Grant: Training Grant

Inflammation occurs as a response of the body to infections, injury or as an abnormal attack of the immune system against certain tissues or organs (autoimmune disease). Neuroinflammation, which refers to inflammation occurring in the nervous system, is recognized as having negative or positive consequences in a variety of neurological disorders. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these inflammatory responses can lead to the development of novel therapies for various neurological conditions. Our Neuroinflammation Training Program is focused on (i) multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the nervous system that is particularly prevalent in Canada; (ii) spinal cord injury, and spinal mechanisms underlying pain; and (iii) the effects of maternal infections on brain development leading to schizophrenia. Our aim is to educate the next generation of neuroscientists and clinician scientists interested in neuroinflammation in these conditions to acquire a broad multidisciplinary knowledge and expertise in immunology, neuroscience, animal models, neuroimaging, pre-clinical translational work, clinical trials, epidemiology and health outcomes. To this end we have assembled a diverse team of expert mentors from three Montreal area Universities - McGill University, Université de Montréal, and Université du Québec. This application is a renewal of a successful, on-going program, which currently has 106 trainees, 40% of whom were funded directly by this program in the form of studentship and fellowships. Our Program also provides travel awards. It also includes formal courses, and a variety of regular group meetings including monthly laboratory presentations, seminars, annual symposia and workshops. These activities have contributed to an excellent record of success in mentoring productive trainees with multidisciplinary knowledge and expertise in the area of neuroinflammation.