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New Platform Director, Biological Sciences

December 23, 2022

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. JoAnne McLaurin as the new platform director of Biological Sciences at Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI), starting January 1st, 2023.

Dr. McLaurin is currently a senior scientist in Biological Sciences and the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program at SRI and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease Therapeutics. She is also a professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto and leads preclinical research for the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration and Aging.

“Dr. McLaurin’s international leadership in her field, dedication to mentorship and scientific accomplishments make her ideally suited to lead the Biological Sciences Platform at SRI,” says Dr. Kullervo Hynynen, Vice President of Research and Innovation at SRI.

Dr. McLaurin’s translational research aims to better understand factors impacting risk and progression of age-related cognitive decline. Specifically, her team is working to discover much-needed treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

During the course of her work, Dr. McLaurin has identified a family of naturally occurring compounds that inhibit the formation of toxic soluble aggregates in Alzheimer’s Disease, which has resulted in three worldwide patents and collaborations with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Currently, her team is undertaking preclinical development of a gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, in which lost neurons are replaced and neuronal networks re-established in order to improve cognitive function.

In her new role as platform director, Dr. McLaurin is looking forward to working with the SRI leadership team to continue to highlight and promote SRI's accomplishments, citywide, nationally and internationally.

Outgoing platform director Dr. David Andrews has been advancing the Biological Sciences Platform for the last decade. Please join us in thanking Dr. Andrews for his tremendous leadership and congratulating Dr. McLaurin on her new role.