In focus:
Brain health

The brain is a complex organ that develops, changes and adapts throughout our lives, while regulating every process within our bodies. Brain health shapes every aspect of who we are as individuals. At some point, disorders and diseases of the brain will touch each of our lives in some way. From nutrition, exercise and mindfulness to supporting cutting-edge research, there is so much each of us can do to promote brain health.

The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health builds on UBC’s impressive legacy of brain research and brings together experts in the fields of neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry and rehabilitation in a hub for training, research and clinical care. This community, comprised of both foundational and clinical research teams and more than 100 investigators with multidisciplinary expertise, works in productive partnerships on a local, national and international scale.

The Centre’s integrated research teams are working on:

• Brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, epilepsy)
• Mental health and addictions (addiction disorders, mood disorders, psychosis)
• Brain injury and repair (neurotrauma, stroke)
• Sensory/motor systems and movement disorders (Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS)
• Learning/memory and dementias (Neuromyelitis optica/immune-mediated brain disorders, Alzheimer’s and related dementias)

Philanthropy has provided the foundation for the Centre’s success. The state-of-the-art facility located on the UBC Vancouver campus is named in recognition of the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation’s transformational gift to brain health. Within it, 12 donor-funded research chairs and professorships, the Charles E. Fipke Integrated Neuroimaging Suite, Rudy North Lecture Theatre, Borgland Family Brain Tissue and DNA Bank and numerous awards for trainees are enabling innovation in brain health.

Please join the impactful community of donors who support research, education and training in the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. Currently, the areas of greatest need are support for:

• Integrated, interdisciplinary teams conducting foundational and clinical research
• Cutting-edge research tools and technology shared across teams

We invite you to join us in transforming health for everyone.