Laura Schmitt

Contact

Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Laboratory Medicine & Pathology Dept
Email
lschmitt@ualberta.ca

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

epilepsy multiple sclerosis stroke neuroinflammation


About

Dr. Laura M. Schmitt MD PhD FRCPC is a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada trained Neuropathologist. As a Specialist in Neuropathology, Dr. Schmitt engages with both national and international Neuropathology societies including the Canadian Association of Neuropathologists, American Association of Neuropathologists as well as the Euro-CNS. Locally, she is a member of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute at the University of Alberta and a member of the Alberta MS Network.

Dr. Schmitt has always had an interest in Neuroscience and completed her Honours Bachelor's Degree in Neuroscience and Medical Degree at the University of Alberta during which time she was involved with clinical and basic science research in the field of cerebral ischemia and hemorrhagic stroke. Following her medical degree, she started residency training in Neuropathology at the University of Calgary during which time she took a leave of absence to complete her PhD in Neuroimmunology (Multiple sclerosis) at the University of Saarland, Germany. She returned to Calgary to finish her Specialty training in Neuropathology which she finished in 2017. Since coming to the University of Alberta, she has rejuvenated Neuropathology education and been involved with multiple collaborative research projects with her clinical colleagues.



Clinical Interests

Although I practice "General Neuropathology" in that I diagnose the broad-spectrum of Neurological diseases, my special clinical interests include autopsy/forensic Neuropathology, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke and neuromuscular disease.

Research

Research Interests/Projects:

1.) Epilepsy

  • Hippocampal sclerosis and in vivo imaging modalities
  • Spectrum of epilepsy-related lesions

2.) Multiple Sclerosis

  • Inflammatory demyelination prevention/treatment

3.) Neuroinflammation

4.) Stroke


Teaching

As the Director for Neuropathology Education, I have a strong, vested interest in medical education and seek to instill a love of the Neurosciences and Neuropathology in all of my trainees.

Educational activities include:

1.) Post-Graduate Medical Education: resident rotations for Adult Neurology, Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurology, Anatomical and General Pathology and elective residents/fellows (by request)

2.) Undergraduate Medical Education: local and visiting medical student electives, Neurology block

3.) University Courses: MLSCI250, LABMP593, LABMP400/500