Jack H Jhamandas, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FCAHS

Area of Study / Keywords

Alzheimer’s disease Neurodegeneration Memory and Learning Amyloid Amylin peptides Animal models of Alzheimer’s disease Drug Discovery

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About

Personal Statement:

A fundamental understanding of scientific processes underlie many of the great discoveries of modern medicine that have transformed the healthcare of patients. As a clinician-scientist dedicated to the study of Alzheimer’s disease, my hope is to take discoveries in our laboratory all the way to the clinic so that we can alleviate the burden that this devastating condition places on the individual, their families and loved ones, and our society.        

Academic Training: 

Dr. Jack Jhamandas is currently Distinguished University Professor in the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta.  He received his BSc in applied physics and MSc in biophysics from the University of Alberta and his MD from the University of Calgary. He completed his clinical training in internal medicine at the Toronto Western Hospital and in neurology at the Montreal Neurological Institute. He received his PhD in neuroscience from McGill University.

Leadership and Collaborations: 

Dr. Jhamandas is currently chair of the Steering Committee of Campus Alberta Neuroscience, a province-wide tri-university organization dedicated to increasing the impact of neuroscience and mental health research, education and translation. He has previously served as vice-president, research, for the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada. He has served on national scientific granting panels, on the board of directors of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, N.W.T. & Nunavut, as a member of the inaugural advisory board for the Canadian Institutes of Health (CIHR) Research Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction. He has also served as Associate Dean Research for the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta, Vice-President Research for the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) and Chair of the Steering Committee of Campus Alberta Neuroscience. 

Awards and Accolades: 

In recognition of his scholastic achievements, Dr. Jhamandas was awarded the Gold Medal in Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; a Killam Professorship; Capital Health researcher of the year award; the Department of Medicine Research Achievement Award. He has held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Alzheimer's Research and has been elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the American Neurological Association. 

In 2018, he co-authored The AFMC's evolution as a successful advocate for health research: where to next? with Dr. Tom Marrie: https://afmc.ca/sites/default/files/flipping_book/75years/mobile/index.html?1.1

Clinical Interests

Dr. Jhamandas provides out-patient care in neurology, specifically neuromuscular diagnostics, at the Kaye Edmonton Clinic and the University of Alberta Hospital.

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Research

Dr. Jhamandas’ research program focuses on studying misfolded proteins such as amyloid beta protein and neurodegenerative processes underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD). His current work is aimed at developing and testing novel disease modifying therapies for AD based upon the amylin receptor. His research has been funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Alberta Innovates—Health Solutions, Alberta Prion Research Institute, Alzheimer Society of Alberta & Northwest Territories, the University Hospital Foundation and other national and provincial granting agencies. 

He is a grant reviewer for national and international funding agencies including Medical Research Council of Canada, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Canadian Diabetic Association, Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation, Wellcome Trust (United Kingdom), National Science Association (USA), BC Healthcare Research Foundation. He has served as an ad hoc reviewer for many journals including Nature Communications, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Neuroscience and many others in the discipline of neuroscience.

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Teaching

Dr. Jhamandas provides instruction, training and mentorship at all levels of medical education—from classroom instruction in neuroscience to teaching and mentoring in clinical skills to medical students and residents in neurology and other clinical disciplines. He organized and conducted basic neuroscience teaching sessions on an annual basis for neurology residents for many years and has served on the Neurology Board of Examiners for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. His teaching contributions have been recognized through awards of Teacher of the Year (2014) for neurology and Discovery Learning Preceptor Excellence Award (2013-2014).

Soudy R., Kimura R., Fu W., Patel A., Jhamandas J.

PLoS One. 2022 April; 17 (4 April) 10.1371/journal.pone.0267164

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Neuroscience Mental Health Institute Research Day, . 2022 March;

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Neuroscience Mental Health Institute Research Day, . 2022 March;

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Croden J., Silva J.R., Huang W., Gupta N., Fu W., Matovinovic K., Black M., Li X., Chen K., Wu Y., Jhamandas J., Rayat G.R.

PLoS One. 2021 October; 16 (10 October) 10.1371/journal.pone.0258208

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Patel A, Kimura R, Fu W, Soudy R, MacTavish D, Westaway D, Yang J, Davey R, Zajac J, Jhamandas, JH

MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY. 2021 July; 58 10.21203/rs.3.rs-515476/v1

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Neuroscience Mental Health Institute Research Day. 2021 March;

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Cunnane S.C., Trushina E., Morland C., Prigione A., Casadesus G., Andrews Z.B., Beal M.F., Bergersen L.H., Brinton R.D., de la Monte S., Eckert A., Harvey J., Jeggo R., Jhamandas J.H., Kann O., la Cour C.M., Martin W.F., Mithieux G., Moreira P.I., Murphy M.P., Nave K.A., Nuriel T., Oliet S.H.R., Saudou F., Mattson M.P., Swerdlow R.H., Millan M.J.

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 2020 September; 19 (9):609-633 10.1038/s41573-020-0072-x

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