understanding Changes in Hippocampal Interneurons Subtypes in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review. Brain Connectivity. ePub(1): 1-21.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/brain.2020.0879
Current Christie Laboratory Trainees Include:
Dr. Crystal Acosta, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Eric Eyolfson, Postdoctoral Fellow
Erin Grafe, PhD Candidate (NRSC)
Hannah Reid, PhD Candidate (NRSC)
Taylor Snowden, PhD Candidate (NRSC)
Rebecca Phillips, PhD Candidate (INTD)
Alanna Kit, PhD Candidate (NRSC)
Allyson Gross, MSc Student (NRSC)
Fiona Ramnaraign, MSc Student (NRSC)
Irene Shkolnikov, MSc Student (NRSC)
Justin Brand, MSc Student (NRSC; co-supervised with Dr. S. Shultz)
Angelina Schaaf, MSc Student (EPHE; co-supervised with Dr. L. Stuart-Hill)
Emily Bosdachin, Research Technician
Undergraduate Researchers
Kirsten Suesser (Honors, Biol)
Annika Willoughby (USRA recipient)
Jamie Morrison
Katherine Ball
Peri Donaghy
Charuta Sahasrabudhe (JCURA recipient)
Emily Funnekotter
Adam Gheis
Madison Yanish
Hirsh Bhatti
Victoria Green
John Dash
Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (MITACS) (2025/03-2027/04) Does Functional Hypothalamic Menstrual Dysregulation alter Cerebrovascular Endothelial
Function and Cognitive Performance in a Visual Spatial Learning Task? (Skaug)
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) (2024/10-2026/03) Evaluating Wolves’ Den: A traumatic brain injury-focused peer support and education group
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (2024/11-2025/10) Brain Changes Initiative Brain Health Summit: A Patient-Partnered Event
Universite de Montreal (UdeM) (2024/03-2027/02) Developing an evidence-based approach to diagnose and treat adults with a history of concussion. (Brain Canada Foundation). Leading Institution: UdeM
Universite de Montreal (UdeM) (2024/03-2027/02) Developing an evidence-based approach to diagnose and treat adults with a history of concussion. (Neurotracker Athletics Inc.). Leading Institution: UdeM
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (2023/04-2025/03) Fetal Alcohol Effects and Choline Intervention. Leading Institution: San Diego State University Foundation
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (2024/02-2025/01) The pathophysiology and blood biomarkers of brain injury in intimate partner violence: Insights from a new rat model
Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (MITACS) (2023/11-2025/05) From stress to success: Investigating the effects of a 3D-multiple object tracking intervention on markers of oxidative stress in brain injury survivors (Morrison)
Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (MITACS) (2023/07-2025/08) The Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Effect of a Standardized Equine Assisted Therapy Intervention on Stress Resilience and Executive Function in Autism (Phillips)
NHMRC Australia (2023/06–2025/05) Brain Injury in intimate partner violence: Insight into a silent pandemic. Leading Institution: Monash University
Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (MITACS) (2023/01-2024/12) Can low-dose psilocybin have therapeutic value in treating and preventing depression and anxiety (Kit)
Michael Smith Health Research BC (HEALTHRESEARCHBC) (2022/09–2025/08) Fibrinogen promotes a microglial-mediated inflammatory response following adolescent repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (Eyolfson)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant (2022/07-2027/06) Drinking with Mary Jane: Understanding sex differences in the effects of prenatal marijuana and alcohol consumption for learning and memory processes.
FRAXA Research Foundation (2021/07- 2023/07) Contribution of Microglia to the Therapeutic Effects of Metformin and Adiponectin in Fragile X Syndrome.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant 2021/4 - 2026/3
Bringing focus to the invisible injury: Defining a role for microbleeds and microglia in mild traumatic brain injury.
NSERC Discovery Grant 2019/7 - 2024/6
Exercise and hippocampal bidirectional synaptic plasticity
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) RO1 2018/4 - 2023/3
Fetal Alcohol Effects and Choline Intervention
Principal Investigator : Jennifer Thomas
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Bridge Grant 2021/4 - 2023/3
Drinking with Mary Jane: Understanding how consuming alcohol and marijuana during pregnancy impacts the developing brain.
FRAXA Research Foundation Grant 2021/7 - 2022/6
Contribution of Microglia to the Theraputic Effect of Metformin and Adiponectin in Fragile X Syndrome.
New Frontiers in Research Fund Exploration 2019/9 - 2021/9
Building the blood brain barrier on a chip to treat Alzheimer's disease.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) SPOR Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research 2020/9 - 2022/8
SPOR Regional Centre Fellowship (Snowden-Richardson) - Train your Brain: Can Three Dimensional Multiple-Object Tracking Improve Cognition and Daily-Life Functions in Individuals with Moderate to Severe Brain Injury?
Azrieli Foundation Back on track from COVID-19 2020/7 - 2021/6
Back on Track from COVID19: Therapeutic potential for activation of endogenous AMPK activators in Fragile-X Syndrome.
FRAXA Operating grant / Fragile X Research Foundation of Canada 2019/5 - 2021/4
Adiponectin as a potential therapy in Fragile X Syndrome.
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Research Tools and Instruments 2020
Vapor Drug Delivery System, Grant, Equipment
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Catalyst 2019/5 - 2022/4
Double Jeopardy: Effects of Prenatal Cannabis and Ethanol Exposure on hippocampus structure and function.
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) (State of São Paulo Research Foundation) SPRINT 2018/7 - 2022/6
Age related mitochondrial metabolism and its relationship with neurogenesis in an animal model of schizophrenia.
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant 2018/4 - 2019/3
Bidirectional Structural and Functional Plasticity in the Aging Brain.