Montreal Neurological Institute

Montreal Neurological Institute Institut et hôpital neurologiques de Montréal
McGill University Health Centre
Location in Montreal
Geography
Location	3801 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Coordinates	45°30′33″N 73°34′53″W / 45.509167°N 73.581389°W / 45.509167; -73.581389Coordinates: 45°30′33″N 73°34′53″W / 45.509167°N 73.581389°W / 45.509167; -73.581389
Organization
Care system	RAMQ (Quebec medicare)
Hospital type	Specialist, Teaching
Affiliated university	McGill University (Faculty of Medicine)
Services
Emergency department	None
Beds	85
History
Founded	1934
Links
Website	http://www.mni.mcgill.ca

The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (French: 'Institut et hôpital neurologiques de Montréal') is an academic medical centre dedicated to neuroscience research, training and clinical care. The institute is part of McGill University and the hospital is one of the six teaching hospitals of the McGill University Health Centre. They occupy separate sections of the same buildings on McGill's downtown Montreal campus next to Molson Stadium. The institute and hospital are locally known as "The Neuro."

The MNI was founded in 1934 by the neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield (1891–1976), with a $1.2 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation of New York City and the support of the government of Quebec, the city of Montreal, and private donors such as Izaak Walton Killam. In the years since the MNI's first structure, the Rockefeller Pavilion was opened, several major structures were added to expand the scope of the MNI's research and clinical activities. The MNI is the site of many Canadian "firsts." Electroencephalography (EEG) was largely introduced and developed in Canada by MNI scientist Herbert Jasper, and all of the major new neuroimaging techniques---computer axial tomography (CAT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were first used in Canada at the MNI. Working under the same roof, the Neuro's scientists and physicians made discoveries that drew world attention. Penfield's technique for epilepsy neurosurgery became known as the Montreal procedure. K.A.C. Elliott identified γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as the first inhibitory neurotransmitter. Brenda Milner revealed new aspects of brain function and ushered in the field of neuropsychology as a result of her groundbreaking study of the most famous neuroscience patient of the 20th century, H.M., who had anterograde amnesia and was unable to form new memories. In 2007, the Canadian government recognized the innovation and work of the MNI by naming it one of seven national Centres of Excellence in Commercialization and Research.