Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Manitoba
Principal Investigator, St. Boniface Research Ctr.
Adjunct Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Manitoba
Research Affiliate, Center on Aging, University of Manitoba
Scientist, MICH

PhD 1995, University of Utah School of Medicine

Basic laboratory and clinical research; CNS; hippocampus; hyperexcitability; excitotoxicity; glutamatergic neurotransmission; calcium overload; synaptic plasticity & memory encoding (paradigms of LTP/LTD and Morris water maze, Barnes’ maze, etc.); neonatal and adult models; aging; NMDA receptor functioning; memory alterations associated with stroke, trauma, Alzheimer’s dementia, epilepsy, autism; electrophysiology; neuroimaging (MRI, fluorescence, calcium, confocal); GeneChip (Affymetrix); electrical stimulation of brain tissue; drug discovery/development; natural products; science education; medical science writing/editing.

T.N. Parks, A.L. Mueller, L.D. Artman, B.C. ALBENSI, H. Jackson, V.J. Jasys, N.A. Saccomano, R.A. Volkmann. Arylamine toxins from funnel-web spider (Agelenopsis aperta) venom act as N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor antagonists in mammalian brain. J Biol Chem, 266(32): 21523-21529, 1991.

A.L. Mueller, B.C. ALBENSI, A.H. Ganong, L. Reynolds and H. Jackson. Arylamine
spider toxins antagonize NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in rat hippocampus: An in vitro electrophysiological study. Synapse 9: 244-250, 1991.

B.C. ALBENSI, K.T. Ryujin, J.M. McIntosh, S.R. Naisbitt, B.M. Olivera and F.M. Filloux. Localization of [125I] conotoxin GVIA binding sites in human hippocampus and cerebellum. NeuroReport, 4(12): 1331-1334, 1993.

B.C. ALBENSI, M. P. Schweizer, T. M. Rarick and F. Filloux. Magnetic resonance imaging of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the neonatal rat. Invest Radiol 33(7): 377-385, 1998.

B.C. ALBENSI and J.H. Powell. The Differential Optomotor Response of the Four-eyed Fish, Anableps anableps. Perception 27: 1475-1483, 1998.

B.C. ALBENSI, M. P. Schweizer, T. M. Rarick and F. Filloux. Unilateral Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury in the Neonatal Rat Brain Evaluated by In Vivo MRI: Correlation with Histopathology and Neuroprotection by MK801. Invest Radiol 34(4): 249-261, 1999.

B.C. ALBENSI and M.P. Mattson. Evidence for the Involvement of TNF and NF-B in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity. Synapse 35: 151-159, 2000.

B.C. ALBENSI, S. Knoblach, B.G.M. Chew, M.P. O'Reilly, A.I. Faden and J.J. Pekar. Diffusion and High Resolution MRI of Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats: Time Course and
Correlation with Histology. Exp Neurol 162: 61-72, 2000.

B.C. ALBENSI, P. Sullivan, M. Thompson, S. Scheff and M.P. Mattson. Cyclosporin Ameliorates Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Alterations of Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity Exp Neurol 162(2):385-389, 2000.

B.C. ALBENSI, N. Alasti and A.L. Mueller. Long-term potentiation in the presence of NMDA receptor antagonist arylalkylamine spider toxins. J Neurosci Research 62(2):177-185, 2000.

B.C. ALBENSI. Models of Brain Injury and Alterations in Synaptic Plasticity. J Neurosci Res 65(3): 279-283, 2001.

B.C. ALBENSI. Potential Roles for TNF and NFB in Seizure Activity. J Neurosci Res 66(2): 151-154, 2001.

B.C. ALBENSI and Damir Janigro. Traumatic Brain Injury and its Effects on Synaptic Plasticity. Invited Review. Brain Injury 17(8):653-63, 2003.

N. Marchi, P. Rasmussen, M. Kapural, V. Fazio, K. Kight, M.R. Mayberg, A. Kanner, B. Ayumar, B.C. ALBENSI, M. Cavaglia, D. Janigro. Peripheral markers of brain damage and blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Restor Neurol Neurosci 21(3,4):109-121, 2003.

B.C. ALBENSI, G. Ata, E. Schimdt, J. Waterman, D. Janigro. Activation of Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity Causes Suppression of Epileptiform Activity in Rat Hippocampal Slices. Brain Research 998(1):56-64, 2004.

B.C. ALBENSI, E. Ilkanich, D. Janigro, C. Igoechi. Why do Many NMDA Antagonists Fail, While Others are Safe and Effective at Blocking Exitotoxicity Associated With Dementia and Acute Injury? American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias 19(5):269-274, 2004.

B.C. ALBENSI, E. Ilkanich, G. Dini and D. Janigro. Elements of Scientific Visualization in Basic Neuroscience Research. BioScience 54(12): 1127-1137, 2004.

B.C. ALBENSI, D. R. Oliver, J. Toupin and G. Odero. Electrical Stimulation Protocols for Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Neuronal Hyper-excitability: Are They Effective or Relevant? Exp Neurol 204(1): 1-13, 2007.

B.C. ALBENSI, The NMDA Receptor/Ion Complex in Synaptic Plasticity and Excitotoxicity. Invited Review. Curr Pharm Design 13(31):3185-3194, 2007.

J.D. Thiessen, K.A. Collister, L.M. Kurjewicz, M.R. Del Bigio, B.C. ALBENSI, M. Martin. Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Behavioural Test Comparisons in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Physics in Canada 63(3): 134-137, 2007.

G. Odero, F. Amara, B.C. ALBENSI. Un-educating Creativity: a Case for a Greater Emphasis on Creativity in Medical Education. Journal of the International Assoc of Med Sci Educators 17(2): 87-94, 2007.

B.C. ALBENSI, J. Toupin*, K. Oikawa, and D.R. Oliver. Controlled pulse delivery of electrical stimulation differentially reduces epileptiform activity in Mg2+-free treated hippocampal slices. Brain Research 1226: 163-172, 2008. *This author is a co-first author.

B.C. ALBENSI. Can in vitro assessment provide relevant end points for cognitive drug programs? Invited review. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery 3(12):1377-1382, 2008.

J. Schapansky, M. Morissette, G. Odero, B. ALBENSI, G. Glazner. Neuregulin 1 Enhances Peak Glutamate-induced Intracellular Calcium Levels through Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Release in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons. Canadian Journ. Physiology and Pharmacology. Accepted. In Press.

K. Collister, G. Odero, D. Grossman, E. Anema, A. Motnenko, J. Schpansky, D. Oliver, G. Glazner and B.C. ALBENSI. Strain Specific Differences in Memory and Neuropathology in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Life Sciences Submitted.

G. Odero, K. Oikawa, K. Collister, D. Grossman, J. Thiessen, J. Schpansky, N. Ge, M. Martin, G. Glazner, and B.C. ALBENSI. Long-term Potentiation and Memory in the Presenilin 1 Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Neuroscience. Submitted.

J. Thiessen, K Collister, Solmaz Nafez, A. Schellenberg, R. Buist, M. Martin, and B.C. ALBENSI. Histochemical visualization and diffusion weighted imaging in the TgCRND8 transgenic model of Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Structure and Function. Submitted