One discovery can change the course of many lives. Every day, CAMH scientists collaborate locally, nationally and globally for such moments.
In the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, scientists recently made groundbreaking discoveries related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying PTSD and introduce a new approach for understanding psychiatric disorders. They unlock ways to treat and even prevent
PTSD symptoms.
We celebrate such achievements as we recognize that our understanding of even the basic mechanisms of mental illness remains incomplete. To close the discovery gap, our efforts focus on three areas: revolutionize understanding of the brain and the causes, biomarkers and treatments of mental illness; transform CAMH so every patient, clinician and stakeholder becomes a partner in research; and use evidence to drive systemic and social change, and to optimize care.
Convergence is critical to answering our most difficult questions about mental illness. We are redesigning structures and platforms to inspire collaboration. To accelerate progress, we envision a new, world-leading mental health research centre. It will be a state-of-the art facility, where the world’s best minds use the most advanced technologies, and where scientists, clinicians, patients and families build better tomorrows together.
Research is a critical patient service that spans the One CAMH strategic directions. Our commitments to collaboration feature again in “Patient and Family Engagement” (a priority action within Include). More of our major discovery milestones appear in “Discovery Fund” (a priority action within Impact).
MILESTONES
2020–2021
- Drive integrative and lifespan genetic and epigenetic research by establishing the first CAMH Biobank and linking it to anonymized patient clinical and brain health data.
- Inform prevention and policy by providing an evidence base on emerging issues, such as opioids, cannabis and vaping.
- Foster shared priority-setting by establishing clinical research advisory groups that include patients, families, clinicians, clinician scientists and administrators.
2021-2022
- Collaborate on digital data-sharing standards and infrastructure that will protect patient privacy and propel the scaling effect of big data.
- Collaborate to integrate research on the brain across basic and clinical areas and to drive translational research outcomes.
2022–2023
- Advance our vision for a new state-of-the-art research centre that will accelerate research as a critical patient service.
- Through clinical research and practice integration, improve care experiences using data-driven, next-generation decision-support charts.
- Establish a technology development fund to support novel discoveries by CAMH inventors.
- Establish and develop commercialization opportunities to foster the impact of CAMH research inventions.