Education:

• B.Sc. (Hons), 1969, biological and medical sciences, University of Toronto, Canada
• MA, 1970, history and philosophy of science, Oxford University, UK
• MD, 1978, medicine, University of Toronto, Canada

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Senior scientist, evaluative clinical sciences, Brain Sciences Research Program (director), Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Deborah Ivy Christiani Brill Chair in Neurology, department of medicine, University of Toronto and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Site leader, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre in Stroke Recovery
• Director, LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Medical director, Regional Stroke Centre, North and East Greater Toronto Area
• Senior scientist, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest
• Consultant neurologist, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto
• Professor, department of medicine (neurology), University of Toronto
• Adjunct professor, kinesiology, University of Waterloo
• Adjunct scientist, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

Research Foci:

• Dementia
• Alzheimer's disease
• Lewy body dementia
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Vascular cognitive impairment
• Apraxia
• Neglect
• Stroke recovery

Research Summary:

Dr. Black has had continual peer-reviewed funding since 1986. Her research has focused on the cognitive sequelae of stroke and stroke recovery, the differential diagnosis of dementia, and the use of neuroimaging techniques to elucidate brain-behaviour relationships in stroke and dementia.

With funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Alzheimer Society of Canada and the Heart & Stroke Foundation, she is currently conducting prospective studies on the utility of quantitative structural and functional imaging in diagnosis and monitoring of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, vascular and other dementias, and on the interactions of Alzheimer's and cerebrovascular disease.

Dr. Black also conducts collaborative research on sensorimotor recovery after stroke using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and on praxis, neglect and attentional processes in stroke and dementia. She was the co-principal investigator of a clinical trial on the efficacy of amphetamine with physiotherapy to facilitate motor recovery after stroke. She has over 300 publications and has been actively engaged in treatment trials for stroke, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Dr. Black currently serves on the executive committees of the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer Research (ISTAART) and the International Society for Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders (VAS-COG). She is also the co-chair of the Alzheimer's Imaging Consortium (International Congress of AD) from 2009–2011. She is on the steering committee for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Consortium and serves on the data publication committee. She serves on the Ontario Stroke Network (the governing body of the Ontario Stroke System) and was a member of the steering committee for the Canadian Stroke Strategy from 2005-2009. She was head of the division of neurology, department of medicine at Sunnybrook from 1995-2006. She has received outstanding mentorship awards from the Institute of Medical Sciences (2001) and the department of medicine (2009), University of Toronto.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

Related News and Stories:

• Boom, baby boom! SRI scientist's research highlights the social and economic burden of dementia (SRI magazine, 2011)
• Video: Weighing in on spinal fluid test in identifying Alzheimer's (August 25, 2010)
• Dementia Projected To Cost $872 Billion Over Next 30 Years: Prevention, support and research can turn tide, reveals new Alzheimer Society report (January 4, 2010)
• Crowning Tomorrow's Medical Scientists: Annual project competition highlights research talent of SRI's summer students (August 26, 2009)
• Young, Bright and Honoured: Three Sunnybrook students receive Vanier Awards (June 26, 2009)
• New Canadian imaging network will improve detection and prevention of stroke, cardiac and vascular disease (May 14, 2009)
• Daylong Dash Through the Brain Sciences: Baycrest and Sunnybrook showcase research at first Neurosciences Research Day (January 27, 2009)
• CIHR Taps SRI PIs: Latest funding round awards $3 million-plus (August 26, 2008)
• Drug Looks Promising in Alzheimer’s Fight: Sunnybrook pioneers new research practice providing first-ever two year results (May 21, 2008)
• Head Injuries Result In Widespread Brain Tissue Loss One Year Later (March 4, 2008)
• Caring Enough: Two SRI neuroscientists investigate the link between Alzheimer’s disease and apathy (February 19, 2008)
• Canadian Government Provides Historic Heart & Stroke Research Funding (January 11, 2008)
• White Matter Affects Alzheimer's Treatment (December 3, 2007)
• Cool Summer Science: Student poster event fosters friendly competition and idea exchange (September 17, 2007)
• Drug Gives New Hope in Treating Symptoms of Severe Alzheimer’s (July 30, 2007)
• Thinking Ahead: Program research director sees crucial role for neurosciences in aging population (June 21, 2007)
• New Drug Looks Promising to Fight Early Alzheimer's (January 4, 2006)
• At the Brink: A feature from Research Report 2002-2004

Related Links:

• Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery
• LC Campbell cognitive neurology group
• Rotman Research Institute profile