Major investment for The Royal Clinical Brain Research Centre to understand mental illness, addiction
The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre unveiled one of the world's most advanced brain imaging technology to better understand mental illness and addiction. (Kimberley Fowler/ CTV News Ottawa)
On Thursday, The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre unveiled one of the world's most advanced brain imaging technology to better understand mental illness and addiction. It's a state-of-the-art neuroimaging platform, promising to put Canada at the forefront of global brain research.
In partnership with Brain Canada, The Royal is announcing a $1.9 million grant to launch a first-of-its-kind brain imaging platform in Canada, giving researchers a new look inside the brain and creating the opportunity to transform mental health research.
Brain Canada president and CEO, Dr. Viviane Poupon says: 'I'm a neuroscientist by training, so for me to see the future of neuroscience, the breakthroughs that are going to happen, and building capacity for the researchers, for me is always amazing.'
'We're super excited to get to continue to grow this facility,' said Katie Dinelle, The Royal's administrative director of the Clinical Brain Research Centre. 'It has been here since 2016, and this is a big 'next step' for us.'
The state-of-the-art neuroimaging platform allows researchers to scan the brain three ways at once. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) provides detailed images of the brain, a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) acts a radioactive tracer to show brain activity and function, and an EEG (Electroencephalography) to measure electrical activity in the brain in real time.
Only three teams in the world use this brain scanning technology for an unprecedented look at how the brain works.
'The idea with this grant is to combine all three of those imaging modalities to give us a very whole picture of the brain,' said Dinelle.
Dr. Georg Northoff, senior scientist at The Royal and Psychiatry professor at the University of Ottawa says 'with depression you're extremely sad, you have anxiety disorders, also your sense of self can be very different, or you see yourself only as negative. So, understanding the basic mental brain-mind connection for basic mental features also implies that we can learn something from mental disorders.'
The multi-modal imaging will also help researchers improve diagnostics and personalized treatments for mental health patients.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
34 minutes ago
- CBC
Brothers who gave $50K for palliative care room at nursing home learn tough lesson
Social Sharing The moment brothers Alan and Glenn von Weiler saw the palliative care room at their father's former nursing home — created in his memory — was one for the books, they say. "I think my dad would have been so happy," Glenn said. "My dad believed in giving back to the community. He did that all his life, and now he was able to do it posthumously." But just over a year after they saw the new palliative care room at the Fundy Nursing Home in Blacks Harbour, the brothers have a sour taste in their mouths. They learned from staff at the home that the room has been taken apart. In December 2022, Alan and Glenn's father, Joost, died after living at the home for a while. Shortly before his death, the brothers were so pleased with the care he had received from staff that they decided to make a $50,000 donation to the Fundy Nursing Home. The brothers, who live in Saint John, about 70 kilometres east of the home, spoke with the administrator at the time and ultimately decided on a palliative care room. The money would go into a trust set aside for the room. "It's life-changing for the families, so, you know, they deserve respect — they're not numbers, they're people," Alan said. The largest expenses for the project were the $15,000 in renovations that had to be done and the specialized palliative care bed, which cost about $15,300. Other features of the room included a pull-down, or Murphy bed, kitchenette items, and a heat pump. A shadowbox with their father's photo, a biography, and some of the paintings he did during his life were also added. WATCH | How much do a donor's wishes actually matter? Saint John brothers share cautionary donation story 3 hours ago Duration 3:26 On March 7, 2024, the palliative care room opened, with the von Weiler brothers in attendance. Not only did the room