Of Mice and Men

We are continuing our support for the Dr. John Roder Research Laboratory and the work of Bechara Saab, a young graduate student working with animal models in neuroscience research. Bechara has already received international acclaim for his discovery of a new pathway underlying learning, memory and curiosity was recently published in the highly-regarded scientific journal, Neuron. He has also engineered a mouse with cognitive enhancement to try to establish a better understanding of cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia.

“Now that we know that some of the molecules and brain regions that control learning and memory also control curiosity, we can go back to the lab and design drugs that may improve cognition in humans,” says Saab, explaining the potential future benefit of his research.

Your financial support is greatly appreciated and it will help us continue to make a difference in the lives of others. All donations received by December 31, 2009 will be directed to the Dr. John Roder Research Laboratory at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Breakdown: Canada's Mental Health Crisis with André Picard
 
Award-winning author and public health writer for The Globe and Mail, André Picard shared the story behind the popular week-long, feature
series in June 2008 at a fundraising dinner on Monday, November 10,
2008 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario.

"People with mental illness are citizens like everyone else. It is
time they were afforded full citizenship - with its rights and yes,
its responsibilities.

When it is so, they will be richer. We will all be richer."     
                                                                                           - André Picard

Click here for a PDF copy of the speech.
(Link opens a new window.)