October 19, 2005 Source: Simon Fraser University:
http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/news_releases/archives/news10190501.htm Synergy Award honours partnership in brain research Contact:
Marianne Meadahl, SFU Media & PR 604.291.4323
Alan Bayless, Vice-President, Investor Relations, VSM MedTech Ltd.,
604.472.2427 October 19, 2005
A 30-year university-industry relationship that continues to advance research in brain function and neurological disease treatment is being recognized with a prestigious national innovation award. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) will present its Synergy Award for Innovation to SFU professor Hal Weinberg and Dr. Jiri Vrba, Chief Technology Officer of VSM MedTech Ltd., in Halifax on Oct. 19. The award, which includes a $25,000 research grant to Weinberg, honours the very best Canadian achievements in research and development collaboration between universities and industry. It is one of six being awarded nationally. The award recognizes the development of the magnetoencephalography (MEG) functional brain imaging technology, the first non-invasive method used to read magnetic fields simultaneously from multiple areas of the brain over time. The research has improved understanding of brain function and the evaluation and treatment of neurological disease. SFU's pioneering work in MEG in the 1970s led to the creation of CTF Systems, Inc., SFU's first spin off company. The MEG collaboration was initially between SFU and CTF Systems, and continued after VSM acquired the company in 2001. "Our brain behavior lab, founded and directed by Dr. Weinberg, has been at the forefront of MEG technology for many years," says Mario Pinto, SFU's vice-president, research. "The close and sustained university-industry partnership, involving research and development applications by Dr. Weinberg's group and instrumentation by Dr. Vrba's team, has contributed to many of the product improvements that make MEG so valuable to neurologists, hospitals and patients." Weinberg credits the vision of the company for coming through with a "most innovative method" to extract signals from the brain, and the support of SFU in developing and maintaining the partnership. Vrba notes that, "VSM has developed the world's most advanced clinical MEG technology thanks in part to our longstanding collaboration with SFU's brain behaviour laboratory." The award will help in the next phase of research, which includes identifying characteristics of brain function of individuals with disabilities and modeling education programs to meet their needs. - 30 - Websites:
VSM MedTech; www.vsmmedtech.com
Natural Science & Engineering Research Council; www.nserc.gc.ca/news
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