have everything a family could need for loved ones at the end of their lives, they said, but it also had a homey atmosphere that didn't come with regular rooms for residents. But recently, the von Weilers were informed by staff that the room had been disassembled — something the brothers never expected. "The enthusiasm from the staff was phenomenal," Alan said of the palliative care room. "How could I ever think that someone would go in and just take it apart?" The von Weilers wanted to get official confirmation of the dismantling, so they contacted Constance Gilman, the current administrator for the nursing home. In response, they received a letter, which they shared with CBC News. "I would like to apologize to your family about the misinformation that was shared with you, and would like to take the time to explain to you what the home plans to do to ensure that this important service is still in place and that your donation is not forgotten," Gillman wrote. She went on to say that the palliative care bed was being used for a non-palliative care resident because it was more comfortable for that person. "But the problem is, if you have someone coming up that needs a palliative care bed … that bed's not going to be available," Alan said. Because you can't remove a patient from a bed so another one can take the bed. He said the bed, with a special mattress to prevent bed sores, was specifically for palliative residents. Gilman's letter said that to avoid causing discomfort, the home didn't want to transfer a palliative care resident to the new bed. Brothers understand move She also said the palliative care room had been moved to another location with a wider doorway, so resident beds could be rolled into it. The room was now closer to the nursing desk to "minimize the risk" of a resident being "forgotten," she said. The brothers said the former administrator chose a location a little removed from the general traffic area to provide more privacy for families. But even so, Glenn said, he understands that patient health has to come first and moving the room was understandable, if it had the same fixtures as the previous one. Gilman's letter said the kitchenette items would be moved to the new space, but the Murphy bed was broken, so if families wanted to stay overnight, a sleeper chair could be rolled in. The art and the memoriam shadowbox would be put back as well, the letter said. After reading the letter, the von Weilers asked to see the new room. "It was basically an empty room with a recliner in it and a small little kitchenette," Glenn said. "If someone needed a palliative care room that day, it was not available. "I don't think that you should shut something down without opening up the new one." CBC News requested an interview with Gilman but did not receive a response. The von Weilers are still grateful for the care their father received while at the nursing home, but this experience makes them think they would have chosen a different location to donate to, had they known what was going to happen. They wonder if anything would have been different if they'd had a written contract outlining the request. The agreement with the home was a verbal one, aside from a receipt from the home that said, "Donation to memorial fund palliative care room." But legally speaking, there isn't anything that can be done in this situation, according to Toronto business lawyer Jonathan Kleiman. A promise to do something specific with the donated money could be enforceable, he said, but without a proper contract, it's a flippant promise. And even with a proper written agreement, Kleiman said, it's unlikely the contract would have specified a specific length of time that the room had to remain. "I find it very hard to believe that the nursing home meant to offer anything in perpetuity," Kleiman said. "So all the more reason to have something in writing, so you understand what you guys are getting, and there's no misunderstandings." The von Weilers believe this situation will make them more careful with future donations. They'll ask more questions and get things in writing. One of the most upsetting parts of the experience for the von Weilers was how they found out — from a staff member and not management. "I think it's just respect," Glenn said. "If you have people in the community investing in the community, I think that they deserve to know what's going on."
Globe and Mail
34 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Is Rocket Lab USA Stock a Buy Now?
