Stroke Neuroprotection Rehabilitation Animal Models Therapeutic Hypothermia Edema Intracranial Pressure
I have been a faculty member at U of A since 2000. Prior to this I completed post-doctoral training at the University of Lethbridge and the University of Calgary. I completed my PhD (Basic Medical Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine, 1995) and undergraduate degrees (Hons. Psychology, 1991) at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
For fun outside the lab, I enjoy nature (hiking, etc.) and photography (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fred_colbourne/).
My students and I study the ischemic and hemorrhagic brain injuries that results from stroke and related conditions. We seek to reduce cell death through the use of neuroprotective therapies (e.g., hypothermia and various drugs). As well, we strive to augment brain plasticity and further improve behavioral recovery (e.g., various rehabilitation therapies). We use animal models and a wide array of research techniques and tools to better understand the pathophysiology of these brain injuries (e.g., the role of brain edema), and to comprehensively test potential therapies in our pre-clinical studies. Our publications are listed below (some available through the links provided, or they can be obtained by emailing Dr. Colbourne).
Current set of awesome graduate students:
+ volunteers, psyco496 and honor's students in psych and NMHI.
Interested in joining the lab? Please e-mail Fred and provide a brief statement on what you are interested in (e.g., psyco496, honor's, summer studentships, grad school), what you hope to learn and how this may benefit you (e.g., career ambitions), and a brief summary of your experiences and grades (e.g., overall GPA, and past research experience). Please note that I aim to only supervise students who have a strong GPA (e.g., 3.5 or better), are dedicated and hard working, and have a genuine interest in research. Students can learn a wide range of interdisciplinary research methods (e.g., from analyzing elements to behavior), issues with translational rigour, and of course they learn about stroke, cardiac arrest and related conditions (e.g., trauma). Students often get plenty of experience with improving their oral and written communication skills. Many of the undergraduates in my lab have also earned authorship on papers, they get competitive awards including summer studentships (e.g., Alberta Innovates), and they end up going on to graduate school (psychology and neuroscience) or professional programs (MD, OT, etc.).
Lab methods we use (Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can be obtained by emailing your request to Dr. Colbourne):
Funding:
Current Operating Grants: CIHR.
Past Operating Grants: CIHR, HSFC, NSERC, NCE.
Past Salary Support (FC): Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions, and Canada Research Chairs (Tier 1).
October, 2020: Congratulations to Cassandra Wilkinson (PhD student) for recently winning the Dorothy J. Killam Memorial Prize and the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship (https://blog.ualberta.ca/meet-the-2020-killam-laureates-92e1c9ac8a44).
Discussion of advanced concepts and theories developed by selected fields within experimental psychology. The course will examine the relation between theory and data in these fields. Prerequisites: STAT 141 or 151 or SCI 151 and a 300-level PSYCO course. Students must check with the Department for the topics for the year and any additional prerequisites. [Faculty of Science]
Winter Term 2021[Faculty of Science]
Winter Term 2021