Yves De Koninck, FCAHS, FRSC, (born February 18, 1964) is a neuroscientist and Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Université Laval[1] and Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University.[2]

Yves De Koninck
Born (1964-02-18) February 18, 1964 (age 60)
South-Bend, Indiana, USA
Occupation(s)Neuroscientist, Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Université Laval
Known forPain research, transdisciplinary research
AwardsFellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Honorary Doctorate from Université de Montréal, Canada Research Chair in Chronic Pain and Related Brain Disorders, Prix Jacques-Rousseau ACFAS 2013
Websitehttp://ydklab.org

Biography edit

Yves De Koninck comes from a large family of intellectuals and scholars.[3] He is the son of the philosopher Thomas De Koninck,[4][5] and nephew of Joseph De Koninck, Professor Emeritus at the Brain and Mind Research Institute of the University of Ottawa.[6] He has two brothers: Paul De Koninck is Professor of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bio-Informatics at Université Laval and a neuroscientist,[7] and Marc De Koninck, a social worker and community organizer.[8]

Positions edit

  • Scientific Director of the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec[9]
  • Director of Research of the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS-CN)[10]
  • Founder and Director of the Neurophotonics Centre[11]
  • Canada Research Chair in Chronic Pain and Related Brain Disorders (Tier 1)[12]
  • Co-scientific director of Sentinel North[13][14][15]

Scientific contributions edit

Mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain edit

His most cited publications are two articles in the scientific journal Nature – together these two publications were cited over 1600 times in 2015.[16] In a 2003 Nature publication, De Koninck and his team showed that pain hypersensitivity in people suffering from neuropathic pain could be due to a reversal of the mechanisms that suppress pain signals in the spinal cord.[17] The discovery of this mechanism explaining neuropathic pain was highlighted as one of the top 10 discoveries of 2003 by the magazine Québec Science.[18] Jeffrey Coull, first author of the publication, received the Brain Star of the year award for his work from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health & Addiction.[19] The discovery that the protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the neuroimmune interactions underlying chronic pain is listed as one of the milestones in Canadian Health Research by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.[20] This work was published in Nature in 2005.[21]

In 2013, the De Koninck team reported the identification of a compound that restored the function of a protein called KCC2, and alleviated pain hypersensitivity in an experimental model of neuropathic pain, suggesting compounds of the kind could be used as novel therapeutics for chronic pain and other neurological diseases in which KCC2 function is disrupted, including epilepsy, motor spasticity, stress, anxiety, schizophrenia, and morphine-induced hyperalgesia.[22] Marc Bergeron received a CIHR Brain Star Award for this publication.[23]

Another study, published in the journal Brain in 2013[24] further highlighted the importance of the KCC2 protein in neuropathic pain, as blocking this protein replicated the effect of nerve injury and reduced the threshold for transmission of painful stimuli, a hallmark of allodynia. Restoring KCC2 function in experimental models with nerve injury conversely restored the threshold. Guillaume Lavertu, first author of this publication, received an Étudiant-chercheur étoile award for this work.[25]

Also in 2013 work from the De Koninck laboratory showed mechanisms similar to those involved in neuropathic pain signaling could be involved in morphine-induced hyperalgesia. This research explained why morphine can paradoxically cause pain, and showed that the mechanisms underlying pain hypersensitivity are distinct from those causing morphine tolerance.[26] This discovery was highlighted as one of the top ten discoveries of 2013 by Québec Science Magazine,[27] and co-first authors Francesco Ferrini and Tuan Trang received 2013 CIHR Brain Star awards for this publication.[23][27]

Yves De Koninck's work showing how a dysregulation of chloride ion transport is involved in chronic pain and other brain disorders, and the discovery of a compound that can act therapeutically for these disorders was selected as one of the breakthroughs of the year by Le Soleil newspaper.[28]

In 2014, a study published in Nature Neuroscience showed that pain hypersensitivity could be reversed after being reactivated, in a process similar to memory reconsolidation.[29] Robert Bonin was named étudiant chercheur étoile of the month of March 2015 for this publication,[30] and received the CIHR-INMHA Brain Star of the year Award for this publication.[31]

