Scientific Career:
2018-present: Co-Director, Open Data Commons for Spinal Cord Injury
2016-2023: Canada Research Chair for Spinal Cord Injury (Tier1)
2015-2017: Co-Director, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute
2008-present: Full Professor
2007-2014: Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Senior Scholar
2007-2008: Associate Professor, Alberta Heritage Foundation Senior Scholar
2005-2007: Associate Professor, Alberta Heritage Foundation Scholar
2001-2005: Assistant Professor, Alberta Heritage Foundation Scholar
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
1997-2001: Research Associate, Brain Research Institute, University and ETH Zürich,
1995-1997: Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Alberta
1995: Post-Doctoral Researcher, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Israel
1991-1995: Ph.D. (Neuroscience), University of Konstanz, Germany
1986-1991: Diploma (Biology), University of Konstanz, Germany
Awards:
2017-2022: Grant from the Canadian Institute for Health Research
2017-2018: Alberta Spinal Cord Injury Research Support Fund
2016-2019: Grant from the Heart and Stroke Foundation with Ian Winship as Co Applicant
2016-2021: Co-PI on Grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH)
2015-2016: Grant from Conquer Paralysis Now
2015-2017: Grant from Wings for Life (Austria)
2014: Equipment grant from the Alberta Paraplegic Foundation
2013-2018: Co-PI on grant from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research
2012-2015: Grant from the International Spinal Research Trust (UK)
2012-2017: Two grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research
2012: Equipment grant from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation
Dr. Fouad's research focuses on the promotion of functional recovery after spinal cord injuries by increasing the regenerative and plastic capabilities of the central nervous system.
Karim Fouad, PhD, is a graduate supervisor at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Structures and functions of the human nervous system. Emphasis is on the effects of injury, diseases and rehabilitation training on the nervous system. Prerequisites: PTHER 516.
Fall Term 2020The overall goal of our research is to promote functional recovery following spinal cord injury.
Functional recovery following injuries of the central nervous system (CNS) is limited because severed axons are unable to regrow. This inability to regenerate is caused by various factors including growth inhibitory factors in the central nervous system and intracellular properties of injured neurons. Nevertheless, moderate recovery following brain or spinal cord injuries occurs. The underlying mechanisms for this recovery lies in the ability of spared and injured CNS circuitries to rearrange, generally termed as plasticity. To promote functional recovery following spinal cord injury we are currently focusing on the following two main strategies:
Methodology
The methods used in our laboratory range from various experimental approaches to promote plasticity and regeneration, to histological examinations, behavioral tests (sensory and motor), high speed kinematic and in vivo electrophysiological assessments.
Facilities
Our facilities include a tissue culture area, a histology lab, a darkroom for fluorescence microscopy and a laboratory fully equipped for surgeries and physiological experiments.