THE NEURO RECOVERY LAB
Studying Spinal Cord Injury and Plasticity at the University of Alberta
APRIL 2024
CANADIAN SCI RESEARCH MEETING 2024
In the serene backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains, Banff, Alberta, played host to a remarkable gathering of Canada's leading minds in spinal cord research. With generous support from the University of Alberta, Wings for Life Foundation, Craig Nielsen Foundation, Restore Network and the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, from April 17th to April 19th, over a 100 participants congregated to share their latest research and foster collaboration in the quest to unlock new frontiers in spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment.
DECEMBER 2023
FESTIVE POTLUCK
Once again, the Fouad & Fenrich lab came together to celebrate their cherished annual holiday gathering. This year's festivity was a testament to the diverse talents and flavors within the group, a delicious potluck featuring chili, sarma, rugelach, and an abundance of other delectable dishes. It was another joyful and memorable occasion for all! Happy Holidays!
OCTOBER 2023
PLEASE JOIN US!
Registration is now open for the 2024 Canadian Spinal Cord Injury Meeting (CSCIM24) from
April 17-19, 2024 at the Banff Center Hotel in beautiful Banff, Alberta.
For more information and to register for the meeting please visit here. Registration deadline is January 31, 2024.
SEPTEMBER 2023
A SIZZLING WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!
It’s an exciting time of the year again when we fire up the grill and gather ‘round to celebrate achievements and welcome some fantastic new additions to our lab family. A warm and hearty welcome to Kale, Jenn, Vaagish and Jacqueline!
Kale joins us from Grant MacEwan University with a specialization in behavioural neuroscience. His academic journey has equipped him with a strong foundation in neuroscience, making him a perfect fit for our team ‘s ongoing projects.
Next on the list is the newest addition to our lab tech squad, Jenn. She’s armed with a treasure trove of experience and an undeniable dedication that’s already making a significant impact.
Finally, we have the newest undergrads, Vaagish and Jacqueline! Their energy and enthusiasm are like a breath of fresh lab air.
With our dynamic new recruits and trusty old lab warriors, we are excited for the semester ahead!
WONDERFUL NEWS!
We are delighted to extend our warmest congratulations to Antoinette on the birth of her baby boy. May this new journey be filled with countless moments of laughter, love, and unforgettable memories.
NEW FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT: Congrats to Dr. Fenrich on his new funding from the Craig H. Nielsen Foundation for a new project that will be using optogenetics to target sensory afferents to promote recovery after spinal cord injury.
AUGUST 2023
MAY 2023
WELCOME SUMMER 2023 STUDENTS!
Four talented undergraduate students joined us this month.
Our warmest welcome goes to Hannah Farbin, Reese Lewatsky, Areez Lakhmi, and Anakin Gill, who are all studying at U of A. Hannah, Reese, and Areez are pursuing the Neuroscience Honors program, while Anakin is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. We are eager to see all the amazing things they will discover in the lab.
LET THE MEETINGS BEGIN!
The team attended the esteemed American Spinal Injury Association, ASIA, meeting held in Atlanta. One of the highlights of the event was a captivating keynote lecture delivered by Dr. Fouad. In addition, our data Guru, Dr. Torres Espin hosted an ODC-SCI workshop to assist researchers with the new Data Management and Sharing mandates.
Few days later, the team attended the International Symposium for Neuronal Regeneration, ISNR, in beautiful Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, WA. Next up is the Wings for Life Scientific Meeting in Austria!
APRIL 2023
NEW FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT!
Congrats to Dr. Fouad on his new funding from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for the exciting new project in research data curation and sharing!
MARCH 2023
JANUARY 2023
WELCOME TO THE LAB, AYSHA!
We are thrilled to have you join us all the way from Pakistan to pursue your Ph.D in the Fenrich Lab. Aysha's extensive experience in physical therapy will undoubtedly be a valuable asset as she works on her project exploring the optogenetics in the CNS and the effects on functional recovery.
We wish you all the best as you begin this next chapter of your academic journey with us.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Holliday party of the Fouad & Fenrich lab on a cold winter night. Dinner was Raclette, which was a wise choice as it helped heat the house. Everybody had fun, especially as no poems were required this year. Unfortunately, Antoinette could not help it and made a Haiku for everybody anyway.
DECEMBER 2022
July 2022
WE WILL MISS OUR PAM!
We are saying goodbye to the heart of the lab. All the best for your future Pamela, and welcome to the heart transplant :)
July 2022
FOUAD LAB AT THE CANADIAN SCI MEETING
The Canadian Spinal Cord Injury meeting in Winnipeg! We had a lot of fun and were all happy to see each other person again. Great organization by Soheila Karimi.
May 2022
LET THERE BE CAKE!
Jaison Cucarian, a Physical therapist with a passion for neuro-rehabilitative sciences has joined our group. It is a delight to have him on our team and we can’t wait to learn about his background experiences in Columbia and Brazil. Welcome Jaison!As spring summer term takes off, we also want to welcome Brooklynn Nelson. She is bright, enthusiastic and keen on learning new techniques with us this summer. Our renewed tissue processing lab encourages a culture of collaboration. Covid-19 has taught us how important it is to consider compartmentalization and adaptability of lab spaces. The demand for lab spaces is on the rise therefore our renewed lab space is another example of the synergy to be more flexible and productive with our time in the lab.
January 2022
WELCOME!
A big warm welcome to Antoinette Nguyen and Edward Armstrong to the Fouad Team! As we start the new year and new projects we are excited to have our team grow! Check out the "About us" section for more information about our team members.