Development of optogenetic tools to study neurons edit

The development of a novel probe, capable of recording neuron activity, but also of emitting light to activate cells using optogenetic approaches was highlighted as one of the discoveries of the year for 2011 by Québec Science.[32][33]

Neuronal changes associated with aging edit

Work done by Cyril Bories, in the De Koninck laboratory, revealed neurobiological differences in the balance of excitatory and inhibitory signals in the brains of aging rats that could be correlated to alterations in cognitive functions.[34] Cyril Bories received an Age Plus Prize from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research institute of Aging for this publication.[35]

Awards edit

  • 2022: Wilder Penfield Award, Prix du Québec[36]
  • 2020: Award for Education in Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience [37]
  • 2019: Emily M. Gray Award, Biophysical Society[38]
  • 2018: Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering (team award)[39]
  • 2017: Distinguished Career Award, Canadian Pain Society[40]
  • 2016: Canada Research Chair in Chronic Pain and Related Brain Disorders (Tier 1)[12]
  • 2015: Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada[41]
  • 2015: Honorary Doctorate, Université de Montréal[42]
  • 2014: Barbara Turnbull Award for spinal cord research, Barbara Turnbull Foundation, CIHR and Brain Canada[43][44]
  • 2013: Top 10 discoveries of the year, Québec Science magazine[27]
  • 2013: Jacques-Rousseau Prize (multidisciplinarity), Association francophone pour le savoir[45][46]
  • 2013: Fellow Canadian Academy of Health Sciences[47]
  • 2013: Top 10 discoveries of the year, Le Soleil[28]
  • 2013: Personality of the week, La Presse/Radio-Canada[48]
  • 2013: Molecular Pain Award, Association for the Study of Neurons and Diseases[49]
  • 2013: Researcher of the Month, Canadians for Medical Research[50]
  • 2012: Personality of the week, Le Soleil / Radio Canada[51]
  • 2011: Top 10 discoveries of the year, Québec Science magazine[52]
  • 2004: Top 10 discoveries of the year, Québec Science magazine[18]
  • 2001: Young Investigator Award, Canadian Pain Society[53]

