Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Subheadline

"As a physician, you learn how to manage and memorize a lot of data and to recall it very quickly"

As the medical head of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s emergency department, Juveria Zaheer provides urgent psychiatric care to people in crisis and is a leading expert and researcher in best practices around suicide risk assessment and prevention.

She is also a trivia whiz, as evidenced by her recent appearances on the TV game show Jeopardy! – and a comeback success story at that.

A clinician scientist at CAMH’s Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and associate professor of psychiatry at the ��Ƶ’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Zaheer lost during her first appearance on the show in May 2023 but performed well enough to be invited to compete in a Jeopardy! Second Chance tournament later that year.

Zaheer, a U of T alumna, won that competition and went on to play in a Champions Wildcard tournament, where she also came out on top. She will now compete in Jeopardy!’s Tournament of Champions, which begins airing Friday.

Having just wrapped taping of the tournament, Zaheer chatted with writer Heather McCall about her experiences on- and off-camera.

Many now recognize you for your Jeopardy! appearances, but can you tell us about your day job?

I work in the CAMH emergency department, which is the only stand-alone psychiatric emergency department in Ontario. It’s busy. When I started at U of T Psychiatry as a resident, we would see 350 patients a month. Now we see more than 1,500. I'm also the medical head, ensuring we provide evidence-based, dignified care to people in crisis. I’ve always said I have the best job in the world. It’s very rewarding to see people on the hardest days of their lives and provide them with comfort, dignity and support – and to be able to help connect them to the resources they deserve.

I’m also a scientist. My research focuses on suicide and suicide prevention. My team and I are seeking to understand the epidemiological underpinnings of suicide – the cultural and structural impacts within different populations – as well as biological and psychosocial determinants. We also do a lot of work around best practices in suicide risk assessment and co-create plans with participants on how best to support recovery.

Right now, we’re running a study looking at the experiences of people with suicidality during the height of COVID to better prepare for future pandemics. Another big investigation we’re working on – the first of its kind anywhere in the world – is a cohort study on people with suicidality across all ages, all diagnoses and all types of presentation. We’ll follow them for a year to understand them from multiple perspectives.

I’m proud of the progress I’ve made in research because people with severe and persistent mental illness are often excluded from studies, especially when they're experiencing suicidality.

How has your U of T education and training contributed to your Jeopardy! success?

I've always really loved people's stories, which is an important part of connecting with the people you treat. I applied this skill a lot during my residency. Apparently, an affinity for stories is common among trivia experts – there’s even a recent Scientific American article about this phenomenon. A former Jeopardy! contestant did a study and learned that trivia experts were most likely to remember facts in the context of a scene or a memory or an anecdote, and not through rote memorization.

Before I did my MD, I also completed three years of an undergraduate degree at U of T in the Faculty of Arts & Science through the Centre for the Study of the United States at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. That foundational education was incredibly important in building up my knowledge of American history and politics.

Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings and Juveria Zaheer (image via Jeopardy Productions Inc)

What about in your current clinical practice and as a researcher?

As a physician, you learn how to manage and memorize a lot of data and to recall it very quickly. This is especially so in emergency settings. You also have to stay calm for your team and for your patients. You need to model that it’s a safe place. When you work in an acute care environment, you also need to respond to things quickly and pay attention to more than one thing at a time. All those skills have been very helpful.

One of the other things that being a researcher has taught me about life is variance. There is so much variance – so much randomness – in Jeopardy! There's a huge component of luck on this journey, so you can't get too high or too low.

Have your colleagues helped in your preparation?

When you film three tournaments in two-and-a-half months – and you have to be very evasive about where you're going and why – you need all the support you can get.

Aislynn Torfason is an emergency department psychiatrist whom I mentored. She's extraordinary and brilliant. Whenever I needed coverage for my administrative responsibilities she was right there. Paul Kurdyak was the emergency head when I was new at CAMH and we still work together. He’s been an incredible mentor and supporter – it’s a very tight-knit community.

Our pharmacist also shared a book on buzzing-in strategies with me. Others would quiz me on categories I was weak in. CAMH has also aired all my games on the big screen on our huddle board.

When I lost the first time, I was so worried about what people would say, but my colleagues only talked about how great I was. That’s made it easier to keep playing because I felt like I wouldn’t disappoint anyone, no matter what happened.

When it comes to your Jeopardy! success, how would you describe the balance between knowledge and the other aspects of game play?

When I got the call to appear on the show for the first time, I was so focused on acquiring knowledge that I didn’t think about anything else. I didn't think about how I was going to stay calm. I didn't think about betting strategy. I didn't think about the buzzer. I didn't think about how I would manage adversity. And I didn't think about my values.

