Publication overview

Research center

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, Canada

University of British Columbia

About the center

“Why have I been diagnosed with ALS when so many other people have not?” This is an all-too-common question of people living with the devastation of an ALS diagnosis, and the ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) wants to help answer it. We are leading Canada’s fundraising efforts for Project MinE to support the sequencing of up to 1,000 Canadian genomes.

As a national organization responsible for the ALS Canada Research Program, we aim to accelerate research impact through a comprehensive national program focused on translating scientific discoveries into treatments for ALS and fostering Canada’s strong and networked ALS research community to build capacity and collaboration. Support for the ALS Canada Research Program is made possible by the generosity of donors, ALS Societies across Canada, Brain Canada and the federal government’s Canada Brain Research Fund.

The Canadian component of Project MinE brings together four of Canada’s leading ALS geneticists in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City for their first ever cross-country collaboration. Each has led or been part of international consortia that have resulted in some of the most important genetic discoveries in the field. They also represent a geographical balance that provides a collaborative set of Canadian samples representative of ALS cases across the country.

Ian Mackenzie

Professor

University of British Columbia. Staff Neuropathologist, Vancouver Coastal Health. Consultant Neuropathologist, BC Cancer Agency.

Ian Mackenzie

Professor

Dr. Mackenzie is Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at The University of British Columbia, Consultant Neuropathologist of Vancouver Acute and BC Cancer Agency, and Head of the Neuropathology Division at Vancouver Acute.

Dr. Mackenzie has broad expertise in neuropathology and the use of brain tissue banks in the care of patients with neurological disorders. His research program centers on neuropathology and the molecular genetics of neurodegenerative disease, particularly dementias. He is currently the Canadian representative to the International Society of Neuropathology and is an editorial board member for a number of neuropathology journals.