Learn about state-of-the-art work in Computational approaches to Precision Medicine. Talks include a focus on multi-omics, multi-modal brain imaging, electrophysiology and cognitive/clinical modelling to track disease evolution and heterogeneity.
Monday, November 4, 2019 – 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Location: Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre @ The Neuro, 3801 University St, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B4 – Wheelchair accessible.
FREE – Registration via Eventbrite. Open to university faculty, students and staff and business professionals, in Montreal and beyond, working in related area.
The workshop will comprise a series of eight (8) 30-minute talks, each followed by a 15-minute Q&A .
We are eco-conscious. Download an e-copy of the latest PDF program here.
Confirmed Speakers
Erica EM Moodie, PhD. William Dawson Scholar & Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Occupational Health; Biostatistics Graduate Program Director; and Director, McGill Health Statistics Training Network @ McGill University.
Talk: Sequential decision-making with observational data: challenges and opportunities
A biostatistician, Dr Moodie’s methodological work aims to develop reliable, reproducible, and robust tools to improve health research, with a focus on adaptive treatment strategies for precision medicine.
Sébastien Giguère, PhD. Co-Founder at InVivo AI, Montreal, Quebec
Talk: Low data models and active learning for faster convergence to drug-like compounds.
Founded in January 2018, InVivo AI is developing novel algorithms for low data drug discovery, providing the unique ability to work with the small and noisy datasets characteristic of early-stage drug discovery. Through collaborations with strategic partners, we combine proprietary disease models with our computational discovery engine to design and optimize novel drug candidates, with an initial focus on complex targets in oncology and CNS.
Yasser Iturria-Medina, PhD. Assistant Professor, Neurology and Neurosurgery; Principle Investigator, Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics & Mental Health @ McGill University
Talk: Multifactorial Brain Models for Understanding Neurodegenerative Progression and Individual Therapeutic Needs
Dr Iturria-Medina’s lab aims to define and implement multiscale and multifactorial brain models for understanding neurological disorders and identifying effective personalized interventions.
Rhalena A Thomas, PhD. Post Doctoral Researcher, the Montreal Neurological Institute @ McGill University
Talk: Can we better understand the relationship between stem cells and neurons using computational models?
Dr Thomas is developing analysis tools for human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated into neurons and 3D tissue models (“mini-brains”). She is working toward integrating transcriptional sequencing data and cell imaging data to understand the pathological processes of Parkinson’s disease.
Chris Gaiteri, PhD. Assistant Professor, Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Rush Medical College, Chicago, USA
Talk: Multiple omics and molecular systems are synchronized to brain microstructure in healthy and disease states.
Dr Gaiteri, whose research resides between computation and biology, uses several types of omics data to identify networks of molecules that are closely related to brain pathology. His research includes Alzheimer’s, depression and schizophrenia.
Alexandra L. Young, PhD. Post-Doc, Computer Science, Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, UK
Talk: Data-driven models of neurodegenerative disease progression and heterogeneity
Dr Young uses advanced computational techniques (e.g. event-based models) and multi-modal data (MRI, CSF, clinical evaluations) for identifying individual disease states and variants in heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders.
Roberto Carlos Sotero-Diaz, Phd. Associate Professor, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Canada
Talk: Design of patient-specific electrical stimulation signals for controlling brain function in neurodegenerative diseases
Dr Sotero-Diaz’s research focuses on the development and identification of computational models of brain activity (electrical, metabolic, hemodynamic) to clarify how neuroimaging (fMRI, PET, DWMRI) and Electrophysiology (EEG) signals are generated.
Etienne De Villers-Sidani, MD. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music, Montreal Neurological institute, McGill University
Talk: Functional biomarkers of plastic processes in the human and rodent sensory systems
A cognitive neurologist Dr de Villers-Sidani’s research aims to deepen understanding of brain plasticity; research includes 1) the cerebral mechanisms regulating experience-dependent plasticity, 2) the effects of aging on cortical circuits and plasticity and 3) using the principles of cerebral plasticity for the remediation of functional impairments.
Workshop organizers: Dr Yasser Iturria-Medina and the Ludmer Centre.
Sponsored by:
For more information, contact Joanne Clark at info@LudmerCentre.ca