Rajiv Midha 2021

Dr. Rajiv Midha, MD, MSc, FRCSC

Positions

Professor

Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences

Professor

Hotchkiss Brain Institute

Full Member

Hotchkiss Brain Institute

Contact information

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 944-1260

Email

Background

Educational Background

Doctor of Medicine Surgical Specialties, University of Toronto, 1987

M.S. Other Basic Sciences, University of Toronto, 1992

Biography

Rajiv Midha, MD, MSc, FRCS(C), FAANS, FCAHSProfessor and Head, Dept of Clinical Neurosciences (DCNS) and Head, DCNS, Alberta Health Services (Calgary Zone), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. Scientist and Executive, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary

http://www.ucalgary.ca/dcns/

 

Dr. Rajiv Midha was born in India in 1962 and immigrated to North America in 1972. He received his medical degree (1987), MSc (under Susan Mackinnon’s supervision in 1991), and neurosurgical training (completed in 1995), all from the University of Toronto. He obtained clinical fellowships in peripheral nerve neurosurgery at St. Michaels’ Hospital in Toronto, and at Louisiana State University in New Orleans (under David Kline). Dr. Midha has published over 175 peer-reviewed articles, as well as in textbooks, with over 300 total publications, mostly related to peripheral nerve neurobiology and surgery. He has co-edited 4 textbooks on peripheral nerve surgery. Dr Midha is internationally recognized as an authority on peripheral nerve surgery, having given over 300 lectures world-wide, and serving as past president of the two foremost international societies related to this specialty, American Society for Peripheral Nerve and the Sunderland Society. In addition, he is the current section editor for peripheral nerve for Neurosurgery and World Neurosurgery, and former board member for Journal of Neurosurgery.

 

Dr. Midha runs a CIHR peer-reviewed funded basic science laboratory investigating nerve regeneration, and is a Neuroscientist member and executive member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) at the University of Calgary. He has a special interest in peripheral nerve function, injury, repair, grafting, and regeneration.  In the recent past, the main thrust of the research lab has been on developing novel cell based therapies to improve outcome from nerve repair.

 

Dr. Midha is presently Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary.  The Department of Clinical Neurosciences is highly academic, composed of more than 100 Faculty members, and is organized into the Divisions of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Translational Neurosciences All areas of sub- specialization in neurology, neurosurgery and physiatry are covered, and each clinical Division has strong residency training programs as well as multiple Fellowships. 

Research

Areas of Research

Nerve Injury
Nerve Regeneration
Nerve Surgery
Stem Cells
Axon Myelination
Multiple Sclerosis
Spinal Cord / Nerve Injury & Pain
Activities

The Midha research lab investigates novel approaches to enhancing nerve regeneration and improving outcome after nerve surgery. The research involves rodent models of nerve injury and regeneration, investigating the utility of nerve grafts, nerve transplantation, growth factors, electrical stimulation and stem cells. The lab is part of the larger enterprise encompassing axonal biology and regeneration at the HBI, and holds ongoing collaborations with Drs. Biernaskie, Ousman, Stys and others at the University of Calgary. The major current focus of the lab relates to understanding the role of rodent and human skin derived Schwann cells in improving the milieu for enhanced nerve regeneration. As an example, we are exploring the role of these cells in modulating the immune response as well as axonal myelination. We utilize electrophysiology, advanced imaging and several innovative behavioral techniques to assay outcomes.

Projects

Schwann cell therapies for nerve repair

The Midha research lab investigates novel approaches to enhancing nerve regeneration and improving outcome after nerve surgery. The research involves rodent models of nerve injury and regeneration, investigating the utility of nerve grafts, nerve transplantation, growth factors, electrical stimulation and Schwann cells. The lab is part of the larger enterprise encompassing axonal biology and regeneration at the HBI, and holds ongoing collaborations with Drs. Biernaskie, Ousman and Stys and others at the University of Calgary. The major current focus of the lab relates to understanding the role of rodent and human skin derived Schwann cells in improving the milieu for enhanced nerve regeneration.  We utilize electrophysiology, advanced tissue imaging, cellular/molecular/genomic approaches  and several innovative behavioral techniques to assay outcomes.

Awards

  • award, 2017
  • award, 2016
  • award, 2014
  • award, 2013
  • award, 2011
  • Alan R Hudson Teaching Award, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, 2004