PEOPLE
Meet the NeuroArm team. Scroll down to see everyone, or click on a category below for a shortcut.
Current Staff
- Dr. Garnette Sutherland Professor of Neurosurgery (Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary)
- Dr. Garnette Sutherland began his medical career in 1984 following an undergraduate education in Chemistry and a medical degree from the University of Manitoba. An interest in neurosurgery was sparked through a clinical clerkship at the Montreal Neurological Institute and the influences of Theodore Rasmussen and Dwight Parkinson. His residency in Neurosurgery was completed at the University of Western Ontario under the supervision of Skip Peerless and the legendary Charles Drake. Following residency, Dr. Sutherland’s first appointment was at the University of Manitoba, in both the Departments of Surgery and Pharmacology.
- In 1993, Sutherland was invited to become the head of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Calgary, a responsibility he fulfilled until 2003. He re-established his medical research laboratory, focusing on the study of central nervous system neoplasia, brain ischemia and stroke using MR spectroscopy. His evolving research interests, ranging from fundamental bench research to clinical integration, have attracted over $50M in external peer-reviewed funding to the University of Calgary.
- In collaboration with the National Research Council Institute for Biodiagnostics, Sutherland developed an intraoperative MRI (iMRI) system based on a moveable 1.5T magnet. The invention, a world first, formed the basis of a spin-off company, IMRIS. IMRIS has now successfully commercialized the technology, selling 35 systems and employing over 150 people, and is publicly-traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:IM). In 2004, Dr. Sutherland received the Ernest C. Manning Award of Distinction for his work and the Canadian Healthcare Manager’s Who’s Who in Healthcare award for Medical Research in 2005. In 2007, the project received the Federal Partners in Technology Transfer Excellence in Technology Transfer Award.
- To take full advantage of the iMRI environment, Sutherland, in collaboration with Macdonald Dettwiler and Associates, developed NeuroArm, an image-guided MR-compatible robotic system for stereotaxy and microsurgery. The robot has earned Dr. Sutherland the 2007 Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Foundation award for Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Technology and the 2008 City of Calgary Signature Award.
- In his time away from work, Sutherland enjoys fishing and researching the newest sports cars.
- Alex Greer Robotics Engineer
- Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Alex Greer earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Following that, Alex went on to earn his Masters in the same discipline, studying numerical modeling for leg trauma predication and injury protection from anti-personnel landmines. He created a human torso model for the prediction of blast trauma to the lungs to help improve personal protective equipment. For the NeuroArm project, Alex works on the development and integration of advanced technologies into the operating room, interfacing with industrial partners and researchers to ensure safety, maintenance and proper incorporation of the technology. An avid triathlete, Alex also enjoys playing Ultimate and riding his motorcycle.
- Fang Wei Yang Robotic Technician
- Fang Wei was born and raised in China. He was trained in plastic surgery and practiced until his immigration to Canada in 1989. He began working with Garnette Sutherland while in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as a research assistant in the small animal laboratory. Together, Sutherland and Yang used small animal models of both global and focal brain ischemia to elucidate mechanisms and treatments of stroke. In 1993, Fang Wei relocated to Calgary with Sutherland to assist in the re-establishment of his research lab. His well-above-average microsurgical skills have been instrumental to the mentorship of surgical residents and his knowledge of physiology crucial for experimental design and execution. Fang Wei now performs the duties of robotic technician with neuroArm, providing a leadership role in the set up and maintenance of the Advanced Prototyping and Engineering Laboratory.
