This year The Neuro launched into its latest decade of combining neurological disease treatment with cutting-edge research. After celebrating the ninetieth anniversary in 2024, the hospital-institute recognized the present while preparing for the future.
Celebrating 90 years
The halls of The Neuro were updated with a new photographic exhibit, depicting its staff, clinicians and scientists in action treating patients and conducting research. Photographer Stephan Ballard鈥檚 work, entitled 鈥�The Neuro at 90鈥�, documents life at the institute-hospital, mixing the worlds of the clinic and laboratory as The Neuro combines cutting-edge science and healthcare under one roof. There was also a day-long symposium to highlight some of the most exciting research happening at The Neuro right now.
Looking to the future
As part of a major awareness effort on the future of The Neuro, Dr. Guy Rouleau, The Neuro鈥檚 director, wrote an op-ed in outlining why he feels a two-phased relocation to the MUHC鈥檚 Glen site is essential. He envisions a next-generation neuroscience hub in Montreal that brings together research, artificial intelligence, and personalized medicine to accelerate discovery and improve patient care.
The end of a successful campaign
The Neuro concluded its biggest fundraising campaign ever in 2025, with a total of $204 million raised for disease research and treatment. The Brains Need Open Minds campaign beat its target of $200 million, and has fueled innovative research, ultimately impacting the lives of people with neurological disease.
Putting research to work for patients
The Neuro鈥檚 scientists made many important discoveries this year, which will have future benefits for patients. Trials run by The Neuro鈥檚 are improving how we measure multiple sclerosis progression and manage difficult symptoms. A study from the lab of Dr. Maiya Geddes found what factors influence if patients improve their exercise routines after a cardiovascular diagnosis, which might help tailor future interventions. Another by neuroscientists Stuart Trenholm and Adrien Peyrache shows how visual landmarks tune the brain鈥檚 internal compass, which might explain why people with dementia and Alzheimer鈥檚 often lose track of where they are.
Also this year, Dr. Kevin Petrecca demonstrated 厂贰狈罢搁驰鈩�, an AI-guided probe that detects cancer cells with extreme accuracy.
More Open Science milestones
The scientific progress made at The Neuro is amplified by its continued commitment to Open Science: the sharing of data and tools with researchers worldwide. This year The Neuro鈥檚 Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI) expanded its network of Open Science organizations, welcoming Simon Fraser University, the first university to sign on at the institutional level, and the Research Centre of the Institut universitaire de g茅riatrie de Montr茅al
Awards and recognitions
Several Neuro faculty members received recognition of their career achievements this year. Neuroscientist Alan Evans was awarded the Order of Canada for his lifetime of research in brain imaging. Five doctors and scientists-Heather Durham, Ron Postuma, Heidi McBride, Angela Genge, and Guy Rouleau, received King Charles III Coronation Medal鈥檚 for the contributions to the country. Dr. Rouleau also received from the Acad茅mie des sciences in France for his research into the genetics of mental illness.
