Leadership

At the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, neurological and psychiatry scientists and doctors will have the opportunity to work side by side to better understand how the healthy brain changes in form and function, resulting in brain diseases and disorders, and how to treat and prevent these changes. This initiative is being led by Drs. Max Cynader, Jon Stoessl, and Lakshmi Yatham. 

 

Max S. Cynader, CM, OBC, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS

Director, Brain Research Centre

Director, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

Professor, UBC Department of Ophthalmology

Canada Research Chair in Brain Development

 

Dr. Max Cynader’s research focuses on the nature of the processing performed by the cerebral cortex, especially the sensory cortices dealing  with vision and audition, and on the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying the development and adaptability of the cortex. He has made important contributions to understanding the mechanisms by which early use or misuse of the brain affects its functioning for the rest of the organism’s life.

 

Dr. Cynader is the author of more than 200 articles published in scientific journals, has presented more than 350 papers at national and international scientific meetings, and is  the holder of several patents. He has received many honours during his career, including the Order of Canada (2008), Order of British Columbia (2007), the Researcher of the Year award from Life Sciences BC (2007), the Science and Technology Champion award by Innovation BC (2004), Gold Medal in Health Sciences (1995), Killam Research Prize (1981), and E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship (1979), among others.

 

 

A. Jon Stoessl, CM, MD, FRCPC, FAAN, FCAHS

Director & Clinician, Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre, UBC Hospital

Professor & Head, Division of Neurology, UBC

Canada Research Chair in Parkinson’s Disease

 

Dr. A. Jon Stoessl investigates the cause and effects of Parkinson’s disease on the brain via new imaging technology. Dr. Stoessl’s innovative work with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has revealed major developments. Using this technology, he discovered a formerly unknown mechanism in the brain that tries to compensate for the damage done by Parkinson's. 

 

Dr. Stoessl has received numerous awards and honours, including a Career Scientist Award (1989-1996), the Best Doctors Award (1996, 2007), the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), and the Order of Canada (2007), among others. He has published more than 220 papers and book chapters; sits on the scientific advisory boards of the Parkinson Foundation of Canada, Tourette Syndrome Association, and Huntington Society of Canada; and participates in several other journal editorial boards and research committees.

 

 

Lakshmi Yatham, MBBS, FRCPC, MRCPsych (UK) 

Director & Clinician, Mood Disorders Centre, UBC Hospital

Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UBC

Vice Chair for Research and International Affairs, UBC

 

Dr. Lakshmi Yatham investigates the neurobiology and treatment of bipolar disorder and major depression. Dr. Yatham leads a Canadian consortium on bipolar disorder, which is currently pursuing testing of new treatments for bipolar disorder using pragmatic and controlled trials with substantial funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He co-led the development of Canadian guidelines for treatment of bipolar disorder in 1997 and his group revised the guidelines for 2005 with international commentaries.

 

Dr. Yatham has received a number of awards during his career including the Michael Smith Foundation Senior Scholar Award, Mogen Schou Award for international education and advocacy on bipolar disorder, and the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology Medal. He has published over 180 papers in peer-reviewed international journals, has presented his research work at numerous international conferences, and is Chair of the Bipolar Group of the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments. He also sits on the editorial boards of a number of journals including Bipolar Disorders, World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, and Human Psychopharmacology.