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Lawson associate scientist Dr. Lena Palaniyappan has won the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology (CCNP)’s 2017 Young Investigator Award for outstanding contributions to the field of neuropsychopharmacology.

The Young Investigator Award is given for basic research or clinical research in alternating years. This year’s award was presented for clinical research. Scientists who have completed their post-doctoral or residency training 10 years ago or less are considered for the award.

Dr. Palaniyappan uses neuroimaging tools to study the processes that operate in the brain when patients experience symptoms of mental illness, including psychosis – repeated voices or visions (hallucinations) and disturbing thoughts (delusions). For many patients, it is not possible to prevent psychosis or reverse the condition fully. Through their research, Dr. Palaniyappan and his team are working to fully characterize the illness and create new treatments.

Recently he led a study that showed it is possible to use information from the brain’s connectivity maps to alter the chemistry of selected brain regions. The hope is that this approach can be used to target precise areas of dysfunction rather than altering the properties of the entire brain to treat psychiatric symptoms.

“Receiving this award highlights the importance of brain imaging in discovering new therapies for brain-based disorders,” says Dr. Palaniyappan. “I feel very inspired looking at the achievements of past recipients as many of them have gone on to change how we think about the brain and mind.”

Dr. Palaniyappan is the medical director of the Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP), a community-focused mental health program located at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). He is also an associate professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

“With the increasing sophistication of tools to understand the mysteries of the human brain and the world-renowned expertise available in London, there has never been a better time to study psychiatric disorders,” adds Dr. Palaniyappan. “I hope we will soon be able to use brain scans to provide patient-specific information on prognosis and monitor the effects of treatments.”

Captain (Navy) Dr. Raymond Kao, a Lawson associate scientist, has been awarded the 2017 John McCrae Memorial Medal by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

Dr. Kao has served in various military units as a Medical Officer since 1991 and has been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces since 1977. He has served in Africa and the Middle East. In 2013, Dr. Kao was named Canada’s first Chair in Military Critical Care Research. A major focus of his research has been on improving military trauma care and developing treatments that can be brought to the battle field.

The John McCrae Memorial Medal from the CMA recognizes clinical health services personnel of the Canadian Forces who perform exemplary service and demonstrate compassion, self-sacrifice or innovation beyond the call of duty to benefit the health or welfare of fellow military personnel or civilian populations.

“Receiving this honour is very humbling because one does not achieve anything without the help of others. My work would not be possible without the support of and collaboration with other researchers. This award represents the efforts of all the military physicians and surgeons, nurses, medical technicians, allied health care providers and physicians’ assistants on my deployments who have worked to provide excellent care,” says Dr. Kao, who is also the senior critical care advisor to the Surgeon General, a critical care physician at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), and an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

In 2014, Dr. Kao was part of a military medical team sent to Sierra Leone to help combat the Ebola epidemic. He provided care to affected health care workers and studied prognostic factors to help improve care in future epidemics.

He is currently studying the use of C-Peptide to improve organ dysfunction after traumatic hemorrhagic shock caused by blunt or penetrating trauma. Hemorrhagic shock is treated with fluid resuscitation, or fluid replacement, which can also put stress on the organs. His recent studies have shown that C-Peptide, an insulin connecting protein, has the potential to reduce gut injury and lung inflammation from hemorrhagic shock and fluid resuscitation.

Dr. Kao is also widely recognized for his research on erythropoietin, a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells and, in turn, haemoglobin. He found that when combined with saline, erythropoietin can improve blood flow and tissue oxygen usage after an injury. Erythropoietin can easily be administered through a syringe and can be used to help stabilize wounded soldiers in the battlefield.

Congratulations to Dr. Ting-Yim Lee who was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General of Canada. He was recognized for his development of CT Perfusion to measure blood flow in the body which has transformed the way stroke is assessed and treated around the globe.

The Civil Division Cross recognizes a deed or an activity that has been performed in an outstandingly professional manner, or with uncommonly high standards; the activity is often innovative, sets an example for others to follow, improves the quality of life of a community and brings considerable benefit or honour to Canada.

Dr. Lee, a scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute and Medical Physicist at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, as well as professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and scientist at Robarts Research Institute, fits the bill perfectly. Through his research program, Dr. Lee pioneered the development of CT Perfusion technology which is compatible with existing CT scanners and uses X-ray dye to assist doctors in assessing blood flow in the event of stroke.

The technology is now in use in more than 8,000 hospital imaging departments worldwide and has drastically improved patient care.

“I am humbled by this award. The work I’ve accomplished would not have been possible without the support of the institutions and collaboration of colleagues too many to name and the tireless effort of all members of my lab: graduate students, fellows, technicians and assistants,” said Dr. Lee. “I am really happy that this work has been found to help patient care. It gives me impetus to continue to search for new innovations that would benefit patients.”

The Meritorious Service Decorations recognize Canadians for exceptional deeds that bring honour to the country. The cross was originally created in 1984 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for members of the military. In 1991, both the cross and medal were introduced for civilians to recognize remarkable contributions in many different fields including advocacy initiatives and health care services, to research and humanitarian efforts.

The recipients of the awards were announced by Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, and will be presented at an official ceremony later this year.

World-renowned brain researcher, Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, is named as this year’s recipient of the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) F.N.G. Starr Award for his contributions in stroke research and patient care. This prestigious award is the highest available to CMA members and is intended to recognize outstanding and inspiring lifetime achievement.

Dr. Hachinski, Lawson Scientist and Neurologist at London Health Sciences Centre is the co-founder of the world’s first successful stroke unit. Two earlier centres in the United States were deemed unsuccessful and eventually closed. Dr. Hachinski and his colleague, Dr. John W. Norris, applied their knowledge and fresh perspectives, and opened a stroke centre at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, in 1975.

“We had a tremendous team of volunteer nurses, physiotherapists and other professionals who were very keen to have an impact,” explains Dr. Hachinski. “We implemented the A, B, C, protocol which focused on Accurate diagnosis, Balance and homeostasis in the patient’s physiology, and avoiding Complication. Dr. Josephine Somerville pioneered early rehabilitation in the stroke unit.”

At the time, stroke was still commonly misunderstood in medicine, until Dr. Hachinski coined the term “brain attack” in 1993, describing the similarities in urgency of strokes and heart attacks.

Realizing the success of their protocols on stroke patients, Dr. Hachinski and his colleagues also noticed improved outcomes for dementia rates in the stroke patients they saw. There is still no treatment for dementia, however they were confident they could delay onset through similar stroke prevention and treatment protocols.

After several studies on both animal models and humans, Dr. David Cechetto from Western University and Dr. Hachinski discovered that the region of the brain, known as the insula, is involved in regulating the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems - evidence that there is an important connection in how the brain impacts the heart.

Today there are several stroke centres operating in Ontario. “We were able to prove that our model was successful at improving the lives of stroke patients, so the government facilitated the opening of these centres across the province. We can now say that we have improved outcomes not just for individuals, but at a population level, where public health policy has its true impact,” says Dr. Hachinski.

Currently Dr. Hachinski and his team are seeking funding for a nation-wide study to examine stroke and dementia outcomes across the country, including how several environmental factors play a role in the development of stroke and dementia with the aim of preventing both. “Since this research is multi-disciplinary, it is challenging to find a funding agency as most of them tend to invest in very specific fields of research,” he explains. “We are hopeful that someone will recognize the importance of this research, and we will be able to move forward with our study.”

“I am extremely appreciative and proud to be recognized with the F.N.G. Starr Award, however I am just the face of this honour. Behind me stands an amazing team. I feel that my greatest strength is to recognize and work with talent.”