Baycrest

2 Rotman Research Institute Annual Report 2015 - 2016 Wow, things are busy around here! When it's this busy, it's important to pause and take inventory of where you are and where you are going. This report represents our pause to reflect on these things for t he Rotman Research Institute (RRI). Over the last two years, the RRI has seen significant progress in our research capacity and outreach towards advancing knowledge in the cognitive neuroscience of healthy aging an d age - related brain disorders. As you will see in this report, we continued to make great in - roads both in terms of fundamental discoveries on how the brain works, or wh en it does not, and in translating these discoveries to provide better care for the older p opulation we serve at Baycrest. RRI's translational capacity is further enhanced through our local, national , and international collaborations studying cognitive dec line and dementia. In this era of Big Data, we continued to steer vital data collection that pools resources across institutions. With this, we aim to develop better tools for earlier detection of cognitive decline, informed by our understanding of the rel ationship between cognitive impairment and changes within brain structure and function. In 2015, Baycrest spearheaded the establishment of the Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CC - ABHI), a critical conduit to ensure that inventions an d innovations that will help older adults with healthy aging reach the hands of clinicians, clients , and consumers. With fundi ng provided by the Governments of Ontario and Canada , synergies between the RRI and CC - ABHI will define a new frontier of what is possible to support brain health across a person's lifespan. As the RRI moves into the final year of our Research Strategic Plan, an external review was cond ucted to provide vital checks of our current and future goals. We value the praise and constructive advice provided that will guide us as we craft a new five - year strategic plan to decide the next steps for the RRI and research at Baycrest. Within this report, we celebrate the achievements and activities of our scientists, trainees, and staff with great pride and excitement. Their work demonstrates how far we have come in our understanding of the br ain and where we need to head. The RRI is bustling with activity, but it's always important that we pause and reflect on our current accomplishmen ts and future paths. We're thankful to generous donors and funding agencies, and our Baycrest community who continue to support our work as we strive to illuminate the causes of cognitive decline in older adults and identify approaches to protect brain hea lth longer. DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE : Anthony Randal (Randy) McIntosh, PhD Director, Rotman Research Institute Vice - President, Research Reva James Leeds Chair in Neuroscience & Research Leadership Baycrest Health Sciences Professor , Department of Psychology University of Toronto

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