Program abstracts

Steffany A.L. Bennett

Professor & University Research Chair in Neurolipidomics, Neural Regeneration Laboratory, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa

To date, pharmacological management of dementia has not considered sex-sensitive and ethnicity-sensitive treatment. More importantly, cause-directed clinical trials seeking to delay dementia onset have not considered the heterogeneity of dementia, specifically the intersection of sex, age, and ethnicity on dementia progression. For example, 40% of people with Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia (PDD) are women. Yet even though this is almost half of all PD associated dementias, the disease management therapies are focused with men in mind. We know that women’s PDD is different, and women respond to current disease management therapies differently. To identify defining metabolic differences, we used unbiased lipidomic approaches employing nanobore high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-ESI-MS/MS) coupled to ion mobility and novel bioinformatic pathway and machine learning-based approaches to map sex-specific network disruptions underlying this risk. We quantified and characterized the phospholipid and sphingolipid compositions differentially disrupted in plasma, CSF, and brain of PD and PD with dementia (PDD) patients. We identified defining changes in metabolism that discriminated cognitively normal controls from PD and PDD. We further demonstrate that these metabolic changes likely necessitate different therapeutic approaches in women and men facing genetic risk of PD and PDD.

Kate de Medeiros

Professor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Concordia University

“Narrative health” considers how experiences of health and illness are conveyed through personal (individual) and cultural (group or societal level) stories. Personal narratives can range from “big stories” such as grand life narratives to small stories which capture snippets of time. Cultural narratives include the plotlines and metaphors that shape what types of stories are told about a given experience (e.g., battling cancer.) In this talk I will consider what stories reveal including how personal and cultural health narratives shape our understanding of various conditions. I’ll discuss the notion of narrative care, or the ways that stories can heal, as well as narrative foreclosure, which is the belief that one’s living story has ended. I will also address an often-overlooked aspect of narrative which is what stories may conceal. This includes examining what stories can be told and why, what stories get silenced, who gets to tell a story and why, and what stories exist in the shadows of dominant plots. Overall, I will consider the potential strengths and limits of stories and advocate for more expansive ways of understanding how experiences of health and illness are storied.

Martijn Spruit

Professor, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Pulmonologie, Maastricht University

Despite optimal medical treatment, many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from daily symptoms, including dyspnea and fatigue. Indeed, many patients with COPD have multiple extra-pulmonary and behavioral treatable traits that are not treated by the current respiratory pharmacotherapy. Therefore, assessment has to go beyond pulmonary function testing, and treatment should be personalized and focused on the different treatable traits present, as is done in pulmonary rehabilitation programs. In his lecture, prof. Martijn Spruit will discuss the essential role of center-based pulmonary rehabilitation as part of COPD care, its challenges, and a look into the future.

Nicole Alberts

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Concordia University

Exposure to cancer-directed therapies in childhood often results in medical and psychological late effects, including clinically significant pain. Despite this, pain, and in particular chronic pain, remains understudied relative to other late effects. The primary aim of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic pain, associated interference, and daily pain experiences among long-term survivors of childhood cancer. Survivors (N=233; mean age=40.8 years, range 22-64; mean time since diagnosis=32.7 years) from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study completed pain and psychosocial measures. Survivors with chronic pain also completed 2-week, daily measures assessing pain and psychological symptoms using mHealth-based ecological momentary assessment. Ninety-six (41%) survivors reported chronic pain, of whom 23 (24%) had severe interference. Sociodemographic, treatment, health, and psychological factors were associated with increased risk of chronic pain and pain interference among survivors. For male, but not female, survivors low sleep quality, elevated anxiety, and elevated depression predicted high pain intensity and interference the next day. Study findings suggest a substantial proportion of childhood cancer survivors experience chronic pain and significant associated interference. Given these findings, chronic pain should be routinely evaluated, and interventions are needed.

Brandon Findlay

Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia university

Antibiotics significantly reduce morbidity and mortality from infection, immunosuppressant therapy, and invasive surgery. Unfortunately, the use of antibiotics imposes a strong selective pressure on both environmental and pathogenic bacteria. Despite early interventions designed to curtail pathogen evolution, antibiotic-resistant pathogens have appeared following the introduction of every new antibiotic class.

In this presentation I will present recent advances in my lab, as we attempt to determine the features that underpin the evolution of antibiotic resistance. In particular, have found that cells resistant to chloramphenicol have difficulty evolving resistance to streptomycin in when grown in soft agar gradient evolution (SAGE) plates. This effect appears to be linked to the high fitness cost of mutations that confer resistance to chloramphenicol, which comes through the upregulation of costly efflux pumps. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that when fitness is improved through the passage of cells through soft agar plates containing a constant concentration of chloramphenicol the rate of adaptation to streptomycin increases. Overall, this suggests that a window of opportunity exists , where cells that have had their fitness reduced by resistance-conferring mutations will struggle to evolve resistance to a second antibiotic.