So, I made a conscious effort during these last three tournaments to focus more on those elements. And I think having that sense of mental wellness or perspective really helped me play better. Everyone knows lots of stuff, but it's how you translate that knowledge into your performance that’s most important.

You’ve been cited by many fans as a role model – as a parent, a woman of colour, a physician and a fierce competitor. How does that sit with you?

It's such a flattering thing because I've had extraordinary mentorship in my career, and I know how important it is to have people to look up to. One of the things I wanted to show is that you can be good at Jeopardy! and also be a good mom, a good clinician and a good researcher. Of course, you can’t do all these things at once, but with the help of a good team and your family, you can have different experiences.

I also wanted to show my daughters that you can be brave and take chances – that you can fail in front of millions of people and it’s OK. You can be yourself and that's enough.

What from this experience will you take into your work and research?

I think my stress meter is now a little broken. The extreme, high-intensity experience of Jeopardy! has made academic presentations feel a little less scary.

But bigger-picture-wise? Since medical school I’ve been working non-stop building my career and building a research program. It’s hard work and sometimes it’s a slog. To be able to pick up a new hobby in midlife, to be able to take chances and to invest in myself, has been such a gift.

Also, as a mom to my two daughters – as well as the CAMH “emerg mom” as my team calls me – there are so many people I want to take care of. But I’ve learned it's not selfish to want to win. It's not selfish to do things for yourself. And it's never too late to make new friends and try something weird.

Psychiatrist Juveria Zaheer headed to Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions: CBC

bresgead — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 19:18:23 +0000

Psychiatrist Juveria Zaheer headed to Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions: CBC

bresgead Mon, 02/05/2024 - 14:18

Cutline

(photo courtesy of Jeopardy Productions Inc.)

Topic

City & Culture

Psychiatry

Subheadline

“With every win, you keep pinching yourself to say, ‘Is this real? Is this happening?’”

Juveria Zaheer, a psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the ��Ƶ, is set to compete in the Tournament of Champions on Jeopardy! after winning the Group One Champions Wildcard tournament.

An expert on suicide risk and prevention, Zaheer prevailed on Friday’s show with a two-day final score of $20,000, earning her a $100,000 grand prize, reported durhamregion.com.

In an interview on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning, Zaheer – a scientist with CAMH’s Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and General Adult Psychiatry and Health Systems Division and an associate professor of psychiatry in U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine – recalled how she thought her time on Jeopardy! was up after losing her first game in May 2023.

She returned to the podium last fall and emerged as a Second Chance winner, and after cleaning up in her latest tournament, she says her comeback story feels like something out of a fairytale. “You feel like Cinderella. You just don’t want it to be midnight quite yet,” she told Metro Morning host David Common. “With every win, you keep pinching yourself to say, ‘Is this real? Is this happening?’”

The Tournament of Champions begins airing on Feb. 23.

Listen to Juveria Zaheer on CBC’s Metro Morning

Researchers find early symptoms of psychosis spectrum disorder in youth accessing mental health services

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:47:42 +0000

Researchers find early symptoms of psychosis spectrum disorder in youth accessing mental health services

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 01/31/2024 - 15:47

Cutline

(photo by SeventyFour/iStock)

Rebecca Biason

Topic

Breaking Research

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Youth

Subheadline

Half of youth aged 11-24 who were included in the study met the threshold for psychosis spectrum symptoms – more than researchers anticipated

Researchers at the ��Ƶ and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) have found evidence that psychosis spectrum symptoms are often present in youth accessing mental health services.

Half of the 417 youth aged 11-24 included in the study, published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Science and Neuroimaging, were shown to meet the threshold for having psychosis spectrum symptoms.

That means they are at higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder, a broad spectrum of psychotic disorders that includes – but is not limited to – schizophrenia and bipolar disorder 1.

Kristin Cleverley (supplied image)

Kristin Cleverley, a senior scientist at CAMH and an associate professor at U of T’s Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, says the figure is higher than expected and suggests there is a large number of children with these symptoms who are accessing mental health services.

“Traditionally, early psychosis care starts when there is a serious presentation of psychotic symptoms, which usually occurs in the late teen years,” says Cleverley, adding that the study looks at early indicators that might predict whether a young person is more at risk of developing psychosis spectrum disorder and examines opportunities for earlier intervention.

“The current approach to identifying children at risk of developing a psychotic disorder is only about five per cent effective, but with this study we can start to assess certain patterns or changes in function that can signal if an earlier intervention may be beneficial.”

