Welcome to the Brain-Body Institute.

The Brain-Body Institute (BBI) is a joint research initiative between St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, and McMaster University and was created to advance the understanding of relations between the brain, the nervous system and bodily disorders.

The BBI has come together as a result of multimillion dollar awards in the last two years from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Innovation Trust, the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund and St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, and its Foundation. Collaboration and support from the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences and the Divisions of Gastroenterology, Respirology and Clinical Immunology have made this Institute a reality.

Dr. John Bienenstock was appointed the founding Director of the Institute in July 2001. Additional clinical and basic scientists collaborating in the BBI include Dr. Judah Denburg, Dr. Glenda MacQueen, Dr. Michael Noseworthy, Dr. Paul O'Byrne (Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health), Dr. Boris Sakic, Dr. Meir Steiner, Dr. Richard Swinson, Dr. Gervais Tougas, and Dr. Jane Foster.Clinical and basic scientists in this multidisciplinary Institute will study the interaction and impact of environmental factors, including stress, early life experiences and early microbial exposure on the brain and nervous system. The concept that the brain and nervous system both influence the mechanisms that cause many diseases is not new. Stress undoubtedly plays a major role in psychiatric illness such as depression and may well play a similar role in other chronic diseases, like asthma or functional intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Past research has focused primarily on the link between the "mind" and the "body". The central theme for exploration in the BBI is understanding the biochemical, genetic and electrophysiological interactions that link brain to bodily functions. A major additional objective through this research is to discover new ways of treatment and prevention of disease. The BBI will promote a transdisciplinary model for the comprehensive examination of these factors in somatic diseases, conducting parallel laboratory and clinical studies, with a plan to move to the forefront in the study of stress-related illnesses. There is an additional aim of informing disciplines such as respirology, gastroenterology and cardiovascular disease, where a role for stress is already broadly recognized.

For the Imaging Research Centre, click here.