Schizophrenia Research Program

Research

Research in the Schizophrenia Program at CAMH covers a broad range of topics and techniques. Our scientists conduct everything from basic science experiments to research on how treatments and life experiences affect illness outcomes. This research aims to understand the causes and development of schizophrenia, and extends our understanding of illness effects and treatments. As some examples, we study how new and promising treatments work, the impact of substance use in people with schizophrenia, and what factors in our communities and families affect the illness.  

The Schizophrenia Program is located in the largest mental health research institute in Canada, and is affiliated with the University of Toronto, the largest university in the country. This gives us unparalleled access to neuroscience laboratories and clinical populations.

Resources

Our clinical program has 167 inpatient beds and approximately 4,000 outpatients with schizophrenia, with 190,000 patient visits in the last year. We have the only dedicated research PET scanner in Toronto. We enjoy ready access to several research and clinical MRI machines nearby, and are in the process of setting up our own MRI machine. The College Street campus, which is close to University of Toronto, houses 10 research laboratories. These labs are equipped for experiments in biochemistry, pharmacology, genetics, molecular biology and cell biology. College Street is the site of the first stage of CAMH’s Research Renaissance project to expand our imaging and research laboratory facilities. The Queen Street campus is undergoing a similar transformation. It will include renewed client space, clinical services and research facilities.

People

Our core research faculty has diverse interests and expertise, including illness effects and outcomes, clinical treatment trials, psychopharmacology, genetics and pharmacogenetics, clinical electrophysiology, structural and functional imaging, and basic biochemistry, cell biology and molecular biology. Together, we have created a research program that exemplifies a modern, translational approach to research on schizophrenia with the aim of better understanding and treating schizophrenia. Our faculty and areas of expertise are listed below. Follow the links to learn more.

Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Risk Management: Dr. Rohan Ganguli

Electrophysiology: Dr. Jeff Daskalakis

First Episode Psychosis: Dr. Ofer Agid

Genetics (including clinical, epigenetics and molecular): Dr. Anne Bassett; Dr Vincenzo DeLuca; Dr. Jim Kennedy; Dr. Daniel Mueller; Dr Arturas Petronis and Dr. Albert Wong

Imaging: Dr. Ariel Graff; Dr. Mahesh Menon; Dr. Romina Mizrahi; and Dr. Aristotle Voineskos

Metabolic and Medical Monitoring: Dr. Tony Cohn

Neuropsychology: Dr. Mahesh Menon

Psychopharmacology and Treatment Resistance: Dr. Gary Remington

Recovery and Rehabilitation: Dr. Sean Kidd

Smoking and Substance Use: Dr. Tony George

Social Psychiatry: Dr. Kwame McKenzie

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