SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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Senate Committee on University Priorities ?
Memorandum
TO:
Senate
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FROM:
RE:
Behavioural and Cognitive ? DATE:
Neuroscience Institute (BCNI)
(SCUP 05-049)
Bill Krane
Acting Chair, SCUP
Acting Vice President,
Academic
July 28, 2005
Attached is the proposal for-the establishment of the Behavioural and Cognitive
Neuroscience Institute (BCNI) submitted for consideration by Dr. Daniel Weeks, Chair,
Department of Psychology. This will be a Schedule B Centre reporting to the Vice-
President, Research in accordance with Policy R 40.01.
The Senate Committee on University Priorities reviewed the proposal at its July 27,
2005 meeting and the proposal was unanimously approved. Once approved by
Senate, the proposal will be submitted to the Board of Governors.
Motion:
That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the establishment
of the Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience Institute as a Schedule B Centre
under Policy R40.01
Attach.
c. M. Pinto
J. Pierce
D. Weeks
S. Dench
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SOUP 05 - 049
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM ?
OFFICE OF VICE-PRESIDENT, RESEARCH
TO: Glynn Nicholls, Secretary
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FROM: B. Mario Pinto
Senate Committee on University
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Vice-President, Research
Planning (SCUP)
RE: Behavioural and Cognitive
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DATE: July 18, 2005
Neuroscience Institute (BCNI)
Attached is a proposal from Dr. Daniel Weeks, Chair, Department of Psychology
for the establishment of the Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience Institute (BCNI) as
a Schedule B Centre.
The Governing Conunittee for Centres and Institutes recommends that the
Centre be granted approval by SCUP. Once approved by SCUP, the proposal is to be
forwarded to Senate, followed by submissiOn to the Board of Governors.
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Governing Committee:
f'-- Ei
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r. John H. Waterhouse
Vice-President, Academic and Provost
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Dr. B. Mario Pinto
Vice-President, Research
Attachment
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Dr. John Pierde, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Science
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Dr. Daniel Weeks, Chair, Department of Psychology
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Office of the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences?
MEMORANDUM
To: ?
John Waterhouse ?
From: ?
John T. Pierce
VP Academic
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Dean, FASS
Subject: Behavioural & Cognitive
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Date:
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June 17, 2005
Neuroscience Institute
During the past six to seven years, I have worked closely with the Department of
Psychology to focus hiring and expertise in the area of neuroscience. The
awarding of a Leadership Chair, a CRC (Tier II) and the appointment of Mario
Liotti are three recent distinguished additions to the Neuroscience side in
Psychology.
The attached proposal for the establishment of a Behavioural and Cognitive
Neuroscience Institute (Scheduled Jis a natural offshoot of these recruitment
successes. It will provide a "matrix" within which scientists from Psychology
and other Faculties and universities can work synergistically together to identify
and address (both clinically and experimentally) neuroscience from a
behavioural and cognitive perspective. Given the development of SFU's
Strategic Research Plan, I think the timing is right to move this forward to ensure
that we capitalize upon our strengths and our leadership in this emerging field.
JTP / rt
Cc: D. Weeks, Chair, Department of Psychology
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:EOF THE DEAN
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
OFFICE OF THE CHAIR
JUN 16 2005
ACULT'! OF ARTS
SOCIAL SCIENCES
8888 UNIVERSITY DRIVE
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BURNABY, BC
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CANADA V5A I S6
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Telephone: (604) 291.3358
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Fax: (604 291-3427
URL: http:/Iwww.sfu.calpsvchology/
June 16, 2005
Dr. John Pierce, Dean
Faculty of Arts and Social Science
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC Canada
V5A1S6
Dear Dean Pierce
Please find attached an application to establish the
Behavioural and Cognitive
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Neuroscience Institute (BCNI)
at Simon Fraser University.
The goal and research foci of BCNI would be to contribute to SFU's Strategic Research
Plan in the areas of neural imaging, health science, and child health and development. It
will also solidify the Faculty of Arts and Social Science at SFU as a major player in this
important and emerging research area. Moreover, BCNI will strengthen linkages and
interactions with colleagues in the Faculty of Applied Science.
In the province of British Columbia the BCNI is well positioned to emerge as a key
player in neuroscience. This proposal brings us one step closer to that end.
Sincerely
Daniel J. Weeks ?