Psychosis spectrum disorder can be extremely disabling and is linked to cognitive impairment, long-term disability, and higher rates of death by suicide than other mental illnesses. Even without a diagnosis of psychosis, psychosis spectrum symptoms can severely affect youth.

The study is one of three projects being led as part of the Toronto Adolescent and Youth (TAY) Cohort Study that is set to follow 1,500 youth over the course of five years. The goal of the study is to better understand the populations of youth seeking mental health treatment, how their mental health symptoms and functioning change over time, and whether early predictors of psychosis spectrum disorder can be determined.

It was co-designed with patients and caregivers, as well as extensive engagement from clinicians. A novel aspect of the TAY Cohort Study is youth are given access to a patient-facing dashboard of their research results that is also integrated into their clinical record.

“We wanted to ensure that the study was embedded in the clinical program so that research assessments could be immediately utilized within clinical practice, including supporting decisions about interventions or services,” says Cleverley, who is the CAMH Chair in Mental Health Nursing Research.

Cleverley’s co-principal investigators include George Foussis, the scientific director of the Slaight Family Centre for Youth in Transition and chief of the schizophrenia division at CAMH and an associate professor of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and Aristotle Voineskos, vice-president of research and director of the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at CAMH, and a professor of psychiatry at Temerty Medicine.

This longitudinal study will include a follow-up every six months and will provide researchers access to information about whether symptoms become chronic or episodic, and whether changes are related to developmental milestones, environmental stressors or changes to mental health services.

“Our goal with this research is really to characterize this population better so that we can identify new strategies that will complement existing strategies for early identification of youth at risk of psychosis,” says Cleverley. “It also creates an important opportunity for graduate students and researchers to develop sub-studies for this sample that will enable further research to improve youth mental health outcomes.”

U of T community members recognized with Order of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 21:23:33 +0000

U of T community members recognized with Order of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 01/05/2024 - 16:23

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(photo by Sgt Johanie Maheu/OSGG-BSGG)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

UTogether

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

Computer Science

Faculty of Music

Order of Canada

University Health Network

Subheadline

The governor general recently announced 78 new appointees within the Order, including three promotions

A psychiatrist who has advanced the understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia. A composer and conductor who has helped nurture the next generation of classical musicians. A computer scientist whose work helped enable the development and adoption of touchscreen interfaces.

These are just a few of the ��Ƶ community members who were recently recognized by appointments to – or promotions within – the Order of Canada.

The Governor General announced 78 new appointments to the Order of Canada on Dec. 28 (including three promotions). They include Anne Bassett, a senior clinician-scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), a senior scientist at University Health Network (UHN) and a professor in the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine; Gary Kulesha, an associate professor, teaching stream, in the Faculty of Music; and Bill Buxton, an adjunct professor of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“I greatly value the opportunity to celebrate individuals whose perseverance, ingenuity and community spirit have benefited Canadians throughout the country,” Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said in a statement. “As governor general, I have seen first-hand that our communities are rich in both excellence and diversity, which we need to do our utmost to recognize.”

Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours. It recognizes individuals whose achievements and service have had an impact on communities across Canada and beyond.

Here is a list of U of T faculty, alumni, supporters and friends who were appointed to, or promoted within, the Order of Canada in the latest round:

Current and former faculty

Anne Bassett, a senior scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, UHN, senior clinician-scientist in the Schizophrenia Division at CAMH and a professor in the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for her research and clinical contributions to advancing the understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia. She completed post-graduated medical training at U of T.

Ian Burton, a professor emeritus in the department of geography (now geography and planning) and School of the Environment in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was named an Officer of the Order for his scholarship and policy work on climate change adaptation.

Bill Buxton, a current adjunct professor and former associate professor in the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was appointed an Officer of the Order for his research and innovations shaping the way humans interact with technology. A U of T alumnus who holds an honorary degree from the university, Buxton’s work on multi-touch systems helped usher in the development of trackpads and touchscreens.

Gary Kulesha, an associate professor, teaching stream, in the Faculty of Music, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions as an esteemed composer, conductor and mentor to classical musicians. A pianist, Kulesha’s music has been commissioned, performed and recorded by musicians and ensembles around the world.

Francine Lemire, an adjunct assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for her accomplishments as a Paralympic medallist in cross-country skiing and her leadership in family medicine. Lemire, who won two gold medals at the 1988 Winter Paralympics, is the former executive director and CEO of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Bruce G. Pollock, a senior scientist, vice-president of research and director of the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at CAMH and a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology and toxicology at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for his pioneering contributions to geriatric psychopharmacology as a researcher, builder and educator. A U of T alumnus, Pollock is the inaugural Peter and Shelagh Godsoe Chair in Late-Life Mental Health at U of T and CAMH.

