About Research at CAMH

Research at CAMH transforms lives. Through the work of our scientists, we are improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use problems. CAMH science is not only improving treatment and care today, but is also setting directions for tomorrow’s mental health and substance use care.

This year’s report highlights some of the ways CAMH scientists transform lives, and make research relevant from the laboratory to the living room.

Areas of Research

From CAMH’s inception, research has been a central part of our work. With the merger of our four founding institutions in 1998, CAMH became the largest mental health and substance use research centre in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. This has allowed us to develop unrivalled depth and breadth in scientific discovery, and has focused our research efforts on understanding and improving the treatments for mental health and substance use problems.

Research at CAMH brings together internationally recognized scientists, state-of-the-art facilities, a range of professional training and a province-wide network of community program staff. These resources are interlaced across four areas of scientific focus:

Neuroscience Research
Clinical Research
Social, Prevention and Health Policy Research
PET Centre.

Neuroscience Research

The Neuroscience Research Department focuses on the mechanisms in the brain that underlie mental illness and addiction, and the mechanisms that are involved in their respective treatments. The department studies all levels of the brain—from molecules, through brain cells, to the whole brain, in three areas of research: molecular medicine, psychiatric genetics, and clinical and behavioural neuroscience.

Neuroscience research is divided into the following sections:

Neurobiology of Alcohol
Biopsychology
Clinical Neuroscience
Human Neurochemical Pathology Laboratory
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathophysiology
Molecular Neuroscience
Molecular Pharmacology
Neuroimaging
Pharmacogenetics
Psychiatric Neurogenetics
Translational Addiction Research Laboratory

Clinical Research

The Clinical Research Department is involved in research, treatment and education. This department contributes to these areas through scientific publications, presentations, and the sharing of knowledge with clinicians and the community at large. Clinical Research is divided into five sections:

Addictions
Child, Youth and Family
Law and Mental Health
Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Schizophrenia

Social, Prevention and Health Policy Research

The Social, Prevention and Health Policy Research Department conducts innovative, topical research using the latest methodological and statistical techniques. This work provides scientific evidence to inform policy decisions, health system redesign and other interventions. This restructured department comprises four integrated sections, each of which collaborates with the other research departments, clinical services and the Policy, Education and Health Promotion department:

Health Systems Research and Consulting
Public Health and Regulatory Policies
Social and Community Prevention Research
Social, Equity and Health

PET Centre

The PET Centre is dedicated to brain research using positron emission tomography (PET), a form of brain scan. Its main focus is on studying chemical brain messengers through PET methods, to better understand the neurochemical root of mental illness and addiction. The ultimate goals are to:

improve the lives of clients and their families by enhancing the effectiveness of existing treatments and reducing side effects
to encourage innovative approaches to drug development by using PET in the early stages of evaluating new drugs.

Currently, research in the PET Centre is focused on radiochemistry and PET methodology, schizophrenia, and mood neurochemistry. Moving forward, the PET Centre will expand its core activities and collaborate with clinicians in the fields of substance use and geriatrics.

About Research at CAMH

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