Neuroscience Symposium 2024

Join us for a compelling keynote, dynamic research presentations, and a chance to meet or reconnect with neuroscience colleagues at Neuroscience Symposium 2024!

In addition to a keynote presentation by Dr. Caroline Ménard (PhD), this full-day event will also include:

• presentations by Saskatchewan neuroscience researchers;
• presentations from the next generation of researchers (MSc and PhD candidates as well as post-doctoral researchers); and
• a poster session.

Registration is required to attend this free event. Breakfast, coffee, and a lunch in Marquis Hall will be provided. Seating is limited. Preference will be given to those submitting a research abstract.

For those interested in submitting a neuroscience research poster and learning about format details — or for more information about the symposium — please contact [email protected].

Neurovascular adaptations underlie stress vulnerability vs resilience in mice and human depression

ABSTRACT: Dr Ménard’s group is investigating the biological mechanisms underlying stress vulnerability vs resilience in order to develop treatments and identify biomarkers of mood disorders. Projects involve techniques ranging from behavioral experiments through to functional, cellular, molecular, and imaging studies and state-of-the-art photonic technology. Findings are then validated in human samples. We showed that chronic stress exposure promotes blood-brain barrier hyperpermeability leading to passage of circulating inflammatory mediators into the brain and the establishment of depressive behaviors. These changes are sex-specific, which may contribute to sex differences in depression prevalence, symptoms and treatment responses.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dr. Ménard is an associate professor with the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Université Laval. She established her laboratory at the CERVO Brain Research Center in 2018 and has since been awarded more than $13 million in research funds with more than $5 million as principal investigator. She has published 67 research articles, many in top-tier journals, and has trained 10 PhD and 14 MSc.

Her research has been recognized by New/Young Investigator awards from CAN, CCNP, BBRF/NARSAD, and FRQS, and she previously held the Sentinel North Research Chair on the Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience (Canada First Research Excellence Fund).

Dr. Ménard will be available for meetings on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Event Venue

University of Saskatchewan, GSA Commons, 1337 College Dr. Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Canada