Arun Ravindran, a senior scientist in the General Adult Psychiatry and Health Systems Division at CAMH and a professor in the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine cross-appointed to the department of psychology and the Institute of Medical Sciences, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions to mental health research and clinical care, notably in the areas of mood disorders and global mental health.

Alumni and friends

Sara Joy Angel, who earned her PhD in art history at U of T, was named a Member of the Order for elevating Canada’s visual history and culture as a journalist and founder of the Art Canada Institute.

Bronwyn D.A. Drainie, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from U of T, was named a Member of the Order for her long-standing contributions to Canadian arts and culture, notably as a prominent radio host and editor-in-chief of the Literary Review of Canada.

Wenona Giles, who earned her master’s degree and PhD in anthropology at U of T, was named an Officer of the Order for her contributions to refugee and migration studies and work to provide people in refugee camps with access to higher education. A professor emerita at York University, Giles helped launch the Borderless Higher Education for Refugees project, which has provided access to tuition-free university degree programs to people living in refugee camps in Kenya.

Tennys J.M. Hanson, who earned a bachelor’s degree from U of T Mississauga and went on to serve as U of T Mississauga’s executive director of campus development and public affairs, was named a Member of the Order for contributions to health care and education in Canada through her transformative leadership in the fundraising sector. Hanson served 23 years at the helm of the UHN Foundation (previously known as the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation).

Victor Peter Hetmanczuk, who earned two bachelor’s degrees from U of T, was named a Member of the Order for his enduring dedication and leadership in the Ukrainian-Canadian community and beyond. Hetmanczuk’s many contributions include organizing and financing volunteer missions to provide medical assistance to soldiers wounded during the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Lillie Johnson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at U of T, was named a Member of the Order for her impact in improving public health within the Black community. Johnson was the first Black director of public health in Ontario and is known for the founding of the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario.

Susan Margaret Macpherson, who earned a bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Arts & Science, was named a Member of the Order in recognition of her lifetime devotion to dance as an artist, educator, director, researcher and mentor. Macpherson was an artistic associate at the Dance Arts Institute (formerly the School of Toronto Dance Theatre) for nearly 25 years and served as a faculty member at the institute.

Medhat Sabet Mahdy, who earned a bachelor’s degree from U of T, was named a Member of the Order for his unwavering dedication to building community and improving the quality of life for all in the Greater Toronto Area. Mahdy is former president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toronto and former president of YMCA Ontario.

Noella Maria Milne, who graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1986, was named a Member of the Order for her volunteer leadership and commitment to community service, particularly to initiatives supporting education, women and youth.

Peter Robb Pearson, who studied political science at U of T, was appointed an Officer of the Order for his groundbreaking contributions as a filmmaker and for his tireless advocacy of Canadian film and television. The winner of 19 Canadian Film Awards, Pearson is credited with directing some of Canada’s most influential films including Paperback Hero and The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar.

André Picard, health journalist and recipient of an honorary degree from U of T in 2017, was named a Member of the Order for his dedication to advancing public health understanding and practices in Canada as a leading health journalist. A staff writer at the Globe and Mail since 1987, Picard is also a bestselling author.

Joel Quarrington, who earned an artist’s degree from U of T’s Faculty of Music, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions as a world-leading double bass player and respected educator. The Juno Award-winning musician, who teaches at the University of Ottawa, is a soloist and has served as Principal Double Bass of the London Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company and Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Zainub Verjee, a senior fellow at Massey College, was named a Member of the Order for advancing representation and equitable policy legislation within Canada’s arts and culture sectors as a leading artist, administrator and critic.

Flavio Volpe, who earned a bachelor’s degree from U of T, was named a Member of the Order in recognition of his work advancing Canada’s automotive and technology industries on an international scale as a leading policy expert in national trade and industry competition. Volpe is president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association.

Cannabis use during pregnancy associated with adverse birth outcomes: Study

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 19:39:43 +0000

Cannabis use during pregnancy associated with adverse birth outcomes: Study

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 11/21/2023 - 14:39

Cutline

(photo by SDI Productions/Getty Images)

Temerty Faculty of Medicine staff

Topic

Breaking Research

Institute of Medical Science

Infants prenatally exposed to cannabis are more likely to be born preterm, have a low birth weight and require neonatal intensive care than infants without prenatal cannabis exposure, a new study by researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the ��Ƶ has found.

