Brief Bio

Dr. Chris Anderson is the founding Scientific Director of PrairieNeuro and is also a Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Manitoba. 

After completing undergraduate studies in biochemistry at Simon Fraser University, he earned a PhD from the University of Manitoba and completed postdoctoral research training at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Anderson’s main areas of expertise include glial neurobiology, neurovascular coupling and the role of brain microvasculature in aggressive glioblastoma infiltration. Since his initial academic appointment in 2004, his work has attracted over $7 million in operating, training and infrastructure grants from local, national and international agencies. He is a former Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada New Investigator and Manitoba Research Chair in Neurodegeneration. Trainees from his group have become successful academic researchers, entrepreneurial leaders, research associates and medical professionals. He has served many national and international granting agencies as an expert referee for the peer review process. Dr. Anderson is passionate about neuroscience networking, outreach and policy. He leads the vigorous activities of the Manitoba Neuroscience Network and serves as the Manitoba representative on the national committee of neuroscience institute leaders for the Canadian Brain Research Strategy initiative (CBRS).

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Research Directions

One-in-three Canadians will be directly affected by a neurological or psychiatric disorder and the yearly costs of acute care represent the highest portion of the overall financial burden of disease in Canada.

Dr. Chris Anderson’s research program is focused on discovery of new targets for therapeutic development in brain disease and injury. Dr. Anderson uses a multi-disciplinary array of experimental approaches and models, including advanced live animal multiphoton microscopic imaging of genetic-encoded functional indicators in engineered mice, to decipher the molecular communication events at the interface of the nervous and cardiovascular systems in the brain. Anderson studies how the brain and blood circulatory systems communicate with one another to regulate functions that are important determinants of neurodegenerative processes and brain injury, including delivery of blood and nutrient flow to active brain tissues and invasion of aggressive cancer cells into healthy brain tissue along vascular pathways. His research articles have been cited over 5300 times and his work has been funded most recently by agencies including the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Brain Canada Foundation, Research Manitoba, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and the Winnipeg Foundation.

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Job Opportunities

The Anderson lab is looking for talented, motivated, independent graduate students to work in a multi-disciplinary setting at PrairieNeuro. PrairieNeuro students have access to a wide array of state-of-the-art experimental approaches and collaborative partners. Several projects are available. Dr. Anderson will work with qualified candidates to find a project and learning environment that best support success for individual trainees. He believes that research training in an academic institute should support career development and will work with trainees to evaluate training goals execute a training plan capable of preparing graduates for a range of careers. Prospective graduate students with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent may approach Dr. Anderson directly by email. Please provide a CV and unofficial academic transcripts.

Currently Hiring: MSc, PhD,

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Publications