Canadian Brain Research News

[Guest guest]

http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2002/06/12/f191.raw.html

Wednesday, June 12, 2002

The Halifax Herald Limited

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Halifax gets $8.45m for brain research

By LeBlanc / Health Reporter

Halifax will get one of the most powerful MRI machines in the world - and

the promise of more cutting-edge doctors - as part of an $8.45-million

investment in its renowned Brain Repair Centre.

A $4.2-million MRI unit will be used to probe diseases including

Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's - with hopes that Halifax

researchers can eventually find cures.

At a Halifax news conference Tuesday, the National Research Council

announced it is buying the machine and committing $3 million to hire staff

for the centre and cover other costs.

The province of Nova Scotia is chipping in $1.25 million for the two-storey

building that will house the MRI machine and work space for about 10

researchers.

The facility will be attached to the Halifax Infirmary, nestled between the

Infirmary and the Abbie J. Lane building. Construction begins in August, and

the building should be complete by next March.

The investment means " we'll be able to attract the brightest minds to come

to Halifax, . . . those who will be the innovators of the future, those who

will find cures, " said neurosurgeon Dr. Ivar Mendez, a driving force behind

the centre.

Though patients won't get their MRI tests done on the new machine at first,

its presence will translate into better patient care because top-notch

doctors will come to Halifax, he said.

The lure is the MRI unit, which is three times more powerful than the two

magnetic resonance imaging machines in use in Halifax now. An MRI test is a

detailed look at the inside of the body through the use of a magnet.

" It is going to be one of the most powerful magnets in the world - and it's

occurring here in Nova Scotia, " Dr. Mendez said.

" It will allow us to look at regions of the brain that cannot be seen now .

.. . to look and peer into the brain - not only into the structure of the

brain, but into the function of the brain. That is very important to assess

diseases and also assess our treatment. "

The MRI machine will be a research tool " but eventually that type of imaging

technology will come to the bedside, " he said.

$3.6 million for Dal medical research

The " front end " of the MRI unit, including its electronic component, is now

at the Institute for Biodiagnostics in Winnipeg, where staff are working out

the bugs and training those who will use it in Halifax, said Dr. Ian ,

director general of the National Research Council.

He said three people have already been hired as part of the venture - one is

training in Halifax, another in Winnipeg and the third in Calgary. The staff

will eventually come to Halifax.

Premier Hamm said at the news conference that the announcement

represents " a pivotal moment in the history of medicine. "

Senator Jane Cordy, representing Industry Minister Allan Rock, said the

centre's presence " will benefit Nova Scotia and potentially all of

humanity. "

The Brain Research Centre is a joint effort of about 100 Halifax researchers

from neurosurgery, psychiatry, psychology and other fields.

Though the groups began collaborating in 1999, this is the first investment

that pulls them together, said Diane Gorsky, hired as the centre's executive

director 18 months ago.

Halifax is one of four sites in the world where doctors implant stem cells

into the brain to repair damage. Dr. Mendez has also gained attention for

his work in deep brain stimulation, which improves the quality of life of

Parkinson's sufferers, said Gail Gardiner, executive director of the

Maritime branch of the Parkinson's Society Canada.

" We're going to bring key researchers together who hopefully will find some

very important pieces in the puzzle of Parkinson's and ultimately a cure, "

Ms. Gardiner said.

[Guest guest]

Curses, wrong coast!

At Wednesday 6/12/02 07:32 PM, you wrote:

http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2002/06/12/f191.raw.html

Wednesday, June 12, 2002

The Halifax Herald Limited

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----

Halifax gets $8.45m for brain research

By LeBlanc / Health Reporter

Halifax will get one of the most powerful MRI machines in the world -

and

the promise of more cutting-edge doctors - as part of an

$8.45-million

investment in its renowned Brain Repair Centre.

A $4.2-million MRI unit will be used to probe diseases including

Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's - with hopes that Halifax

researchers can eventually find cures.