Published in the journal Addiction, the study also found cannabis-exposed infants are not at greater risk of birth defects or death within one year, including sudden unexpected infant death.

“The global increase in cannabis use among women of reproductive age also extends to pregnant women,” says Maryam Sorkhou, a PhD student at U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Institute of Medical Science and lead author on the study. “We know that THC, the main psychoactive constituent in cannabis, can cross the placenta from mother to fetus and bind to receptors in the fetal brain.”

Sorkhou worked on the study with Tony George, a clinician-scientist at CAMH and a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of psychiatry and Institute of Medical Science.

This study pooled the results of 57 prior studies from around the world.

Those studies occurred from 1984 to 2023, and collectively included health outcomes of more than 12 million infants, including more than 102,000 infants exposed to cannabis before birth.

For example, 20 of the studies included measured the association between intrauterine cannabis exposure and risk of preterm delivery.

In these, the combined results show that mothers using cannabis were over one and a half times more likely to have a preterm delivery compared with mothers not using cannabis during pregnancy.

Another 18 of the studies included also measured the risk of low birth weight.

In these, the combined results show that mothers using cannabis during pregnancy were more than twice as likely to have a low-birth-weight baby compared with mothers not using cannabis during pregnancy.

Ten of the studies included also measured the risk of requiring NICU admission.

In these, the combined results show that newborns with intrauterine cannabis exposure were more than twice as likely to require NICU admission than non-exposed newborns.

“Our study adds to that knowledge by showing that prenatal exposure to cannabis heightens the risk of several adverse birth outcomes,” Sorkhou says.

U of T-anchored hospital network among leading life sciences research hubs, report finds

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 23:24:07 +0000

U of T-anchored hospital network among leading life sciences research hubs, report finds

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 11/17/2023 - 18:24

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(photo by xubingruo/Getty Images)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Leah Cowen

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Women's College Hospital

The ��Ƶ and its partner hospitals are propelling the Toronto region as a leading global hub for life sciences research – but its success is at risk from underinvestment.

That’s among the findings of a new report that examines the strengths and challenges within the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) – which comprises U of T and 14 academic hospitals – and its surrounding ecosystem. The report was commissioned by U of T and conducted by Shift Health.

In addition to leading on research, talent and public and private investment in Canada, the report finds that TAHSN rivals top-tier hubs in the United States despite receiving less funding.

“The TAHSN research outputs and impacts really do match or exceed those of our competitors across North America,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“Our community is a phenomenal resource for Ontario, for Canada, and really inspiring around the world.”

Cowen was one of several health, research, industry and government leaders who gathered to discuss the report at an event hosted by the U of T’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and U of T’s Government Relations Office, as part of the New Frontiers for Policymakers policy discussion series.

The report marks the first time TAHSN’s impact has been evaluated against leading hubs in North America. Measuring 10 quantitative indicators, the report finds that TAHSN’s strength lies in its fusion of discovery research, talent development, startup and commercialization supports, and robust industry partnerships.

From left: Aristotle Voineskos, Heather McPherson, Leah Cowen and Anne Mullin (photo by U of T Government Relations Office)

It also adds to a body of evidence that demonstrates life sciences research at the university and its affiliated hospitals is supporting growth of the sector in Canada. A recent Nature ranking, for example, listed U of T as the third-most prolific institution in the world (and second among universities) for health sciences research.

Research is at the foundation of the life sciences sector, one of Canada’s most intensive R&D industries. In 2022, life sciences contributed $89.6 billion to the national GDP and supported 200,000 jobs. The federal government and provincial governments, including Ontario, have developed strategies that seek to leverage new investments in bioinnovation and biomanufacturing, increase the competitiveness of Canadian companies and meet the projected demand for more workers.

Reaching those goals requires renewed investment, the report argues.

“There are two points,” Cowen said during the event. “One is that we’re great. But that’s not what we’re here to address. We’re here to do something much more ambitious, which is to recognize that our greatness is at risk if we don’t have considerably more investment.”

In particular, the report identified a significant gap in access to government health research funding for the TAHSN hub compared to its U.S. peers.

TAHSN is able to deliver globally leading results because of collaboration among its affiliated institutions and across disciplines through U of T’s institutional strategic initiatives, Cowen said. The institutional strategic initiatives facilitate research in areas of the life sciences that are transforming patient care, including regenerative medicine and machine learning.

The Toronto Academic Health Science Network comprises U of T and 14 academic hospitals, including those found on Toronto’s “Hospital Row” (photo by Kenneth Chou)

These strategies are a foundation for global scale, Cowen added, but only if Canada invests more in life sciences research in a bid to increase health security and economic growth.

