Annual Report 2022-2023: Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Translation

Submitted by Dr. Fang Liu, Director of the Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Translation

The Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Translation, directed by Dr. Fang Liu, now comprises over 150 full-time basic and clinical researchers as well as clinical and teaching faculty. We aim to build a program integrating basic, clinical, and translational research for therapeutic development in brain disease. Our Division has world-leading neuroscientists pioneering new research in neuroimaging, brain stimulation, pharmacogenetics and epigenetics, proteomics, psychopharmacology, neurocognition, and clinical interventions.

Our members continue to produce publications in top peer-reviewed journals, and have been awarded millions in research grant funding for their work. Highlights this year include members: Dr. Mounira Banasr, Dr. Venkat Bhat, Dr. Ahmed Hassan, Dr. Ishrat Husain, and Dr. Abigail Ortiz achieving CIHR project grants as principle investigators; Dr. Jamie Feusner obtaining NIH funding; and Dr. Andreea Diaconescu attaining funding from CFI. Publication highlights include papers in Biological Psychiatry (Dr. Mounira Banasr, Dr. Isabelle Boileau, Dr. Jeff Meyer), Molecular Psychiatry (Dr. Dr. Aristotle Voineskos), Neuropsychopharmacology (Dr. Thomas Prevot, Dr. Andreea Diaconescu), JAMA Network (Dr. Ishrat Husain), and JAMA Psychiatry (Dr. Jeff Meyer). We would also like to spotlight important updates to clinical practice published by Dr. Anne Bassett (22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Genetics in Medicine) and Dr. Bernard Le Foll (Prescription-Type Opioid Use Disorder, American Journal of Psychiatry).

Other achievements by our faculty include: the Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum Max Hamilton Memorial Prize awarded to Dr. Clement Zai, the 2023 American Neuropsychiatric Association Career Development Award held by Dr. Matthew Burke, and Dr. Abigail Ortiz names Clinical Innovator of the Year 2023 by Digital Health Canada.

Notable appointments are: Dr. Daniel Felsky as Associated Editor, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, effective in 2024; Dr. Tony George as co-principal editor, Neuropsychophamacology, starting in 2023; and Dr. Ishrat Husain appointed as Canada Research Chair. Congratulations to all of them. We hope that more success can be built on our ongoing excellence in the next academic year.