Associate Professor  |  Clinician Scientist

Joshua Rosenblat

Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry

MD, MSc, FRCPC,

Location
UHN - Toronto Western Hospital
Address
399 Bathurst Street, Main Pavilion 7-423, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5T 2S8
Appointment Status
Primary

Qualification

  • 2006-2010 – Bachelors of Science (BSc) in Human Biology, Physiology, Molecular Biology and Chemistry, University of Toronto
  • 2010-2014 – Doctor of Medicine (MD), Schulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario
  • 2014-2019 – Residency in Psychiatry, University of Toronto
  • 2018-2020 - Masters of Science, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto

Professional Memberships

  • 2021 - present - Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Executive Member
  • 2021 - present - Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression (CAN-BIND) Executive Member and Site Lead
  • 2021 - present - Associate Member, Institute of Medical Science (IMS), School of Graduate Studies (SGS), University of Toronto
  • 2020 - present - ASCP Technology Task Force Member
  • 2019 - present - Co-founder and Research Director, 1907 Research
  • 2019 – present Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC)
  • 2018 – present Member, International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS)
  • 2017 – present Member, American Psychiatric Association (APA)
  • 2016 – present Member, American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASPC)
  • 2016 – present Invited Member, AREDOC Task Force Member – Revising DSM-5 criteria for bipolar disorders
  • 2015 – present Member, Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA)
  • 2014 – present Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), Medical Council of Canada
  • 2014 – present College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO #103197)

Dr. Joshua Rosenblat is a staff psychiatrist and clinician-researcher at the Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit (MDPU; within the Poul Hansen Family Centre for Depression) at Toronto Western Hospital. Dr. Rosenblat completed his Bachelors of Science at the University of Toronto with a double major in Human Biology and Molecular Biology, minoring in Physiology and Chemistry.  He then completed his medical degree at the Schulich School of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario (UWO).  He returned to Toronto to complete his residency training in the Department of Psychiatry where he also served as the Chief Resident of the Clinician-Scientist Program (CSP). Throughout medical school and residency, he conducted clinical research on novel pharmacological interventions for mood disorders. He then completed his graduate training in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, studying the effects of ketamine for depression. 

Dr. Rosenblat’s clinical focus is treatment-resistant unipolar and bipolar depression, with specialized expertise in pharmacological treatments of mood disorders.  His research focus is conducting clinical trials to identify and evaluate novel psychopharmacological interventions for mood disorders that may substantially improve patient outcomes.  Current novel targets of interest include the glutamate system, inflammation and the insulin pathway. He is also interested in targeting specific symptom domains, such as suicidality, cognition, anhedonia and mixed features, that do not respond as well to currently available treatment. Specific research programs currently underway include clinical trials evaluating ketamine, pentoxifylline and psilocybin assisted therapy for bipolar and unipolar depression. 

Dr. Rosenblat is also actively involved in teaching medical students and residents, with a focus on improving assessment and management skills using a biopsychosocial approach in every patient encounter. His clinical, research and educational interests converge in studying ways to effectively translate research findings into improved patient outcomes through implementation of evidence-based practices in both primary care and specialized mental health care settings.

 

Appointments

Clinician Scientist, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

 

Honours and Awards

July 2021 - Academic Scholars Award (ASA) 

February 2021 - Top 10 Physicians Discussing Mental Health on Twitter - The Rounds

February 2020 - University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry Excellence Award

June 2019 - Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada (ACPC) Annual Research Award

June 2019 - Best Resident Teacher, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

May 2019 - American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology New Investigator Award

May 2017 - International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) 2017 Best Paper Award

October 2015 - Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) Junior Investigator Award

June 2018 - UHN Best Resident Researcher Award

June 2018 - Full Scholarship for Graduate School Training for Masters of Science

June 2017 - CAMH ED Interdisciplinary Resident Professionalism and Collegiality Award

June 2017 - UHN Best Resident Researcher Award

June 2017 - UHN Best Grand Rounds Award

June 2016 - Best Grand Rounds by a Junior Resident– Mount Sinai Hospital

June 2016 - Best Junior Resident Teacher – Mount Sinai Hospital

June 2016 - Best Resident Oral Presentation at Harvey Stancer Research Day

May 2012 - Schulich Global Health Award, University of Western Ontario

May 2010 - Silver Medal in Graduating Class, University of Toronto

 

Grants

2023-2025 - Nominated Principal Applicant - Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Phase II Clinical Trial Comparing One Versus Two Psychedelic Doses of Psilocybin. CIHR Operating Grant. 