“Over and over again, we see how fundamental science is able to transform innovation and lead to huge economic growth – but public support is critical,” she said.

“This ecosystem can scale. We can do more. But we can't do more if we continue to stagnate in terms of levels of investment.”

TAHSN Chair Heather McPherson, president and CEO of Women’s College Hospital, noted the report’s finding of higher salaries for life sciences research talent south of the border, which can make it difficult to recruit and retain top researchers and ultimately affects research capacity and patient care. “I think about research in a very connected way,” said McPherson. “To me, it's the pathway to a better health system for everyone. Research drives innovation and innovation drives better patient care - We need both to stay competitive and create an environment that attracts the best and brightest. ”

Other issues outlined in the report include the lower number of early-phase clinical trials conducted in Canada compared to leading U.S. hubs and a lack of sufficient capital to scale startups into global champions.

“When I reflect on the report, it's all kind of a missed opportunity,” McPherson said.

“We're doing extremely well right now – the report shows that. But how well could we do if we had some more investment? And what innovations, particularly in patient care, are we leaving on the table?"

Aristotle Voineskos, vice-president of research and director of the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), says Canada tends to have a lower appetite for risk than the U.S. when it comes to research – even though there are many examples of research projects deemed long shots that ultimately transformed human health.

“When there is that one success, it's enormous. It's massive,” says Voineskos, noting that TAHSN has all the ingredients to further increase its attractiveness as a site for early-stage clinical trials, from sharing of data findings among hospitals to the diversity of Toronto’s patient population.

“This is such as special environment. There’s just a lot of opportunity here that I think is untapped.”

From building bone to children’s literacy: 36 U of T researchers awarded Canada Research Chairs

lanthierj — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 17:51:06 +0000

From building bone to children’s literacy: 36 U of T researchers awarded Canada Research Chairs

lanthierj Tue, 08/29/2023 - 13:51

Cutline

Karina Carneiro, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Dentistry, is one of 36 researchers at U of T and its partner hospitals to receive a new or renewed Canada research chair (photo by Jeff Comber)

Topic

Canada Research Chairs

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Computer Science

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Economics

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Dentistry

Geography and Planning

Hospital for Sick Children

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

University Health Network

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

The new and renewed chairs at U of T and its hospital partners were part of a broader research funding announcement by the federal government

At the ��Ƶ’s Faculty of Dentistry, Karina Carneiro and her team are working on developing new treatments to regenerate bone with DNA-based biomaterials.

Karina Carneiro (photo by Jeff Comber)

The researchers are exploring ways to use synthetic materials, created using DNA nanotechnology, to help bones regenerate and support the body’s efforts to heal them naturally.

That’s in contrast to current bone repair treatments, which involve taking bone tissue from another part of the body and breaking it into little pieces that can be inserted into the defect.

“Using a DNA-gel for this purpose could be an effective treatment option as it can be injected to fill the defect size fully,” says Carneiro, an assistant professor in the faculty.

“What we believe to be the difference between our DNA gel and other materials being developed is that over time, the DNA can degrade into molecules that promote our own body’s healing mechanism to further regenerate the bone.”

Carneiro is one of three researchers at the Faculty of Dentistry to be awarded a new or renewed Canada Research Chair in the latest round – and one of 36 across U of T’s three campuses and hospital partners (see list below).

Established in 2000, the prestigious federal program aims to recruit and retain top researchers and scholars in the country. It invests more than $300 million annually to enable world-class researchers to reach new heights in disciplines spanning engineering, health sciences, humanities and social sciences.

“Congratulations to all the researchers at the ��Ƶ who received new or renewed Canada Research Chairs in the latest round,” says Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“From using AI to improve medicine and health care to better understanding Indigenous geographies and environmental dispossession, the work by U of T investigators supported by this important federal program is pushing the boundaries of research and innovation – and promises to have a big impact in Canada and around the world.”

Anil Kishen (photo by Jeff Comber)

Professor Anil Kishen, who is also at the Faculty of Dentistry, will use the funding associated with his Tier 1 Canada Research to advance his work in oral health nanomedicine.

He and his colleagues in the Kishen Lab are using multifunctional bioactive nanoparticles to study how cells communicate with each other and how wounds heal – in particular, how nanoparticles can be used to help save infected natural teeth and treat wounds and ulcers in individuals with diabetes.

Kishen says one of the reasons chitosan-based nanoparticles, which are optimized for different therapeutic applications, are so promising is because they’re derived from a naturally occurring molecule that is readily available.

