Congratulations to our 2024 Sandra E. Black Award Recipient

The Sandra E. Black Award in Clinical Dementia Research is presented annually to a trainee from the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to an innovative clinical dementia research project conducted at a Toronto Dementia Research Alliance (TDRA) site. We are pleased to announce Maurice Pasternak, PhD candidate at the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, as the 2024 recipient.

Maurice Pasternak, under the supervision of Dr. Mario Masellis at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, is studying how genetic factors impact brain blood flow and connectivity in people living with genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The project focuses on a gene called TMEM106B, which might protect against brain decline in FTD. Using advanced brain scans (i.e., BOLD-fMRI, ASL MRI, etc.), the team will noninvasively measure brain blood flow and brain connections in people at the early stages of FTD and compare them to healthy family members. This research could help detect brain changes prior to the onset of major symptoms and lead to better ways to track and treat FTD in the future.

Maurice’s broader research interests lie at the intersection of neuroimaging and genetics in neurodegenerative disorders. He believes in using a multifaceted approach to understand these complex diseases and improve therapeutic interventions. His career goal is to manage neurology-related clinical trials, combining his expertise in neuroimaging and bioinformatics to develop effective, person-centered treatments. His current project is an example of this integrated approach. The Sandra E. Black Award will support the advancement of dementia research and his growth as a future clinical research leader. Congratulations, Maurice!

Want to learn more about Maurice’s work? Check out his recent publications.