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$240,000 to help researchers tackle the challenge of preventing strokes


June 22, 2016



Dr. Richard Bergeron was awarded $240,000 by the Heart and Stroke Foundation to find a new way to protect the brain against stroke. So far acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) has been shown to be the best medication for patients at risk, but not everyone can take it and there are possible side-effects. For six years, Dr. Bergeron has been studying a chemical in the brain called glycine, which inactivates the chemicals that kill brain cells during a stroke. His team found that giving mice a drug that increased the level of glycine in their brain made them more resistant to stroke. The team’s next goal is to describe exactly how glycine does this by using state-of-the-art techniques to record neuron activity in three different animal models. Dr. Bergeron hopes that ultimately this research could lead to clinical trials of the drug, and a new option for those at risk for stroke

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The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.

University of Ottawa


The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca

For further information, please contact


Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca