CAMH is home to the largest mental health and addictions research facility in Canada.

We have more than 100 full-time scientists and over 500 staff and students working together to better understand mental illness and substance use disorders and improve diagnosis, prevention, intervention, treatment and public policy initiatives. Our scientists are leaders in developing world-class research and translating these pioneering discoveries into clinical "bed-side" care.

Research Highlights

• Post-doc fellowship in forensic services
  Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellowship in the Health Systems Research and Consulting Unit (HSRCU) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Ontario. This fellowship provides an opportunity to spend one year engaged in forensic health services research, with a strong focus on the homeless population and the use of secondary and administrative data.
  

The HSRCU is a multidisciplinary group of research scientists and consultants whose primary objective is to generate and disseminate knowledge related to mental health and addiction services and policy. More information about the HSRCU can be found at: http://www.camh.net/Research/Areas_of_research/Social_Prevention_Health_Policy/health_systems_research.html

The fellow will be afforded opportunities to gain experience in all aspects of policy-relevant research, including grant writing and preparation of manuscripts.  Interested fellows may have opportunities to teach, although teaching is not a requirement.  The fellowship is open to candidates who hold a PhD in the behavioural or social sciences. Experience in forensic psychology or related studies is a definite asset. Candidates must demonstrate prior experience with theoretical modeling and advanced statistical analyses. The HSRCU particularly hopes to recruit a candidate with interests in studying predictors of outcomes for marginalized individuals receiving community services. Applications from qualified individuals with personal experience of mental illness or addiction are encouraged.

Selection will be based upon the candidate's educational and professional background, research interests, and potential to contribute to the health services research. Only those candidates with a reasonable expectation of having completed their graduate work and earned their degrees by the start date will be eligible. The fellowship begins Jan 4^th, 2010 and the annual stipend is $42,000 plus $5,000 for research expenses. To apply, please submit a CV, names and contact information for four referees, and a letter detailing 1) experience/interest in mental health services and policy research and 2) a list of objectives for the fellowship period. Complete application materials are due Oct 5th, 2009. They should be sent electronically to:

Paula Goering RN PhD
Co-Section Head, Health Systems Research and Consulting Unit
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Professor, University of Toronto
CIHR/CHSRF Health Services Chair
Paula_goering@camh.net

The HSRCU thanks all applicants, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

 

• Dr. Jeff Meyer - First psychiatrist to win Royal College Medal award in medicine
  For over 30 years, scientists believed that monoamines -- mood-related chemicals such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine -- are low in the brain during major depressive episodes.  This is commonly referred to as a “chemical imbalance”, but no one had ever found a convincing explanation for monoamine loss. In 2006, Dr. Jeff Meyer unlocked this mystery with the release of a study that provided a thorough explanation of how the “chemical imbalance” occurs in major depression.
  
  This pioneering work generated immediate public interest, and it is now being recognized by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).  Dr. Meyer is the RSPCS’s 2009 recipient of the Royal College Medal Award in Medicine – the only psychiatrist to receive the award since its beginning in 1949. The prestigious medal provides national recognition for original work by a clinical investigator. For more information visit  Royal College Medal Awards.  
  
  Congratulations Dr. Meyer.

CAMH Science: Centred on Discovery, Volume Three, Issue Three
Read more about our community engagement activities, press releases on ground-breaking discoveries, highlights on pioneering science, and much more.

• International award recognizes promising young physician researcher
  Dr. Aristotle Voineskos, CIHR-funded fellow and psychiatrist working in the Geriatric Mental Health and Schizophrenia Programs, is the recipient of a 2009 American Psychiatric Associaton/AstraZeneca Young Minds in Psychiatry International Award. Recognizing and supporting promising young physician researchers (up to five years post-residency) working in core psychiatric areas with an emphasis on bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, Dr. Voineskos was one of just four recipients selected from an international pool of applications.
  
  This recognition provides Dr. Voineskos with a career development award of $45,000 (USD), which will enable him to continue helping patients with schizophrenia across the adult lifespan, from the first episode through to late life. Specifically, he will be working on a project entitled "Oligodendrocytes, and White Matter in Schizophrenia: Combining Gene Variation, Expression, and Diffusion Tensor Imaging in vivo." It focuses on understanding mechanisms of impaired brain connectivity in schizophrenia.
  
  This award will allow Dr. Voineskos to obtain imaging, genetics and gene expression measures on individuals with schizophrenia, that when combined, will provide more powerful answers to questions than any one field alone. He hopes that this work will ultimately identify new treatment targets for people living with schizophrenia. Currently, most medication for schizophrenia impacts dopamine receptors to treat the illness. However this work may identify new genes or proteins, such as an oligodendrocyte gene or protein, which may be relevant to treatment.
  
  Dr. Voineskos will be presented with his award at the Early Research Career Breakfast of the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, on May 19, 2009.
  

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Content updated: August 18, 2009 3:29 PM

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