“Affordability is important when developing a treatment to reach the masses,” Kishen says.

Massieh Moayedi (photo by Jeff Comber)

Massieh Moayedi, an associate professor in the Faculty of Dentistry, is receiving funding to pursue research in pain neuroimaging as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair.

“There’s tenuous evidence that body image might be involved in some types of chronic pain,” Moayedi says, adding that his end goal is to understand how pain works so he can improve patient outcomes.

He’s already shown that people with arthritic hands who see the limb looking healthier through a special device experience improvements in pain, so he’s now trying to understand which brain regions are involved.

“This chair will give me funding and the capacity to allow me to investigate these questions, and to really understand the relationship between pain and body image.”

Randy Boissonnault, minister of employment, workforce development and official languages, announced the CRCs at a press conference on Aug. 29 on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry, and Mark Holland, minister of health.

He also revealed the researchers and projects receiving funding through a diverse array of programs administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

They include the recipients of the SSHRC’s Partnership Grants, Partnership Development Grants and Insight Grants, as well as the recipients of the CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), which helps institutions to recruit and retain outstanding researchers, and provide them with the necessary tools and technology to perform their work. Named after a former U of T president, JELF supports projects that deal with a range of pressing issues. This year’s recipients include 35 researchers at U of T and its hospital partners sharing a total of more than $11 million for projects ranging from an assessment of plant responses to environmental change to the development of an ultra-sensitive cryogenic detector for dark matter and neutrino experiments.

“The federal government’s ongoing support for research through all of these programs – from the John R. Evans Leaders Fund, to the NSERC and CFI grants and the Canada Research Chairs – is critical to supporting the kind of research that ultimately improves lives through new knowledge and innovations,” Cowen said.

Here is the full list of new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at U of T:

New Canada Research Chairs

Stephanie Ameis at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and in the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in neuroimaging of autism and mental health in youth
Yvonne Bombard at Unity Health and in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Tier 2 in genomics health services and policy
Karina Carneiro in the Faculty of Dentistry, Tier 2 in DNA-based biomaterials
Jesse Chao at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and in the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in precision cancer diagnostics and artificial intelligence
Xi (Becky) Chen-Bumgardner in the department of applied psychology and human development in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Tier 1 in literacy development of bilingual and multilingual children
Mark Chiew at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and in the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in computational biomedical imaging
Sarah Crome at University Health Network and in the department of immunology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in tissue-specific immune tolerance
Michelle Daigle in the department of geography and planning in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Tier 2 in Indigenous geographies and environmental dispossession
Karen Davis at University Health Network and in the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 1 in acute and chronic pain research
Rahul Gopalkrishnan in the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in computational medicine
Housheng (Hansen) He at University Health Network and in the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 1 in RNA medicine
Margaret Herridge at University Health Network and in the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 1 in critical illness outcomes and the recovery continuum
Anil Kishen in the Faculty of Dentistry, Tier 1 in oral health nanomedicine
Bowen Li in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Tier 2 in RNA vaccines and therapeutics
Iacovos Michael at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and in the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in tumor biology and precision oncology
Massieh Moayedi in the Faculty of Dentistry, Tier 2 in pain neuroimaging
Faiyaz Notta at the University Health Network and in the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in pancreatic cancer and cancer evolution
Valeria Rac at the University Health Network and in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Tier 2 in health system and technology evaluation
Fahad Razak at Unity Health Toronto and in the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in health-care data and analytics
Clinton Robbins at the University Health Network and in the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 1 in cardiovascular immunology
Lena Serghides at the University Health Network and in the department of immunology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 1 in maternal-child health and HIV
Catriona Steele at the University Health Network and in the department of speech language pathology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 1 in swallowing and food oral processing
Bo Wang in the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, tier 2 in artificial intelligence for medicine

Renewed Canada Research Chairs

Angela Cheung at University Health Network and in the department of medicine at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 1 in musculoskeletal and postmenopausal health
Xi Huang at the Hospital for Sick Children and in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in cancer biophysics
Cendri Hutcherson in the department of psychology at the ��Ƶ Scarborough, Tier 2 in decision neuroscience
Joanne Kotsopoulos at Women’s College Hospital and at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Tier 2 in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer prevention
Arthur Mortha in the department of immunology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in mucosal immunology
Kelly O’Brien in the department of physical therapy in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in episodic disability and rehabilitation
Trevor Pugh at the University Health Network and in the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in translational genomics
Diego Restuccia in the department of economics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Tier 1 in macroeconomics and productivity
David Sinton in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Tier 1 in energy and fluids
Olivier Trescases in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Tier 2 in power electronic converters
Joel Watts in the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Tier 2 in protein misfolding disorders
Michael Widener in the department of geography and planning in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Tier 2 in transportation and health
Stephen Wright in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Tier 1 in population genomics

