By Sharon Gray
An intensive four-day course in stroke will draw about 50 students, post-doctoral fellows and faculty from across Canada to Memorial from July 21-24. This summer program in neuroscience (SPIN) course focuses on animal models of stroke and functional recovery in animals and humans.

The course is offered to students and post-doctoral fellows who are part of the Canadian Stroke Network, National Centres of Excellence Program. Interested students, faculty and other health professionals are welcome to attend the lectures which will be held in the main auditorium of the Health Sciences Centre. Laboratory sessions are restricted to course attendees from the Stroke Network.

Dr. Dale Corbett, Senior Canada Research Chair in Stroke and Neuroplasticity, said SPIN will consist of a series of lectures and laboratory sessions delivered by leading experts in the field. “In all cases, lecturers will participate in one or more of the laboratory sessions in which methods and procedures are demonstrated. This will result in a highly interactive learning situation. We expect this course will substantially improve the quality and breadth of research currently being done in stroke research laboratories across Canada.”

Funding for this course is provided by the Canadian Stroke Network and the New Frontiers Program. The New Frontiers Program is a joint venture between the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the CIHR Institute of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Health. There is no fee for the course and each attendee will be provided with pertinent course material in advance. For more information check the Web site www.med.mun.ca/spin/ or contact the SPIN course coordinator, Kathy McKay at kmckay@mun.ca.