Professor
Max Rady College of Medicine
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
St. Boniface Hospital Research
Room R4050, 351 Tache Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 2A6
Benedict Albensi, PhD, BCMAS, CRQM
Cross-appointments
Principal Investigator, St. Boniface Hospital Research
Research summary
Dr. Benedict Albensi is a renowned researcher in the field of aging, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, brain injury, energy metabolism, and mitochondrial function. His research focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms of these conditions, with a particular emphasis on the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), a protein that plays a key role in inflammation and memory.
Dr. Albensi has made significant contributions to the field, including being the first to show that NF-kB is required for synaptic plasticity in mammals, and developing MRI methods for investigating head trauma and cognition. He is also a leader in the development of new therapies for these conditions and has published extensively on the topic in top-ranked scientific journals.
He is an internationally recognized leader in the field, and has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including being listed in the top 1% of published authors worldwide for Alzheimer's disease, neurocognitive disorders, tauopathies, dementia, NF-kappa B, memory and energy metabolism.
Dr. Albensi is also the Editor-in-Chief of Molecular Neurobiology and a board director of MitoCanada, the chair of Nutrition, Metabolism and Dementia Executive Committee of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) and a board director of Manitoba Brain Injury Association. He also holds several research affiliations including, Research Scientist at Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and Research Affiliate at University of Manitoba Centre on Aging. His research is conducted under the auspices of the Manitoba Neuroscience Network and the Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders at St. Boniface Hospital Research.
Dr. Albensi's research is at the forefront of understanding and treating some of the most debilitating conditions affecting aging populations. His work has the potential to lead to the development of new therapies that can improve the quality of life for millions of people worldwide.
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Research affiliations
- Editor-in-Chief, Molecular Neurobiology, Springer-Nature Publishing
- Board Director, MitoCanada
- Chair, Nutrition, Metabolism and Dementia Executive Committee, International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART)
- Board Director, Manitoba Brain Injury Association
- Research Scientist, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba
- Research Affiliate, University of Manitoba Centre on Aging
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Research Interests
- Aging
- Alzheimer's disease and dementia
- Brain injury
- Energy metabolism and mitochondrial function
- Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB)
- Synaptic plasticity and memory
Research groups
- Manitoba Neuroscience Network
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St. Boniface Hospital Research
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Keywords
Aging
Alzheimer's disease
Brain injury
Dementia
Energy metabolism
Mitochondrial function
Memory
Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB)
Synaptic plasticity
Neurodegenerative disorders
Biography
Dr. Benedict Albensi is a professor of pharmacology and therapeutics at the Max Rady College of Medicine and a principal investigator and the Everett Endowment Fund Chair for Alzheimer’s Research at the St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre. He holds cross-appointments as a research scientist at the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and as a research affiliate at the University of Manitoba Centre on Aging.
He was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, working with Drs. Faden and Pekar, where he developed MRI methods for investigating head trauma and cognition. He then went on to work as a postdoctoral scholar with Dr. Mark Mattson, an internationally recognized leader in neurodegenerative research, at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging – University of Kentucky where he was the first to show NF-kB is required for synaptic plasticity in mammals. Other appointments have included the Cleveland Clinic, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer and Case Western Reserve University.
Education
PhD, Neuroscience, University of Utah (1995)
Master of Arts, Biology, Sonoma State University (1992)
Bachelor of Science, General Science, University of Oregon (1982)
Awards
Seminar ranked #1 out of 56 talks at 11th Targeting Mitochondrial Congress (2020)
A review of clinical treatment considerations of donepezil in severe Alzheimer’s disease, Top downloaded and most read paper for 2018-2019 according to Wiley (2020)
Listed on Expertscape.com in top 1% of published authors worldwide for Alzheimer’s Disease, neurocognitive disorders, tauopathies, dementia, NF-kappa B, memory and energy metabolism (2020)
University of Manitoba Merit Award (research), $3,000 (2019)
Weston Brain Institute Outstanding Achievement Award Nominee (2018)
University of Manitoba Merit Award (research, service, teaching combo), $3,000 (2016)
Weston Brain Institute Outstanding Achievement Award Nominee (2016)
Manitoba Dementia Research Chair (2015)
Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada Mentor Award (2013)
Richard Hoeschen Award, $1,000 – B.Sc. (Med) Student Supervisors, MMSF/SBGHRC (2012)
Everett Endowment Fund Chair (2011)
Sanofi-Aventis Biotech Challenge Award of Appreciation (2007)
Contact us
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Max Rady College of Medicine
A205 Chown Bldg., 753 McDermot Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T6 Canada
204-789-3553