In 1986, Dr. Gordon Francis developed the first clinical trials at the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital). This research was groundbreaking, helping to find the first clinically approved medicines for MS, greatly improving the lives of patients. It also helped set the stage for the CRU’s continued leadership in clinical research.

The second phase of the CRU began in 1998, when Dr. Douglas Arnold took over the reins of the unit, eventually adding trials for stroke, spine and brain tumour and an early trial for ALS during his tenure. He also created an in-house lab team to process and ship all biological samples for trial participants according to exacting standards.

Beginning in 2004, the CRU was led by Dr. Angela Genge,  also the director of the ALS Centre for Excellence at The Neuro. The unit moved from a single PI framework to a multi-PI model and continued to expand disease areas, as well as support functions (nursing, contracts, ethics, It, communications) to ensure the most efficient and cost effective management.

Under Dr. Genge’s leadership, the CRU  expanded to become the largest neurological clinical trials unit in Canada, conducting over 115 industry- and investigator-sponsored Phase I-IV clinical trials across 11 areas of neurology, with new disease indications added annually.

In 2023, two new co-directors came to the helm of the CRU: Dr. Ziv Gan-Or and Dr. Massimo Pandolfo. They each have extensive expertise in personalized medicine and drug target development, making them ideal to lead the CRU in this new chapter.

Treatments for rare disease have made huge strides in the past decade. There are exciting advances being made as precision medicine and targeted gene therapies enter the research arena for neurological conditions. As a leading centre for clinical research in neurology, the CRU will continue to test cutting-edge therapies and offer patients access to the most promising potential treatments.