At a Halifax news conference Tuesday, the National Research Council

announced it is buying the machine and committing $3 million to hire

staff

for the centre and cover other costs.

The province of Nova Scotia is chipping in $1.25 million for the

two-storey

building that will house the MRI machine and work space for about 10

researchers.

The facility will be attached to the Halifax Infirmary, nestled between

the

Infirmary and the Abbie J. Lane building. Construction begins in August,

and

the building should be complete by next March.

The investment means " we'll be able to attract the brightest minds

to come

to Halifax, . . . those who will be the innovators of the future, those

who

will find cures, " said neurosurgeon Dr. Ivar Mendez, a driving force

behind

the centre.

Though patients won't get their MRI tests done on the new machine at

first,

its presence will translate into better patient care because

top-notch

doctors will come to Halifax, he said.

The lure is the MRI unit, which is three times more powerful than the

two

magnetic resonance imaging machines in use in Halifax now. An MRI test is

a

detailed look at the inside of the body through the use of a

magnet.

" It is going to be one of the most powerful magnets in the world -

and it's

occurring here in Nova Scotia, " Dr. Mendez said.

" It will allow us to look at regions of the brain that cannot be

seen now .

... . to look and peer into the brain - not only into the structure of

the

brain, but into the function of the brain. That is very important to

assess

diseases and also assess our treatment. "

The MRI machine will be a research tool " but eventually that type of

imaging

technology will come to the bedside, " he said.

$3.6 million for Dal medical research

The " front end " of the MRI unit, including its electronic

component, is now

at the Institute for Biodiagnostics in Winnipeg, where staff are working

out

the bugs and training those who will use it in Halifax, said Dr. Ian

,

director general of the National Research Council.

He said three people have already been hired as part of the venture - one

is

training in Halifax, another in Winnipeg and the third in Calgary. The

staff

will eventually come to Halifax.

Premier Hamm said at the news conference that the announcement

represents " a pivotal moment in the history of

medicine. "

Senator Jane Cordy, representing Industry Minister Allan Rock, said

the

centre's presence " will benefit Nova Scotia and potentially all

of

humanity. "

The Brain Research Centre is a joint effort of about 100 Halifax

researchers

from neurosurgery, psychiatry, psychology and other fields.

Though the groups began collaborating in 1999, this is the first

investment

that pulls them together, said Diane Gorsky, hired as the centre's

executive

director 18 months ago.

Halifax is one of four sites in the world where doctors implant stem

cells

into the brain to repair damage. Dr. Mendez has also gained attention

for

his work in deep brain stimulation, which improves the quality of life

of

Parkinson's sufferers, said Gail Gardiner, executive director of the

Maritime branch of the Parkinson's Society Canada.

" We're going to bring key researchers together who hopefully will

find some

very important pieces in the puzzle of Parkinson's and ultimately a

cure, "

Ms. Gardiner said.

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[Guest guest]

Pam,

Great news, but it points out a problem. The MRI unit alone cost

$4.2 million and the building to house it cost another $1.25 million along

with 10 researchers who need salaries and benefits. Then there are

costs of maintaining the building and utilities. That is why medical

research costs so much.

BUT, when you look at Charlotte's medical bills over the last 5 years

of her life, you would find that it cost Medicare an average of about $25,000

per year. So if you multiply $25,000 times the 100,000 people in

North America alone who have MSA, you come up with $2,500,000,000 per

year in Medicare costs (2.5 billion).

It is a shame that our politicians are so short sighted as to medical

research. I see in yesterday's news that they are going to cut the

President's increase in AIDS research from $500 million to $200,000,000

next year. However, our Republican House last year refused to even

allow a funding Bill for PD (Udall Bill) of $100 million spread over five

years to even come to a vote. In perspective, $100 million over five

years would mean we could drop 20 less smart bombs per year. Bombs

do kill people, don't they? Where a cure for MSA may save 12,000

people per year in the USA alone.

Take care, Bill Werre