Headshot of Randy McIntosh.

Randy McIntosh

Director, Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
Simon Fraser University

Randy McIntosh is professor and BC leadership chair in neuroscience and technology transfer across the lifespan, and director of the Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, at Simon Fraser University. He holds a Ph.D. in psychology and neuroscience with a strong background in statistics. His research journey began at the Rotman Research Institute at the University of Toronto, where he developed a keen interest in understanding aging and cognition. McIntosh is the co-lead for the team that created The Virtual Brain (thevirtualbrain.org), a groundbreaking platform that unites global research efforts.

Explore more from The Transmitter

Stock photo of a group of neurons.

Finding neuroheterogeneity’s sweet spot

Once thought to be detrimental to memory processing, neuronal diversity—at the right ‘Goldilocks’ dose—is a new boon to theoretical neuroscience.

By Natalia Mesa
20 October 2026 | 7 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

COVID-19 and influenza effects in pregnancy; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 19 October.

By Jill Adams
20 October 2026 | 2 min read
Illustration of a person standing in a crumbling room with papers and strings on the wall, a fallen chair, and a lamp.

What to do when traditional mechanistic approaches no longer work

Many complex behaviors have stubbornly resisted mechanistic explanations. Deciphering them will require new approaches—and perhaps a new concept of “understanding.”

By Bence Ölveczky
19 October 2026 | 8 min read