Vision

The Kowalec lab is a multi-disciplinary research program at the University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, which combines genomics, biostatistics, and epidemiology, to advance the outcomes of those affected by neurological and psychiatric disorders. Our work regularly involves an extensive network of Canadian, American, Swedish, and other International collaborators.
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Our group is located in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, at the University of Manitoba, where we contribute to the creation of a data science hub. We are a "dry-lab" focussed on computation and analysis, but collaborate with "wet-lab" groups internationally.

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​Mission

We aim to improve patient outcomes in neurology or psychiatry via scientific discoveries using genomic, speciality clinic, and population-based data. We also want to implement pharmacogenomics and pharmacoepidemiological research findings into the clinical practice of neurology or psychiatry.

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Values

1. Excellence - Strive for research that is of the highest level of excellence
2. Integrity - Be honest and have a moral compass
3. Innovative - Be creative and open to new ideas and methods
4. Equity - Treat others equally and irrespective of status, race, gender, sex, or sexual orientation
5. Responsibility - Understand that social responsibilities of medical research exist and that they should be respected

Recent News

11/2022:

• Dr. K gave a presentation at ECTRIMS2022 on depression polygenicity in MS and was also one of ten selected as the CBC Future 40!

09/2022:

• New paper on using Polygenic Risk Scores to predict ECT outcomes
• Dr. Kowalec gave a presentation at WCPG-2022 on the new GWAS in the Sweden Schizophrenia Study!
• Welcome to two new graduate students with the Kowalec lab: Gerald and Ali! And a new co-supervised student with Dr. Leong - Aziz.

06/2022:

• Welcome to our summer students: Francisca, Jerlin, and Brianne!

04/2022:

• New paper on depressive symptom trajectories in IMID and polygenic risk scores
• New collaborative publication on the impact of educational attainment, IQ and intellectual disability on schizophrenia

02/2022:

• New collaborative publication on the use of polygenic risk scores in pharmacogenomics!

01/2022:

• Welcome to Mina, our new graduate student!​

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Kowalec lab members - Summer 2022

Left to right: Urmi Das, Jerlin Joyees, Kaarina Kowalec (PI), Laila Aboulatta, Brianne Desrochers, Mina Shirinbakhshmasoleh. Not pictured: Francisca Jacobo.

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Funding & Research Partners