Over the past few decades, private companies have expanded the possibilities of space exploration and research. According to estimates from consultancy McKinsey, the space economy is projected to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035. With such substantial growth ahead and innovation across the industry, the space economy is emerging as a potentially significant investment opportunity. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » While companies like SpaceX lead the way, they remain private. Alternatives like Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ: RKLB) are making waves in the small-satellite launch market, and it is the second-most utilized launch provider in the U.S. The space company is expanding its services, including lunar exploration and satellite deployment, in response to increasing demand. Here's what investors should know about Rocket Lab and its long-term opportunity today. Second in space launches in the U.S. Rocket Lab USA, founded in 2017, has enjoyed strong demand for its services over the past several years. The company generated $436.2 million in revenue in 2024, representing a 78% increase from the previous year. Strong growth has been driven by increasing demand, as evidenced by its rising backlog of orders, which now stands at $1.1 billion. That sizable figure indicates strong demand and provides some visibility into its future revenue generation. The company anticipates recognizing about 56% of this backlog as revenue over the next year. Since its founding, Rocket Lab has completed 66 launch missions, including 16 in 2024, making it the No. 2 launch company in the U.S. However, it remains well behind SpaceX, which launched 132 rockets last year and has larger rockets and the ability to transport bigger payloads. Rocket Lab aims to close this gap with its Neutron rocket, which it expects to launch sometime this year. The rocket represents a significant development for Rocket Lab since it will allow transport of larger payloads -- nearly 40 times larger than its Electron launch vehicle. This capability is vital as demand for launching satellites and other cargo continues to grow. The larger rocket will also enable Rocket Lab to compete for larger contracts and achieve higher profits and margins per launch. Pursuing every part of the space value chain Besides its launch vehicles, Rocket Lab is carving out a niche in the space systems section of the broader space economy. For example, it acquired the German company Mynaric for $75 million. It provides laser optical- communications terminals for air, space, and mobile applications. By acquiring Mynaric, Rocket Lab can scale up production of optical communication terminals, which are crucial for satellite-to-satellite connectivity. The German company was already a subcontractor for Rocket Lab, and the integration will give it greater control over its supply chain, allowing it to operate more efficiently. CEO Peter Beck said that his company would pursue every part of the space value chain and that it was "closing in on the final step and most valuable part of the space economy: operating our own constellations to provide data and services from space." Rocket Lab's finances As an investor evaluating opportunities within the aerospace sector, it's crucial to analyze the current financial state of Rocket Lab. Delays in the launch of the Neutron rocket could hinder its near-term prospects and would likely weigh on the stock in the short term. Furthermore, the company is grappling with sizable operational losses, reflecting its high cash burn, which may be a red flag for conservative investors seeking stability. Last year, revenue was $436.2 million while the cost of revenue and operating expenses soared to $626 million. As a result, the company had an operating loss of $190 million. This trend continued in the first quarter, with an operating loss of $59 million on $122.5 million in revenue. RKLB Revenue (Quarterly) data by YCharts. Rocket Lab has expressed optimism about its path toward profitability. Analysts project the company could achieve positive cash flow by 2026 and earnings by 2027. Is Rocket Lab USA right for you? Rocket Lab's future is bright. Its backlog of orders is significant, and it has been included as part of the U.S. Space Force's $5.6 billion National Security Space Launch program. As part of this, Rocket Lab has been selected to compete for the Department of Defense's national security missions for its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program. If chosen, its success here could lead to stable and potentially lucrative contracts over the long term. As investors, we must strike a balance between risk and reward and understand what we are getting into. Rocket Lab USA is a fast-growing company in the emerging space economy. It is positioning itself not just as a launch company, but as one that also operates across the entire space value chain. Rocket Lab's current financials may deter those seeking steady, reliable returns. However, for growth-focused investors, today could be an opportunity to get in at ground level with a company in an industry expected to experience significant growth in the years to come. Should you invest $1,000 in Rocket Lab right now? Before you buy stock in Rocket Lab, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Rocket Lab wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $659,171!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $891,722!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is995% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to172%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Alberta babies have been born with measles due to outbreaks, worrying doctors