In partnership with students, U of T launches strategic initiative to improve mental health outcomes through research

siddiq22 — Wed, 03 May 2023 21:26:58 +0000

In partnership with students, U of T launches strategic initiative to improve mental health outcomes through research

siddiq22 Wed, 05/03/2023 - 17:26

Cutline

Emma McCann, left, chairs a panel discussion with students Sapolnach Prompiengchai, Rya Buckley, Joanna Roy and Yaxi Zhao during a launch event for Inlight, which aims to improve post-secondary student mental health through research (photo by Dewey Chang)

Tabassum Siddiqui

Topic

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Inlight

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Mental Health

The ��Ƶ has launched Inlight, an Institutional Strategic Initiative that aims to improve post-secondary student mental health and wellness by investing in impactful research and driving scalable research innovations.

Inlight recently held a kickoff event at Massey College to mark the start of Mental Health Week. It featured remarks from senior U of T leadership, Inlight researchers and Ontario’s associate minister of mental health and addictions – as well as a panel discussion with students.

“As a world-leading research university, we recognize that we also have this enormous opportunity to develop a new research model and evidence to inform services not just at our university, but across Canada and the world,” Cheryl Regehr, U of T’s vice-president and provost, said at the event.

Inlight funds leading-edge research on youth and student mental health to uncover the evidence and data needed to inform and improve mental health services on university campuses – both at U of T and at universities across Ontario and around the world. The initiative stems from the recommendations of a 2019 report by the Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health.

Michael Tibollo, Ontario’s associate minister of mental health and addictions, noted the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on youth and students.

“The innovative research you are conducting helps form the foundation of the continuum of care we're building in the province of Ontario,” Tibollo said. “I look forward to seeing the positive changes you bring to the field of student mental health, further enhancing supports for Ontario's post-secondary students.”

Michael Tibollo, right, speaks to students at the Inlight launch event at Massey College (photo by David Lee)

Inlight’s five-year plan was developed in consultation with students, researchers and other U of T community members, leveraging mental health expertise across U of T’s three campuses and with students as collaborators in the research process.

Student engagement is vital, said Inlight Director and Chair Kristin Cleverley, an associate professor in the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

“Our mission is guided by key principles, including prioritizing the student voice through partnerships. Improving student mental health outcomes requires driving system change through investments in bold research-driven solutions.”

From left to right: Linda Johnston, Cheryl Regehr, Michael Tibollo and Kristin Cleverley (photo by Dewey Chang)

The launch included a panel discussion moderated by Emma McCann, Inlight’s engagement lead, with students Rya Buckley, a master’s student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education; Sapolnach Prompiengchai, an undergraduate student in the department of psychology at U of T Scarborough; Joanna Roy, an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering; and Yaxi Zhao, a PhD student in the Faculty of Information.

“Together, we can better understand the determinants of student mental health, enhance our strategies and translate those findings into a student-partner knowledge mobilization initiative that can directly impact our students’ mental health and well-being,” Prompiengchai said.

Prompiengchai and Roy sit on Inlight’s student advisory committee, while Buckley and Zhao are among the seven inaugural recipients of the Inlight Fellowship, an annual funding program created to support exceptional graduate scholars who are leading student mental health research at U of T.

From left to right: Yiyi Wang, Joanna Roy, Lexi Ewing, Yaxi Zhao, Rya Buckley, Emma McCann and Ruiqiu Shen (photo by Dewey Chang)

Nine U of T researchers have also received grants from Inlight in support of research that aims to spark advances in post-secondary student mental health and wellness.

Each of the one-year projects include students as co-investigators or collaborators and will address critical areas of mental health for post-secondary students – including the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ students, understanding anti-Black racism and mental health within higher education, the intersection of mental wellness and disability services, and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In addition to the student-led research that Inlight is driven to support, we are also proud to be able to provide funding to faculty researchers at U of T, who are actively leading projects that will rapidly build knowledge in areas pertaining to the mental health needs of diverse student populations,” Cleverley said.

Research project applies global lens to student mental health

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 16:49:31 +0000

Research project applies global lens to student mental health

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 02/02/2023 - 11:49

Cutline

Kristin Cleverley, a researcher at CAMH and U of T's Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, is chairing the Inlight Student Mental Research Initiative to enhance student mental health and wellness (photo by Horst Herget)

Rebecca Biason

Topic