Outreach

Alanna gave a talk in April, 2023 for SCA6 patients, their family and caregivers that was organized and facilitated by the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF). This talk focused on ongoing research towards an understanding and treatment of SCA6.

Alanna met with Neuroscience students at their annual “Meet the Prof” wine & cheese in 2019.

Recent Outreach

SCASource

SCASource is a resource where recent ataxia-related research is summarized in easy-to-read language. It’s a great place to start for ataxia patients and their loved ones. Several people in the lab contribute to this fantastic resource. See the following articles for examples of their work.

T riplet repeat length and ataxia by Anna Cook

Anna Cook summarizes recent literature showing how CAG length influences disease onset for a number of different forms of ataxia.

What is RNA-seq? by Sophia Leung

Sophia Leung gives a great summary of what RNA-Seq is, and how it can be used to study diseases like ataxia.

Thrift store pharmacy by Anna Cook

Anna Cook summarizes a paper from our lab where Jayabal and colleagues show that an MS drug improves cellular and motor coordination deficits in a mouse model of SCA6.

Gait Analysis by Eviatar Fields

Gait deficits are often observed in human ataxia, and similar changes can be seen in rodent models of ataxia as well. Here, Eviatar Fields describes several different methods that are used to measure gait in rodents, a good read-out of ataxia.

Cognition and ataxia by Kim Gruver

Kim Gruver summarizes a recent paper examining cognitive deficits associated with an animal model of SCA7.

Growth factors and ataxia by Eviatar Fields

Eviatar Fields summarizes a recent article examining how the growth factor BDNF contributes to ataxia in a mouse model of SCA1.

Measuring ARSACS by Brenda Toscano Marquez

Dr. Brenda Toscano Marquez explains a recent paper outlining a “measuring stick” to better characterize ARSACS, or Ataxia of the Charlevoix-Saguenay region.

Repurposing and recombining drugs for ataxia by Amy Smith-Dijak

Dr. Amy Smith-Dijak explains a recent paper from the Shakkottai lab that examines how potassium channel blockers can be used to treat SCA1.

Examples of what we do

Brain Reach

Several Watt lab students participate in Brain Reach, bringing neuroscience to local schools. Eviatar has also participated in Brain Reach North, bringing neuroscience to students in Northern Quebec.

Bite Size Science

Eviatar has been keeping busy during the pandemic by making educational Youtube videos about COVID-19 and other topics. Check them out!

Local Outreach

Alanna participates in outreach events each year at McGill, at high schools and CEGEPS, and in the Montreal community.

Bringing science to diverse communities is important to us, and is something we value in the Watt lab.