Social Sharing As the province's measles case count approaches 1,000, health experts are raising the alarm about Alberta babies who are being born already infected with the virus. The provincial government has confirmed cases of congenital measles, which can lead to severe complications, including death, have already occurred as a result of this year's outbreaks. Pregnant Albertans are also testing positive. "Fewer than five cases of congenital measles have been reported in Alberta in 2025. In each case, the mother was not immunized. Information on whether the infants were born prematurely is not available," an official with Primary and Preventative Health Services said in an email. "To date, there have been 20 confirmed cases of measles in pregnant individuals. Fewer than five have been hospitalized due to the infection." The Alberta government does not publish this information publicly. CBC News asked for the data after Ontario reported a premature baby, born infected with measles, died. That province has reported seven cases of congenital measles since mid-October. When CBC News asked for more detailed data, an official said the province limits the release of information when case numbers are very small for privacy reasons. The data was up-to-date as of June 12. No measles deaths have been reported in Alberta since the outbreaks began this year. As of June 14, a total of 85 Albertans had been hospitalized due to the infection, including 14 intensive care unit admissions. By midday Thursday, the province's total measles case count had climbed to 996. Serious complications Pregnant individuals are at higher risk of complications from measles. "We're extremely concerned about the potential for exposures for unimmunized mothers, in particular during pregnancy, given that there is an increased risk for premature birth and complications that are pretty significant for the mother," said Dr. Amber Reichert, an Edmonton-based neonatologist. "There is an extremely high risk to either pregnancy loss or potentially an early birth or potentially the babies becoming infected as well." A recent editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal warned of these serious consequences. Premature birth itself comes with risks, including underdeveloped lungs and babies requiring breathing support. In addition, pregnant people can get very sick from a measles infection, often due to pneumonia. "There is a ten-fold higher risk of death when a person who is pregnant gets measles," said Dr. Eliana Castillo, an obstetrician and clinical associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of Calgary. What is congenital measles Congenital measles occurs when the mother passes the infection along in the final two weeks of pregnancy and the baby is born infected, according to Castillo. It can spark severe complications in the infant, including brain inflammation and even death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Those babies can be very, very sick," said Castillo. Ontario announced earlier this month that a premature baby born with congenital measles had died. The infant's mother was unimmunized. At the time, health officials said measles was a "significant contributing factor" to the premature death but that the baby also had other serious health problems. In addition to a fever and rash, babies with congenital measles can be born with other symptoms, including inflammation of the liver, physicians are warning. "They potentially could also present with pneumonia or potentially have an infection around the brain, which is called encephalitis," said Reichert. If the baby is born early — and has congenital measles — there is a higher risk of serious lung disease due to the immaturity of their lungs, she added. And beyond the immediate health concerns, there are several potential and serious long-term consequences, including a rare but debilitating neurological illness that manifests years later. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a virus that hides in the brain for years. It eventually flares up, triggering brain inflammation and causing children or young adults to lose the ability to move and speak. In nearly all cases patients die. According to Reichert, the risk of this complication is believed to be higher when a baby is born with measles or is infected early in infancy. "It's a devastating consequence because it really isn't treatable," said Reichert. Babies can also experience immune system impacts that leave them more highly susceptible to illness, Castillo said. A major worry Measles is highly contagious and health officials have warned that given low immunization rates in parts of the province, official case counts are the tip of the iceberg and there are likely more cases going unreported. It's a major worry for physicians. "Everyone is concerned this is going to be happening for months at a time," Castillo said, adding that as case counts rise, so too do the chances that more babies will be infected and potentially face life-altering or life-threatening complications. She's concerned that Albertans don't fully understand the risks that go along with pregnancy and measles. "We have not had a concerted public health response, particularly to raise awareness about how serious it can be for babies and pregnant individuals," she said, adding she's glad the province shared the data it did when requested by CBC News. "But again they're not in the public domain. And that makes it very, very hard because we haven't had the concerted effort to raise awareness … and give people the tools to make decisions." CBC News asked the province if it will publish this information moving forward, but did not hear back prior to publication time. Reichert wants Albertans to understand the risks and she's urging everyone to ensure that they and their children are immunized to protect both themselves and others around them who may not be able to be immunized. Mothers who are immunized pass antibodies on to the fetus during pregnancy, offering protection during a baby's first few months of life. Post-exposure therapy The measles vaccine (MMR) is not generally recommended during pregnancy in Canada. Pregnant Albertans who are unimmunized and have been exposed to measles and infants under six months of age are among the high risk groups who may be offered immune globulin, a short-acting antibody medication that can protect against the virus. It must be given within six days of exposure. According to the province, 52 people have received it including 37 infants since the outbreaks began in March. The province did not say how many of the adults were pregnant. Alberta is also offering an early and extra dose of the measles vaccine to babies as young as six months living in the harder hit south, central and north zones.
