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About the Centre

The University of Toronto established the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases in 1990, with the visionary support of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and a group of dedicated private individuals led by Mark Tanz and Lionel Schipper, whose families had both been touched by Alzheimer’s disease.

The founding director, Professor Peter St George-Hyslop, led the Tanz Centre and its award-winning research teams for nearly 30 years. In 2019, Prof. Graham Collingridge was appointed director of the Tanz Centre as the Krembil Family Chair in Neuroscience. 

The Tanz Centre is housed in the Krembil Research Tower at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network.

Driving Tanz researchers is the Centre’s mission to discover, apply and disseminate knowledge that will lead to the prevention, treatment and cure of these debilitating diseases.

Mark Tanz (BA’52, Hon LLB’90)’s remarkable generosity has been a catalyst that has accelerated research in Canada into neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Fundraising and community outreach efforts of the Tanz Centre are guided by a dedicated and visionary group of individuals who have contributed their expertise to assist the Tanz scientists in achieving their mission to lead global research and education in neurodegenerative disease.  

Mar 26, 2024
In recent years, researchers have studied the link between depression and dementia. Depression can affect different aspects of cognition such as attention, executive function and memory. Some researchers believe that depression may even be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.
Mar 20, 2024
Researchers in the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease have reason to celebrate with the announcement of $8.6 million in funding, which will help catalyze breakthroughs in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Dec 19, 2023
Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases have uncovered a link between neuronal receptor proteins and brain immune cells that may help explain damage to the brain in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Dec 1, 2023
Le yao (Leo) Li’s doctoral studies at the University of Toronto could lead to better research models of how neurodegenerative diseases spread in the brain.
Nov 22, 2023
Cherrie Chiu talks about her late brother's experience with ALS, the foundation they launched together and the important research that it is helping to fund at U of T.
Oct 31, 2023
Three scientists at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases have received donor-supported research awards to pursue projects that will advance understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.