For Your Inner Science Nerd

Translating world leading neuroscience
into direct advances in brain health

BrainNET has broad application areas across multiple fields

Brain Monitoring

Providing ground-breaking capabilities to watch the brain in action

Aging

Disrupting the aging equation, including frailty and dementia care

Rehabilitation

Revolutionizing rehabilitation and recovery practices through accessible technologies

Children & Youth

Optimizing the potential for children and youth

Performance

Pushing limits in human neural performance and potential

Revolutionary Brain Technologies

BrainNET includes the most advanced neuro-technologies used to disrupt brain health – embedded within clinical environments through partners in the Health and Technology District.

High-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

High-field Philips 3.0 Tesla Ingenia CX whole body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

High-density magnetoencephalography (MEG)

High-density CTF 275-channel magnetoencephalography (MEG)

MRI- and MEG-compatible, high-density electroencephalography (EEG)

High-density BrainAmps 64-channel MR-compatible electroencephalography, and High-Density CTF electroencephalography

Portable Neuromodulation Stimulators

Non-invasive delivery of translingual neurostimulation (TLNS) and neurorehabilitation using the PoNS®

Rapid Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Magstim Rapid2 high-frequency TMS, and Magstim BiStim2 paired pulse TMS systems

Neuronavigation suite

Brainsight TMS Navigation system

Portable electroencephalography (EEG)

Fleets of portable 8-channel electroencephalography systems: gNautilus, Enobio, Muse Sensing Headbands, and Emotiv devices

High performance computing

Advanced computational and storage facilities with resource allocation at Compute Canada, access to Canada’s National Research and Education Network (NREN), and connection to Canada’s CANARIE infrastructure

Balance and Gait Assessment Tools

NeuroCom SMART Balance Master for advanced balance and mobility assessment and treatment

Assistive Robotic Walking Devices

Robot-assisted balance and gait therapy using Lokomat® exoskeleton and a dynamic body weight support system for adults and children

Exoskeletons

ReWalk® wearable robotic exoskeleton that provides powered hip and knee motion

xRLAB

Virtual Reality (VR) Testing and Development suite - fully equipped with wearables, haptic devices, and high performance computation capabilities

Research Spotlights

Eric Kirby

BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON

Currently a master’s student at Simon Fraser University, Eric is digging deep into the role myelination plays as a central mechanism for white matter neuroplasticity in the human brain.

About Eric

Eric took courses in business, psychology, human kinetics, chemistry, and neuroscience while completing a BSc (Major in Biochemistry, Minor in Business) from the University of Windsor. He continues his education in the Master of Science program at Simon Fraser University where he is digging deeper into data processing and neuroplasticity changes in the human brain.

Current Research

White matter (WM) neuroplasticity in the human brain has been tracked non-invasively using advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques, with increasing evidence for improved transmission efficiency as a central mechanism. The current study built upon prior investigations, which characterized the structure-function relationship of WM transmission efficiency in the cortico-spinal tract (CST) during motor learning. Here, we test the hypothesis that increased transmission efficiency is due to increased myelination using myelin-water imaging (MWI). MWI was used to directly evaluate neuroplasticity-related improvements in the CST. The MWI findings were then compared to gold-standard diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) results, the secondary hypothesis that radial diffusivity (RD) would have a stronger relationship than axial diffusivity (AD) if the changes were due to increased myelination.

Joshua Ighalo

Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, Nigeria.

Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia.

About Joshua

Joshua is a Ph.D. student at Simon Fraser University where he conducts research on portable neuroimaging methods to advance the diagnosis and monitoring of dementia.

Current Research

Accurate clinical decision-making around cognitive impairment is reliant on extensive baseline investigations (e.g., cognitive screening, diagnostic testing, and neuropsychological assessment). Still, it is required most importantly for day-to-day management. Unfortunately, existing cognitive testing options available at point-of-care have been severely limited, especially for NH residents. Cognitive screening (e.g., MMSE: mini-mental status exam) represent standard options because diagnostic imaging (e.g., MRI: magnetic resonance imaging) and neuropsychological assessment are time-consuming, expensive, and impractical for high frequency, longitudinal monitoring. Cognitive screening, however, is subjective and error-prone, with a reported misdiagnosis rate as high as 43%. Accordingly, there is a priority need for a sensitive, objective, physiological, and accessible measure of cognitive function in clinical settings such as NH environments.

Science Collaborators

We collaborate widely with distinguished and recognized partners, including universities, research labs, hospitals, health institutions, and multiple centres of excellence.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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