McGill attracts prominent American scientist as new director of the Montreal Neurological Institute
After a worldwide search, the renowned Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) of McGill University has a new director, David R. Colman, Ph.D., a prominent U.S. scientist recruited from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr. Colman will hold the Wilder Penfield Chair in Neuroscience as Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill. Approved by the Executive of the Board of Governors today, the appointment takes effect September 1, 2002. Dr. Colman will visit Montreal frequently between now and then.
Principal Bernard Shapiro praises Dr. Colman as a man of great vision, who intends to work with his new colleagues not only at McGill but also at the many other neuroscience centres in the city to make Montreal "the neuroscience capital of the world." Principal Shapiro states, "He has a compelling concept of the future and is determined to build on the MNI's strengths to advance neuroscience and patient care in this city. I am grateful to The Canadian Institute for Health Research and The Canada Research Chairs program for their support of this important recruitment."
Led by the Dean of Medicine, Abraham Fuks, the search committee conducted a global search to fill the MNI position. "We interviewed a number of immensely well-qualified candidates and we strongly believe that Dr. Colman is the right individual to lead Canada's premier neuroscience institute into the new century. He has an outstanding international reputation as a scientist, and it is a real coup for McGill University and our city to have attracted him and his family to join us," says Dean Fuks.
Dr. Colman has made landmark discoveries in the understanding of nerve cell development and regeneration and in how these cells communicate with each other. He comments, "One of the many reasons why I am delighted to join the MNI is that it has faithfully pursued the original vision framed by Dr. Penfield almost 70 years ago. The MNI is a place where clinicians and basic scientists work naturally side-by-side to advance the understanding and treatment of neurological disorders. It is through this kind of cooperative model that we will continue making the important discoveries that command the world's attention, and which dramatically improve the way we deliver patient care."
Distinguished investigator Dr. Albert Aguayo, of the McGill Centre for Research in Neuroscience, enthusiastically welcomes Dr. Colman's appointment. "He has a very active research program and a profound commitment to mentoring young scientists."
David Colman is currently the Annenberg Professor of Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, as well as the Vice-Chairman for Research in the Department of Neurology and the Scientific Director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Mount Sinai. A member of the editorial boards of major scientific journals in the field of neuroscience, he also serves on the scientific boards of several international foundations and societies dedicated to finding cures for nervous system diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease.
Dr. Colman will bring to Montreal several postdoctoral fellows and students as well as United States-based research grants totaling well over 1 million dollars US per year. His laboratory focuses on problems related to diseases that affect myelination, nerve cell development and regeneration, as well as spinal cord injury.