2022-2027 - Co-Principal Applicant and Site PI - Optimized Predictive Treatment In Medications for Unipolar Major Depression (OPTIMUM-D). CIHR Project Grant.

2022-2027 - Site PI - Enabling Neuroscience research Approaches for Brain, feeLings and Emotions (ENABLE): A Platform for Clinical Trials in Mood Disorders. Brain Canada Platform Grant. 

2022-2025 - Principal Investigator. Neurobiological Effects of Psilocybin in Treatment Resistant Bipolar Depression: An Emotional-Processing fMRI Pilot Study. Labatt Family Innovation Fund in Brain Health

2022-2024 - Co-Principal Applicant. Integrated Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (i-CBT) and Intravenous Ketamine for Suicidality in Bipolar Depression: A Randomized, Midazolam-Controlled Clinical Trial. Milken Institute Baszucki Brain Research Fund.

2021-2024 - Principal Investigator. Maintenance Ketamine Infusions for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression. PSI Foundation New Investigator Project Grant.

2021 - 2026 - Co-Investigator. Brain Insulin Sensitivity and Reward Behavior in Major Depressive Disorder. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant.

2021 - 2024 - Principal Investigator. Integrated Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (i-CBT) and Intravenous Ketamine for Suicidality in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized, Midazolam-Controlled Clinical Trial. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant.

2021 - 2024 - Nominated Principal Investigator. Repeated Ketamine Infusions for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression: A Randomized, Midazolam-Controlled Clinical Trial. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant

2021 - 2023 - Principal Investigator. Psilocybin for Severe Treatment Refractory Depression: A Pilot Study. Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation. 

2021 - 2023 - Co-investigator. Adjunctive Semaglutide for the Treatment of Cognitive Dysfunction in Major Depressive Disorder: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Physicians Services Incorporated Foundation

2018-2023 - Site Principal Investigator (UHN) - INVESTIGATIONS ON THE EFFICACY OF KETAMINE IN DEPRESSION IN COMPARISON TO ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY. Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression (CAN-BIND). Ontario Brain Institute (OBI).

2020-2022 - Principal Investigator. Pentoxifylline for Bipolar Depression: A Proof-of-Concept Feasibility Study. Department of Psychiatry Excellence Funds

2020 - 2022 - Principal Investigator. Pharmacogenetics and Ketamine (PGx-K): An Exploratory Pilot Study Assessing Combinatorial Pharmacogenetic Predictors of Antidepressant Effectiveness and Adverse Effects of Intravenous Ketamine

2020 - 2022 - Co-investigator. Is myelin content associated with neuropsychological performance in remitted major depressive disorder? An adult lifespan perspective. University of Toronto; Department of Psychiatry Catalyst Fund

2017 - 2020 - Co-Investigator. Intranasal Ketamine for Depression in Patients with Cancer Receiving Palliative Care: A Phase II, Open-label, Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial. Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute (CCSRI). CCSRI QOL Grant.   Principal Investigator: Li, Madeline Collaborators: Breffni Hannon; Camilla Zimmermann; Ernie Mak; Gary Rodin; Roger McIntyre.


2017 - 2018 - Principal Investigator. Intranasal Ketamine for Depression in Patients with Cancer Receiving Palliative Care: A Phase II, Open-label, Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial. UHN Centre for Mental Health Young Investigator Grant.   University Health Network (Toronto, ON) Centre for Mental Health Research Grant. Principal Investigator: Rosenblat, Joshua. Collaborators: Madeline Li; Breffni Hannon; Camilla Zimmermann; Ernie Mak; Gary Rodin; Roger McIntyre.

2016 - 2018 - Principal Investigator. Intranasal Ketamine for Depression in Patients with Cancer Receiving Palliative Care: A Phase II, Open-label, Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial. University of Toronto Post Graduate Medical Education (PGME) Resident Research Project Grant - Joseph M. West Family Memorial Fund and Timeposters Award.   Principal Investigator: Rosenblat, Joshua. Collaborators: Madeline Li; Breffni Hannon; Camilla Zimmermann; Ernie Mak; Gary Rodin; Roger McIntyre.