The appointment of two accomplished researchers strengthens Epilepsy Canada

Epilepsy Canada is proud to announce the appointment of two leading epilepsy researchers to its Board of Directors. Michael O. Poulter Ph.D. and Morris H. Scantlebury M.D., diplomate ABPN, CSCN (EEG) join the Board and assume duties immediately.

In making the announcement, Chairman Jacques Brunelle said, “The appointment of these two esteemed gentleman is indicative of our intention to position Epilepsy Canada to take on larger research funding challenges in the future.”

Michael Poulter is Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Roberts Research, Wester University. He obtained his B.Sc. in Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia in 1985 and then obtained a Ph.D. (Pharmacology) at McGill University in 1990. He was awarded a Fogarty International Fellowship to do post-doctoral training at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, U.S.A. in 1990. In 1992 he obtained an International Fellowship and moved to Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg France.

In 1995, he returned to Canada to establish his own research laboratory at National Research Council in Ottawa and subsequently moved to the Institute for Neuroscience at Carleton University in 2001, becoming head of the institute in 2003. In 2006 Dr Poulter moved to the Robarts Research Institute in London Ontario, taking up a position as a scientist while being cross appointed to the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at UWO, as Professor. While at the NRC, Dr Poulter was also supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada and since 2002, has had support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council. He also currently holds funding from the Ontario Brain Institute (Epilepsy Research Group) and a grant focused on seizures in those with fetal alcohol syndrome (with Peter Carlen, P.I.).In the past he has received grants from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (2001 and 2007). In 2008, he obtained a NARSAD investigator award from the National Association for Research into Schizophrenia and Depression (U.S.A). Professor Poulter has served on many review bodies including the MRC of Canada, CIHR, NSF (USA), NIH (USA), NSF (Israel) and the ESF (Europe) and recently he has assisted with Grant Reviews for Epilepsy Canada. He is currently a field editor for Frontiers in Science journals (Lausanne, Switzerland). He was an associate editor for the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences (2007-2014). He helped found the Canadian Epilepsy Research Initiative (CERI) and was president of CERI from 2009-2014.

Dr Poulter’s research is primarily focused on the underlying mechanisms of epilepsy and major depressive disorder. His runs a multi-disciplinary research lab that encompasses a “molecules to systems” approach that seeks to understand how complex neurological disorders arise and may be treated. He is the author of over 65 peer reviewed articles and book chapters and reviews.

Dr. Morris Scantlebury is an assistant professor in the Departments of Paediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary. He also is a paediatric neurologist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary and is a member of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute for child and maternal health with a lab in the developmental epilepsy research program. Dr Scantlebury has a broad background in pediatric epilepsy research, specifically in the development and characterization of animal models of pediatric epilepsy syndromes.

He pursued postdoctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr Lionel Carmant in Montreal, where he developed a model of atypical febrile seizures induced in rats with a prior neocortical freeze lesion. These studies were supported by a CIHR/Epilepsy Canada fellowship and he was recognized for this research with several awards including an American Epilepsy Society Award for Excellence in Pediatric Epilepsy Research in addition to the AES young investigator award.

Dr Scantlebury’s current research focuses on the validation and optimization of the ketogenic diet in the animal models of infantile spasms and to rapidly translate his results to clinical practice. These studies are currently being funded by the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Scantlebury is excited to see what the data will show and intends to use the knowledge gained from these studies to develop safer, less toxic treatments for infantile spasms.

The new directors join: Jacques Brunelle Chairman, Gary N. Collins President, and Dr Michelle Demos of BC Children’s Hospital, Treasurer Brian M. Galloway, CFP, FCGA and John E. Goodman of Buscemi, Goodman, Legault Inc.

Epilepsy Canada is a non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the quality of life for persons affected by the neurological disorder. It promotes the support of research and facilitates education and awareness initiatives that build understanding and acceptance of epilepsy. Founded in 1966, Epilepsy Canada has a legacy of continuous support for epilepsy research.