Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Stroke is a disorder with staggering emotional and socioeconomic impact. It is a leading cause of death in Canada and leaves the majority of survivors with long-term disabilities that significantly diminish their autonomy and quality of life. Motor recovery following a stroke is critically dependent upon the survival of mature and newly born neurons in brain areas adjacent to the injury. In fact, the degree reallocation of motor function to adjacent areas has been shown to be related to the proficiency of motor recovery. Recovery can be hindered by the fact that in the days to weeks following a stroke, neurotoxic signaling resulting from physiological stress from the initial injury increases and can cause neuronal death. Classes of molecules that inhibit neurotoxic signaling pathways may have neuroprotective properties and promote pro-survival signaling. The drug NA-1 is one such inhibitor and its administration in the days following a stroke could promote neuronal survival and improve motor recovery. We will assess the motor function of Cynomolgus macaques using behavioral tests and determine baseline brain connectivity using functional imaging. The animals will undergo a transient medial cerebral artery occlusion to induce a stroke and will be given injections of either NA-1 or placebo during recovery. We will continuously assess motor function and brain connectivity throughout recovery to determine whether NA-1 can significantly improve neuronal survival, functional connectivity, and motor control. The findings of the proposed research has important implications for the efficacy of such drugs in improving stroke recovery which can lessen the socioeconomic burden and the emotional and physical strain of stroke related disabilities.