Address
UBC HospitalS152
2211 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, British Columbia V6T2B5
Canada
Vision Statement
To understand the neurological basis of cognition and the pathological mechanisms leading to dementia, with a goal to improve the care and finding a cure for patients suffering from cognitive impairment and dementia
Research Interests
Behavioural Neurology, Cognition and Dementia, Genetic Epidemiology, Biomarkers in Dementia, Brain Imaging in Dementia, Clinical Trials
Research Summary
Near half a million Canadians suffered from dementia in 2008. This number is predicted to double to over one million (~2.8% of the Canadian population) by 2038. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer Disease (AD), representing about 2/3 of all dementia. Other common disorders leading to dementia includes cerebrovascular disease, frontotemorpal lobar degeneration, and Lewy Body Disease. A number of these disorders have a high heritability with familial clusters. Mutations in several genes have been identified to cause familial Alzheimer and frontotemporal dementia. Other genetic and environmental risk factors also contribute to the development of dementia. The different types of dementias often have a typical clinical profile, although there is significant overlap between the syndromes. Importantly, there is no clinical test during life that could identify the different types of dementia pathology. In my research, I am examining the various factors that contribute to the cause of dementia, and I am exploring new laboratory and imaging techniques that can help us identify and differentiate the different types of dementia at the earliest stage. We are also involved designing and carrying out clinical trials to investigate novel therapeutics as well as non-pharmacologic intervention for treating different types of dementias at various stages, with the ultimate goal to find a cure for these devastating conditions of the brain.
Research Highlights
Personal
Education
BSc (Hon.), MD, MHSc, FRCPC, FACP,
Recent Publications
Link to Google Scholar and PubMed
Awards & Recognition
CIHR Clinical Genetics Investigatorship, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research – Post-doctoral Fellowship
Grants
Granting Agency | Subject | COMP | Funding Details | Amount | Year | Principal Investigator | Co-Investigator(s) |
Peter Wall Institute on Advanced Studies | Music Therapy in neurological disorders | C | $50,000 | 2014 | R. Hsiung | R. Sharon, L. Frisch | |
Alzheimer Society of Canada / PARF | Characterization of Mixed Dementia due to Alzheimer and subcortical vascular pathology | C | 150000 per year | $300,000 | 2013-2015 | R. Hsiung | C. Javoca, V. Sossi, A. Rauscher, O. Benavente, J. Pettersen |
CIHRMOP-126130 | Complex Mental and Social Activities to Promote Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Chronic Stroke | C | $150,235 | 2013-2017 | T. Liu-Ambrose | J. Eng, R. Hsiung, C. Goldsmith, P. Graf, P. Hall, L. Middleton | |
CIHR | Mining the ADNI database – what can we learn about Alzheimer’s? | C | 50000 | $100,000 | 2013-2015 | MF Beg, C Jacova | R. Hsiung |
CIHRBSB- | Clinical, Pathological, Genetic and Biomarker Studies of Frontotemporal Dementia | C | 275000 | $1,250,000 | 2013-2018 | IRA Mackenzie; H Feldman | R. Hsiung, C Jacova, V Sossi,M Beg, J Stoessl |
CIHR | Diagnostic Biomarkers for pre-dementia Alzheimer Disease | C | 250000 per year | $1,000,000 | 2013-2017 | Gautier S; JIA Jianping | R. Hsiung, D. Sadovnick, D. Doudet, P. Rosa-Neto |
CIHR | Clinical Genetics Investigatorship: Translational Genetic Research in Dementia | C | 140000 per year | $280,000 | 2012-2015 | R. Hsiung | |
NSERC/ CIHR | Novel Diagnostic Methods for Imaging Amyloid Beta in the Eye in Association with Alzheimer’s Disease | C | $490,052 | 2012-2015 | Melanie Campbell | R. Hsiung, Thomas Ruth, Paul Schaffer, Zoya Leonenko | |
CIHR / Alzheimer Society of Canada | A randomized control trial on out- patient group music therapy on moderate Alzheimer Disease | C | $199,152 | 2010 – 2013 | R. Hsiung | C. Jacova, K. Kirkland, A. Phinney, B. L. Beattie | |
NIH / NIA / CIHR | ADNI-GO & ADNI- 2 – Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative | C | $210,000 | 2009 – 2015 | R. Hsiung | P. Lee, B.L.Beattie |
- Emma Dowds (MSc candidate)
- Dr. Anupama Roychowdhury (Dementia Fellow)
- Dr. Michael Marnane (Behavioural Neurology/Dementia Fellow)
- Carmen Householder-Pedari (MSc candidate)
- Lillian Yang (MSc candidate); Co-supervisor
- Talitha Greenwood (MSc candidate)
- Elizabeth Dao (PhD candidate)