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Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience Institute
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Simon
Fraser University
Statement of Purpose
It is an exciting time to be a neuroscientist. The study of the brain and behaviour is one
of the last great frontiers for human investigation. By understanding how the brain works
we can come to understand some part of ourselves. Neuroscientists are discovering how
billions of neurons and their associated chemical and electrical signals result in the
perception of the world around us, memories about our experiences, emotional reactions
to the subtle and profound events in our lives, and the dynamics of our behavioural
reactions to all these happenings. Knowledge of typical brain functioning provides a
foundation for investigating atypical brain functioning and the psychopathological states
that trouble human existence. Advances in the behavioural and cognitive neurosciences
can therefore point to ways of alleviating these disorders.
The goal of the proposed Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience Institute (BCNI) is to
foster interdisciplinary research and scholarship concerning the relationship between
mind and brain. Building on the strengths of world-renowned researchers who are
currently investigating a variety of neural, cognitive, motor, and behavioural phenomena
(see Appendix A), the BCNI will focus on a broad range of topics. Our major emphases
will be on the study of attention, perception, action, and language. We will approach
these issues from the perspectives of the social sciences (psychology, philosophy,
linguistics, sociology), the biological sciences (behavioural and cognitive neuroscience,
physiology), the applied sciences (electrical engineering, biomedical engineering,
kinesiology, computer science), and the medical sciences (neurology, psychiatry, medical
imaging).
We will use state-of-the-art tools such as functional neuroimaging, high-density
electroencephalography (EEG), event-related potentials (ERP), niagnetoencephalography
(MEG), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study normal populations as well
as people with developmental challenges and patients with selective deficits following
brain damage. Some of our main objectives are to:
• Understand the relationships between cognitive functions and their
neurobiological substrates
• Understand the life-long developmental plasticity of brain and behaviour
• Understand the nature of the deficits and spared capacities that are specific to
particular syndromes and developmental disorders
• Develop new measures that can be used in clinical treatment
• Coordinate initiatives to further develop the MEG lab with our partner institution
the Down Syndrome Research Foundation and secure additional world-class
neuroscience research tools and facilities for SFU
The proposed institute will provide a matrix within which our scientists will work
synergistically toward these and related goals.
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Funding
The purpose of forming the BCNJ
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is to facilitate expansion of research capacity in
behavioural and cognitive neuroscience at SFU. As such, we expect individual members
of the BCNI to continue to seek support for their independent research programs. The
first collective grant initiative for the BCNI as a whole will be the submission of a grant
to CFI for an fMRI system to compliment the MEG system that is already part of SFU's
research infrastructure. At the outset we anticipate no significant budget implications for
SFU as a result of creation of the BCNI. Should the BCNI become so active as to
warrant its own administrative support we would seek federal and provincial sources for
funding.
Governance
1.
The Institute shall be governed in accordance with University policies including
R40.01, CENTRES AND INSTITUTES. If this document and University policy
differ on any issue, University policy shall prevail.
2.
The Institute will be a Schedule B institute within the administrative purview of
the Vice President, Research
3.
The Governance of the Institute will be in the purview of the Institutes's Steering
Committee (5 elected faculty members).
4.
The policies guiding the affairs of the Institute will be made by simple majority
vote of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will have power to
include other faculty as members of the Steering Committee by a majority vote.
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5. The Steering Committee shall select, by a majority vote, a Director who will be
appointed for a 2 year term.
Other Matters
1. The use of the name of the Institute, the administration of the Institute's funds,
and the employment of staff shall be the responsibility of the Director and the
Steering Committee in keeping with relevant University policies.
2.
Contract and grants will be administered in keeping with applicable University
policies and procedures. An annual report shall be prepared by the Director and
approved by the Steering Committee.
3.
The University will be recognized in all publications emanating from the Institute.
Appendix A
Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience Preliminary Researcher List
John McDonald (SFU)
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Doreen Kimura (SFU)
Vince Di Lollo (SFU)
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Charles Krieger (SFU)
Dan Weeks (SFU)
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Parveen Bawa (SFU)
Dave Goodman (Sr U)
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Tom Spalek (SFU)
Ralph Mistiberger (SFU)
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Ivan Torres (SFU)
Neil Watson (SFU)
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Richard Wright (SFU)
Allan Thornton (SFIJ)
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Larry Roberts (SFU)
Wendy Thornton (SFU)
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Romeo Chua (UBC)
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Mario Liotti (SFU)
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Ruth Grunau (BCCWH)
N aznin Virj i-Babul (DSRF)
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Alfons Schnitzler (Duesseldorf)
Digby Elliott (McMaster)
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Timothy Welsh (Calgary)
Matt Heath (Indiana) ?
Ha! Weinberg (SFU)
Arlene Young (SFU) ?
Grace larocci (SFU)
Jeff Pelletier (SFU)
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Mark Blair (SFU)
I. I expect this list will grow substantially as SFU researchers become more aware of the research
infrastructure that will be available to BCNI members
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