References edit

  1. ^ "Yves De Koninck — Neurosciences cellulaires et moléculaires — Recherche — CRIUSMQ". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Adjunct Professors". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  3. ^ "La famille De Koninck - ICI.Radio-Canada.ca". Radio-Canada.ca. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Thomas de Koninck - Professeur émérite - Faculté de philosophie". Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  5. ^ "Koninck (Thomas de)". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Joseph De Koninck". Brain. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Paul De Koninck Lab". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Bons pauvres, mauvais pauvres". Le Devoir. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  9. ^ Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec. "Le professeur Yves De Koninck nommé directeur scientifique de l'Institut". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-02-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Direction and Coordination - Neurophotonics". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  12. ^ a b "February 2016 Recipients List". 29 November 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Minister Holder Announces Investment in Research to Create Technologies to Support Sustainable Development and Health in Canadian North". 4 December 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Université Laval". 4 December 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Stratégie de recherche pour mieux comprendre le Nord". Le Devoir. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Yves De Koninck - Google Scholar Citations". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  17. ^ Coull JA, Boudreau D, Bachand K, Prescott SA, Nault F, Sík A, De Koninck P, De Koninck Y. Trans-synaptic shift in anion gradient in spinal lamina I neurons as a mechanism of neuropathic pain. Nature. 2003 Aug 21;424(6951):938-42. PMID 12931188
  18. ^ a b "Laval figure au palmarès 2003 de Québec Science". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  19. ^ Government of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada. "Information archivée dans le Web" (PDF). publications.gc.ca.
  20. ^ "Milestones in Canadian Health Research - CIHR". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  21. ^ Coull JA, Beggs S, Boudreau D, Boivin D, Tsuda M, Inoue K, Gravel C, Salter MW, De Koninck Y. BDNF from microglia causes the shift in neuronal anion gradient underlying neuropathic pain. Nature. 2005 Dec 15;438(7070):1017-21. PMID 16355225.
  22. ^ Gagnon M, Bergeron MJ, Lavertu G, Castonguay A, Tripathy S, Bonin RP, Perez-Sanchez J, Boudreau D, Wang B, Dumas L, Valade I, Bachand K, Jacob-Wagner M, Tardif C, Kianicka I, Isenring P, Attardo G, Coull JA, De Koninck Y. Chloride extrusion enhancers as novel therapeutics for neurological diseases. Nat Med. 2013 Nov;19(11):1524-8. doi:10.1038/nm.3356. Epub 2013 Oct 6. PMID 24097188; PMC 4005788.
  23. ^ a b "Brain Star Awards – Recipients for 2013". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  24. ^ Lavertu G, Côté SL, De Koninck Y. Enhancing K-Cl co-transport restores normal spinothalamic sensory coding in a neuropathic pain model. Brain. 2014 Mar;137(Pt 3):724-38. doi:10.1093/brain/awt334.
  25. ^ "Enhancing K–Cl co-transport restores normal spinothalamic sensory coding in a neuropathic pain model - Fonds de recherche du Québec". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  26. ^ Ferrini, F., Tuang-Trang, T.A., Mattioli, M., Laffray, S., Del-Guidice, T., Lorenzo, L.-E., Castonguay, A., Doyon, N., Zhang, W., Godin, A.G., Mohr, D., Beggs, S., Vandal, K., Beaulieu, J.M., Cahill, C., Salter, M.W. & De Koninck, Y. (2013) Morphine hyperalgesia gated through microglia-mediated disruption of neuronal Cl- homeostasis. Nat. Neurosci. 16:183-192
  27. ^ a b c "[8] Le double jeu de la morphine". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  28. ^ a b "La douleur chronique dans ses derniers retranchements". La Presse. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  29. ^ Bonin RP, De Koninck Y. A spinal analog of memory reconsolidation enables reversal of hyperalgesia. Nat Neurosci. 2014 Aug;17(8):1043-5. doi:10.1038/nn.3758. Epub 2014 Jul 6. PMID 24997764.
  30. ^ "A Spinal Analogue of Memory Reconsolidation Enables Reversal of Hyperalgesia - Fonds de recherche du Québec". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  31. ^ "CAN connection" (PDF). Canadian Association for Neuroscience Newsletter. September 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  32. ^ "Les 10 découvertes de 2011 Archives". Québec Science (in French). Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  33. ^ LeChasseur Y, Dufour S, Lavertu G, Bories C, Deschênes M, Vallée R, De Koninck Y. A microprobe for parallel optical and electrical recordings from single neurons in vivo. Nat Methods. 2011 Apr;8(4):319-25. doi:10.1038/nmeth.1572. Epub 2011 Feb 13. PMID 21317908.
  34. ^ Bories C, Husson Z, Guitton MJ, De Koninck Y. Differential balance of prefrontal synaptic activity in successful versus unsuccessful cognitive aging. J Neurosci. 2013 Jan 23;33(4):1344-56. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3258-12.2013
  35. ^ "Age+ Prize Winners". 25 November 2013. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  36. ^ "Prix : Wilder-Penfield". Prix du Québec (in French). Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  37. ^ "Society for Neuroscience Presents Awards for Education in Neuroscience". Society for Neuroscience.
  38. ^ "Yves De Koninck to Receive 2019 BPS Emily Gray Award". Biophysical Society.
  39. ^ Division, Government of Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Communications (May 2018). "NSERC - Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering - Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering". www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ "Canadian Pain Society - Home". www.canadianpainsociety.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  41. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-02-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ^ BCRP - Alice De Forges De Parny. "L'Université de Montréal a décerné un doctorat honoris causa à quatre personnalités - UdeMNouvelles". Nouvelles.umontreal.ca. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  43. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  44. ^ "Barbara Turnbull Award - Recipient: Dr. Yves De Koninck - - - -". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  45. ^ "Acfas - Association francophone pour le savoir". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  46. ^ "Prix Jacques-Rousseau - Ce professeur qui fouille dans le cerveau". Le Devoir. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  47. ^ "CAHS Fellows Directory – Canadian Academy of Health Sciences / Académie canadianne des sciences de la santé". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  48. ^ "Yves De Koninck". La Presse. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  49. ^ "Award Winners". ANDInternational.org. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  50. ^ "Dr Yves De Koninck". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  51. ^ "Yves De Koninck: les deux pieds dans le savoir". La Presse. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  52. ^ "[1] Lumière sur les neurones". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  53. ^ Past recipients of awards [dead link]

External links edit