The Ontario Brain Institute

A Nexus for Brain Disease Research

Dr. Donald Stuss

Unlocking the mysteries of puzzling brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism and schizophrenia has become a pressing need in the global community both economically and socially.

In Canada alone, one in four individuals will suffer from a brain disease in their lifetime and three times as many years will be lost to death and disability from brain diseases as those lost to either cancer or heart disease. While in Ontario, the economic impact of brain disease is estimated to be $39 billion annually as nearly one million Ontarians live with neurological disorders. The numbers tell a sobering tale.

Recognizing the challenges inherent in these frightening trends, the government of Ontario through its Ministry of Research and Innovation committed $15 million to launch an Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) with an early emphasis on a joint initiative with Israel. The institute was to be a virtual research centre focused on improving patient outcomes in neurodevelopmental disorders (the growing brain) and neurodegenerative diseases (the aging brain).

Almost half a year later, the OBI is solidifying its reputation as a nexus for collaborative efforts, with programs focused on bringing together Ontario’s leading scientists and clinicians drawn from the province’s universities, colleges, and hospitals together. And according to OBI president and scientific director Dr. Donald Stuss, the timing for this initiative, and its location in Ontario couldn’t be any better.

“The brain is the defining feature of humanity and there is no greater need than to minimize the effects of brain dysfunction, and maximize healthy brain abilities. Recent advances are allowing scientists for the first time to study all aspects of brain function, making possible fundamental insights into both healthy and diseased brains. Taken together, the time is right for a major new initiative in brain research and Ontario has the knowledge base, excellent scientists and experienced clinicians to lead this initiative.”

According to Dr. Stuss, Ontario’s advantage is that it already has many of the intellectual assets in neuroscience that other countries seek. For example, Ontario-based clinical investigators and basic scientists are among the world’s leaders in research for Alzheimer’s disease, deep brain stimulation, brain imaging, computational and cognitive neuroscience, neurophysiology, and medical devices to aid patients with diseases of the nervous system. Dr. Stuss adds the province is also internationally competitive in genetics, molecular neuroscience; in the creation of simple model systems of brain disease; and in the study and prevention of stroke.

“Canada is third to fifth in benchmarking indices in this field, and Ontario is the leader in Canada. So, having the heart of an international institute like this in Ontario just makes sense,” he said.

The OBI model is the catalytic hub at the centre of a constellation of projects, explained Dr. Stuss. In its current role, OBI provides funding, fosters collaboration and facilitates industry engagement.

In addition to linking the leading minds in Ontario’s 12 existing brain research centres, the Institute strives to operate on a global stage.

“The idea is to foster research collaborations across institutions and disciplines and among basic and clinical scientists while including industry as a full partner not just domestically but globally.”

Additionally, OBI is backed by a Science Advisory Council (SAC) that will advise on the most relevant and pressing questions, monitor to ensure international competitiveness, suggest international inter-relationships and review achievement of milestones. Members are internationally recognized scientific leaders in a carefully selected spectrum of disciplines relevant to the goals of the OBI, drawn from the world’s major universities.

“There is an increasing recognition that major breakthroughs in brain research will require collaborative efforts, for a true understanding of the brain will arise not from one discipline alone, but rather through experts from multiple disciplines working together. Having these international leaders on the Science Advisory Council (SAC) will bring to OBI a state-of-the-art knowledge about the science and initiatives around the world, and the successes and failures experienced by others. The OBI’s Science Advisory Council is a model that facilitates this international collaboration and breaks down silos, ensuring ever-greater gains in knowledge and clinical applications,” Dr. Stuss stated.

OBi cOmmercializatiOn mOdel

In addition to establishing integrated research projects around brain disease, OBI is also developing a model of commercialization by including industry in very early stages of discovery, creating an opportunity for scientists to focus on research and industry to be involved early enough in the process to discover potential products.

An Industry Advisory Council (IAC) has been developed to provide valuable insight to commercialization pathways and realities associated with academic research. According to Dr. Stuss, the large multinationals the OBI has engaged to have representation on its Industry Advisory Council (IAC) include Pfizer, GSK, IBM, Medtronic with strong interest from Eli Lilly, Valeant (Biovail), Siemens and GE Healthcare. The OBI also has representation from SMEs such

as Neuraxon, BKIN Technologies and HTx. The terms of reference for the IAC emphasize a committee responsibility that focuses on the goals of OBI, clearly extending beyond interests of members’ own companies.

The OBI, with the assistance of the IAC, will also engage industry through company participation in its workshops that will determine the first OBI-funded projects and also, through its affiliation with the upcoming Ontario-Israel Roundtable that encourages global company-to-company partnerships.

“This is a good example of the catalyst role the OBI can play. The OBI will not develop its own patents and licensing nor will it decide what to commercialize. The early involvement of industry in our model provides this opportunity directly to industry, minimizing several layers of engagement. The objective is to develop several levels of neuroscience industry, from SMEs to large multi-nationals, with job creation as a major objective.

To ensure maximum science/industry collaboration, the chairs of each council will serve ex-officio on the other council.

prOject determinatiOn

In February and March 2011, Dr. Stuss met with more than 250 brain researchers in universities and hospitals across Ontario and was impressed to learn of the excellent and exciting research taking place. Following those meetings, OBI began the process of developing initial strategic research projects according to the following principles: Enhance Ontario’s excellence in brain research, especially in areas of strategic importance and impact; integrate across disciplines and institutions; address significant neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental brain conditions; focus on clinical translation to improve diagnosis and treatment; and interface seamlessly with industry.

OBI has since issued a call for proposals for planned workshops to determine which projects will receive precedence. The goal explained Dr. Stuss, is to shape a potential integrated research project on each workshop’s particular theme.

“Preferred projects would have to maximize scientific, health and economic returns, represent the best science from across Ontario, maximize use of existing assets (scientific platforms, expertise), integrate research with clinical practice and industry receptors and focus on neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental disorders,” he said.

The OBI Board of directors, with advice from the Science Advisory Council and the Industry Advisory Council, will use these criteria to choose the initial Integrated Discovery System proposals based on the ideas put forward by Ontario’s brain science community.

“The process has been bottom-up, with ideas suggested by the scientists doing the research on relevant brain disorders. We have also involved discussion and consultation with patients and families with significant brain disorders through the neurological and mental health charities. Thus far we have received 32 proposals. In all, it is expected that 2-3 projects will be approved for funding. These are the initial steps in the development of OBI, working within the budget provided. In later years, other types of brain disorders will be included,” said Dr. Stuss.