Claudine Gauthier

Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Concordia University

Cerebral vascular and metabolic health declines in aging and in diseases of aging such as coronary artery disease. Imaging studies have typically focused on structural markers of brain integrity, but MRI is a versatile tool that can be used to measure many aspects of vascular health, metabolism and microstructure. I will discuss some of our recent findings on how heart disease affects the brain and how exercise can be used to improve cerebral health.

Matthew Gardner

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Concordia University

We are constantly faced with choices, from picking what to eat to deciding which route to take to work. These choices involve understanding and weighing the different available options in order to make a decision. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) has been implicated as a critical region in the decision process with OFC neural activity correlating with the value of different options. We have recently causally tested this theory using precisely timed optogenetic inactivation of OFC, and we have shown that the OFC is critical for value-based decisions specifically when decisions are made for the first time, or when the outcome value has changed.

Golshad Ghojoghi

PhD Ccandidate, Department of Chemical Engineering, Concordia University

CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36) scavenger receptor binds to a diverse array of ligands and is involved in many diseases including age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer. Experimental findings demonstrate that phosphorylation at Thr92 and Ser237 in CD36 extracellular domain modulates its ligand binding affinity and fatty acid uptake. The structural basis for the change in CD36 function upon phosphorylation is currently unknown. In this study, we characterized the structural ensembles of CD36 in phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms using atomistic simulations. Through time-lagged independent component analysis (TICA), we identified two loop regions spanning residues 121-131 and residues 296-331, that show significant dynamic changes upon phosphorylation. Markov state model (MSM) analysis of these regions showed that phosphorylation changes the conformational landscape of CD36. The loop comprising residues 296-331 explores two new conformational states upon phosphorylation which are inaccessible in the unphosphorylated CD36. Upon phosphorylation, the loop comprising residues 121-131 exhibits a broad range of motion, and transitions from closed to open with respect to residue 92. Despite this loop opening/closing motion, the neighbouring thrombospondin binding site (residues 93-120) was not observed to undergo any notable conformational changes. Analysis of the internal cavity of CD36 revealed that residues 296-331 encompass one of the two entrances to the CD36 hydrophobic cavity which takes part in fatty acid uptake. Data from simulations show that phosphorylation narrows the entrance to this hydrophobic cavity, potentially impeding the uptake of fatty acid. The atomistic-level information acquired from this study elucidates how phosphorylation affects the structure and dynamics of CD36. These findings suggest a structural basis for the effect of phosphorylation on the ligand-binding behaviour of CD36.

Shannon Hebblethwaite

Professor, Department of Applied Human Sciences, Concordia University

Meaningful leisure involvement fosters self-determination and is important in facilitating em-powerment, inclusion, and engagement in valued social roles. The leisure pursuit can create a commonality of experience among par¬ticipants, facilitating social relationships among individuals with mutual interests. Drawing on findings from a study of older adults who participated together in an online photography course during the COVID-19 pandemic, this presentation calls attention to the importance of social engagement in enhancing online involvement of older people. Findings indicate that social engagement online enhances participation by fostering social connectedness. Discussion will explore the importance of meaningful leisure involvement in fostering inclusion and enhancing well-being among older adults.

Meghan Joy

Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Concordia University

Governance and the coordination of public actions have a major impact on social inclusion and exclusion, including access to social and health services by older adults at risk of marginalization. However, in a context of multiple service providers (the province, municipalities, NGOs) where there is a strong segmentation between health care and social care, we observe a fragmentation of the social and health services available and inequalities in the provision of these services. These governance and coordination issues require the development of strategies to address the social exclusion that marginalized older people often face. In this conference, we will present an analysis of public policies that take these issues into account in order to offer possible solutions to remedy the social exclusion of marginalized older adults in Québec.

Matheus Neves

PhD Candidate , Individualized Program (INDI), Department of Applied Human Sciences, Communication & Psychology, Concordia University

This abstract presents a study that highlights the pressing need for culturally sensitive measures within HIV services for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) and migrant communities in Montreal and Quebec. Focusing on the historically vulnerable Haitian migrant community, particularly prominent among the Black demographic in Quebec, the research emphasizes the critical importance of vigilant monitoring of the HIV epidemic within this community. Migrant populations originating from regions with heightened HIV prevalence also require attention due to their increased susceptibility to subpar health outcomes throughout various stages of migration. Contributing factors to this heightened risk include sociocultural influences linked to migrant status, economic transitions, limited healthcare access, and integration challenges within host country healthcare systems. Addressing these complexities through culturally sensitive HIV services is vital for implementing effective prevention and management strategies within these communities. Efforts to combat racism within the context of HIV/AIDS involve fostering inclusive and culturally sensitive healthcare systems, promoting education and awareness, and advocating for policies addressing social determinants of health. Collaboration between communities, policymakers, and healthcare providers is essential to ensure equitable and effective HIV/AIDS responses for individuals of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Addressing these multifaceted challenges necessitates a comprehensive approach encompassing strategies to enhance physical access, reduce financial barriers, improve care quality, and bridge geographical gaps in healthcare services. Implementation of targeted interventions and support mechanisms tailored to the specific needs of BIPOC immigrant communities can contribute to closing existing gaps and fostering more equitable access to HIV diagnosis and treatment services.

