Guy Rouleau appointed director of The Neuro

Dear Colleagues,

 

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Guy Rouleau, MD, PhD, FRCPC, OQ, an internationally renowned clinician scientist, as the new Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital –The Neuro, effective January 1, 2013.

 

Dr. Rouleau, a pioneer in the field of neuroscience, brings exceptional leadership skills to The Neuro. We are confident that he will help create and strengthen ties with community, academic institutions and hospitals across Quebec, in Canada and around the world. An MD graduate from the University of Ottawa, Dr. Rouleau completed his PhD in genetics at Harvard University and post-graduate work at The Neuro and Massachusetts General Hospital. He has dedicated his career to advancing research and clinical care for neurological patients and to training the next generation of neuroscientists.

 

Over the last 20 years, Dr. Rouleau and his team have focused on identifying genes causing neurological and psychiatric diseases, including autism, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hereditary neuropathies, epilepsy and schizophrenia, as well as providing a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that lead to these disease symptoms. Among Dr. Rouleau’s main achievements are his contributions to the identification of over 20 disease-causing genes and his discovery of new mutational mechanisms.

 

As Neuro Director and Wilder Penfield Professor of Neuroscience, Dr. Rouleau will ensure the continued implementation of Penfield’s vision; strengthen The Neuro as a world leader in research and discovery in the neuroscience; and foster an environment of excellence in clinical care that allows for great strides in the understanding and treatment of neurological disorders and improves the lives of our patients and their families.

 

Dr. Rouleau comes to The Neuro from the Université de Montréal, where in addition to his own research laboratory, he directs the CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre, the Centre of Excellence in Neuroscience of the Université de Montréal (CENUM) and the Réseau de Médecine Génétique Appliquée du Québec. He is a recipient of many honours, including the 2012 Prix du Québec – Prix Wilder Penfield, the Henry Friesen Award andthe Margolese Prize, and he is an Officer of the Ordre national du Québec.  

 

We would like to thank Martine Alfonso and Phil Barker for serving as co-interim directors during this transition period. We are grateful for their leadership, commitment to The Neuro and hard work. Under their co-directorship, The Neuro seamlessly moved forward in conducting cutting-edge research and providing advanced compassionate care to patients.  We would also like to thank the members of the Neuro Search committee, chaired by Prof. Anthony C. Masi, Provost and Dr. Tim Meagher, Associate Director General, McGill University Health Centre, for their hard work to bring a world-class leader to the Neuro. 

 

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Guy Rouleau to our community.  

 

Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill University

Normand Rinfret, Director General and CEO, McGill University Health Centre

David Eidelman, Vice-Principal (Health Affairs) and Dean of Medicine, McGill University