- Pamela Leblanc Charge Nurse Intraoperative MRI
- A backbone of the clinical integration work at Project NeuroArm, Pam provides leadership as the Charge Nurse of the intraoperative MRI operating suite (iMRI OR) and Nurse Clinician for the NeuroArm surgical team. Pam was born in Bassano, Alberta, and graduated from the Foothills School of Nursing with an RN diploma and special certification in Perioperative Nursing. Following school, Pam dove into a career in the operating rooms of the Foothills Medical Centre and developed a love of neurosurgery there. She has been managing the iMRI OR since its opening in 1997 and today her responsibilities extend as a Nurse Clinican for the ENT service. Routinely, Pam is called upon to interface between research and clinical care, between Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary. She is instrumental in the smooth integration of new technology into the OR as it relates to administration, OR workflow, and sterility. She is mom to son Brenden and daughter Kara, and a very proud grandma to grandson Caden. In her free time Pam enjoys decorating and reading, spending time outdoors hiking, gardening, and quading and especially loves time with her grandson.
- Nicole Blenkin Research Manager
- Nicole was born and raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and comes to the project after completing a Bachelor of Biological Science from the University of Calgary. Having experience in both institutional and fine arts administration and event planning, Nicole completes a number of administrative, strategic and logistical roles with NeuroArm. Currently, she maintains communications with external groups and stakeholders, balances the finances and ensures all of the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted. Nicole is a competitive curler and enjoys cooking and music.
Current Students
- Sanju Lama
- Sanju, a native of Pokhara, Nepal, comes to the research team following completion of her Masters of Science thesis entitled MRI diagnosis of descending corticospinal tract degeneration in experimental neonatal cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. While still in Nepal, Sanju earned her medical degree and license from the Nepal Medical Council and worked as the Senior House Officer in the Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery. She also worked as a clinical research officer at the South Asian Pneumococcal Alliance at the Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal and as a clinical research fellow with the enteric fever clinical trial in the Patan Hospital’s Oxford Research Unit in Lalitpur, Nepal. Sanju is now working to complete her PhD on cerebral metabolism in traumatic brain injury (TBI), studying metabolic perturbations in severe TBI with MRI and MR spectroscopy. Sanju maintains a close connection with her Nepalese roots, spending her free time hiking, doing yoga, travelling and reading.
- Jason Motkoski
- Jason was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, and came to the University of Calgary to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a Biomedical Specialization. Jason has recently graduated and is currently in his fourth research term with Project NeuroArm, starting with pre-clinical testing of the NeuroArm system, progressing to completion of his project Integration of Contact Surgical Laser Technology. A multiple undergraduate scholarship and award winner, Jason is enrolled in the MD program at the University of Calgary for Fall 2010. He is currently working on bioengineering design, pre-clinical device testing and integration of an advanced surgical laser tool for NeuroArm. He enjoys travelling and high performance cars, distance running and swimming.
- Manar Din Samad
- Manar comes to the University of Calgary from Bangladesh, where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, specializing in mobile communication engineering. He is currently co-supervised by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s Dr. Yaoping Hu, working on a Masters in the area of human and computer interaction for robot-assisted surgery. His hobbies include blogging, cooking and volunteering.
- Tyler Cossetto
- Tyler is currently a Masters of Biotechnology student completing an internship with NeuroArm in conjunction with the University of Calgary’s Spine Program. He is undertaking the Evaluation of clinical outcome in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures using polyetheretherkeytone (PEEK) spinal cages. Tyler comes to Calgary from his hometown of Newmarket, Ontario, and a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences from the University of Waterloo. Tyler enjoys reading and staying active through running and snowboarding.
Past Contributors of Note
- Isabelle Latour
- Isabelle worked for Project neuroArm in the capacity of project manager and as a molecular biologist for the joint-venture bimodal nanoparticle project in collaboration with the National Research Council. She moved on from the project in 2008 to become Manager of Chairs and Professorships with the Faculty of Medicine.
- Michael Lang
- Michael Lang is currently a fourth-year medical student at Ohio State University Medical School. Michael spent one year (2009-2010) working with Project neuroArm studying 3T intraoperative MRI, application of advanced MR sequences and MR-compatible surgical robotics. Michael is working towards a career in academic neurosurgery.
To view a photo gallery of the NeuroArm first case, click here.