Radu Alexandru Paun

PhD Candidate, Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University

There are currently over 6500 drugs as part of the Broad Institute's drug repurposing hub for potential use in cancer therapy. Many therapeutic approaches in oncology currently require the modulation of multiple cellular pathways for effective clinical use. However, some of these compounds would need to be delivered to cells at specific ratios for them to be safe and effiacious. Herein, we analyze a non-canonical combination of two drugs, namely 6-bromoindirubin-3-oxime and coppoer diethyldithiocarbamate, for their synergistic effect in the treatment of melanoma as a nanodrug formulation. We conclude by discussing the potential implications of the tumor microenvrionment on the screening and development of nanodrug combination strategies in oncology.

Natalie Phillips

Professor, Department of Psychology, Concordia University

Background: Sensory loss in hearing, vision, and olfaction are all highly prevalent in older adults and are each associated with a higher risk of developing dementia. We examined sensory function and brain structure and function in groups who range from relatively low risk (normal cognition, no cognitive complaints (NC)), to those with higher risk, namely individuals with subjective reports of cognitive decline (SCD) but normal cognition and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Method: Hearing loss was assessed with a pure-tone screening protocol, vision with contrast sensitivity, and olfaction was assessed with a smell identification test, in 128 NC, 135 participants with SCD, 241 with MCI, and 93 with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Participants were matched on age and education, except for AD participants who were older.

Results: Normal sensory performance in all three modalities was observed in the minority of participants and decreased in prevalence across the dementia risk spectrum groups. Olfactory deficits were the most frequent, followed by hearing impairment, and then impaired contrast sensitivity. Deficits in multiple sensory domains were highly prevalent, with 37% of participants with AD having deficits in two or more domains. Preliminary analyses indicate that hearing loss is associated connectivity in the default mode network and olfactory loss is associated with reduced hippocampal volumes in SCD.

Conclusion: These analyses indicate that sensory loss is highly frequent and co-morbid in persons with or at risk for dementia. These findings have implications for cognition, brain function, functional activities, and care delivery for persons with or at risk for dementia.

Nicolas Vaillancourt

Student, Department of Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University

Low back pain (LBP) is the most prevalent and persistent musculoskeletal disorder worldwide. Chronic LBP is associated with an alteration in psychosocial functioning, especially high levels of pain-related fear, contributing to the exacerbation of pain, disability and likelihood of long-term pain and disability. Aquatic exercise is a promising treatment modality for chronic LBP, however the effect of aquatic exercise on psychosocial function associated with chronic LBP is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of aquatic exercise versus standard care on clinical outcomes (e.g., pain, disability, anxiety, pain catastrophizing). We conducted a randomized controlled trial with a total of 34 participants with chronic LBP (aquatic exercise n=18, standard care n=16). Both groups completed a 10-week supervised individual intervention program (2 sessions/week). Our results revealed clinically important improvements in pain and function, as well as a significant decrease in pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression in both groups, with no significant difference between groups. Interestingly, only the aquatic exercise group had a significant decrease in pain-related fears associated with movement. Our study gives new evidence on the effectiveness of aquatic exercise to improve psychosocial outcomes associated with chronic LBP and further confirms aquatic exercise to be an adequate modality to improve overall function in chronic LBP. Future studies should explore the long-term effects of aquatic therapy to better understand how short-term changes in psychosocial functioning affects chronic LBP.

Yiming Xiao 

Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Concordia university

Early brain tumor resection can effectively improve the patient’s survival rate. However, resection quality and safety can often be heavily affected by intra-operative brain tissue shift due to complex factors. Such tissue shift can displace the surgical target and vital structures (e.g., blood vessels) shown in pre-operative images while these displacements may not be directly visible in the surgeon’s field of view. Intra-operative ultrasound (iUS) is a robust and relatively inexpensive technique to track intra-operative tissue shift and surgical tools, but to help update pre-surgical plans with this information, accurate and robust image registration algorithms and the associated validation methods are needed to relate pre-surgical MRI to iUS images. To tackle the issue, I will present the novel deep learning and computer vision methodologies developed at my research lab to allow efficient and robust quantification of intra-operative brain shift in ultrasound-guided brain tumor resection. In addition, I will also briefly discuss the outcomes of the image processing contest, the CuRIOUS challenge that we have organized on this topic over the years.

Laurel Young

Associate Professor, Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Concordia University

The benefits of musical engagement and music therapy are noted often in popular media and scholarly literature, specifically in relation to various segments of the older adult population. However, assumptions about what this means has led to narrow conceptualizations and misperceptions of how music can help. This presentation will de-construct some of these assumptions and offer alternative perspectives on how music can be considered as a health and wellbeing resource for older adults.