Understanding and addressing addiction
Addiction is a critical area of mental illness research focused on understanding how substance use affects individuals and communities, and on developing prevention and treatment strategies that are both effective and accessible. The Royal’s research in this area explores the social, psychological and biological factors that contribute to addiction, with a particular emphasis on supporting youth and vulnerable populations through innovative and appropriately tailored approaches.
Some key questions we explore are: What social and biological factors increase the risk of addiction in youth and vulnerable groups? How can prevention programs build resilience and reduce substance use? And how can treatments be tailored to address co-occurring psychiatric and addiction challenges?
A few examples
- Dr. Tanya Halsall’s community-based research focuses on youth substance use prevention and system transformation, developing programs that build resilience and promote mental wellness.
- Dr. Natalia Jaworska brings expertise in PET imaging to study brain mechanisms in addiction and conducts research on tailoring virtual treatments for young women with co-occurring depression and substance use.
Advancing research in depression, anxiety and suicide prevention
Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental illnesses globally, and many people don’t respond to conventional treatments. The Royal’s research in this area spans innovative new treatments, advanced biomarker discovery and suicide prevention strategies. By integrating clinical trials, neurostimulation techniques and data-driven predictive models, the goal is to enhance treatment efficacy, reduce suicide risk and improve overall quality of life for those affected.
Some key questions we explore are: What biological markers can help predict who will benefit from specific treatments? How do novel treatments for depression like brain stimulation or ketamine change brain function and affected networks? And how can we better identify and support individuals at risk of suicide?
A few examples
- Dr. Sara Tremblay is exploring the use of brain stimulation, specifically repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), to treat depression.
- Dr. Jennifer Phillips’ clinical trials are investigating ketamine as a rapid-acting therapy for depression and suicidal thoughts.
- Dr. Zachary Kaminsky is developing algorithms for suicide risk prediction and leading an innovative project to connect at-risk adolescents with supportive networks to prevent suicide.
Improving access and outcomes for underserved communities
Our researchers are committed to advancing mental health equity by focusing on the needs of populations that experience systemic barriers, discrimination or disproportionate risk of mental illness. This includes research on the mental illness impacts of minority stress, collaborative approaches with Indigenous communities and forensic mental health, examining the intersection of mental illness and the legal system. By identifying risk factors, improving assessment tools and co-developing culturally informed models of care, we aim to reduce disparities and promote recovery for individuals often underserved by traditional services.
Some key questions we explore at The Royal are: What social and cultural factors contribute to mental illness in equity-deserving groups? How can mental illness services be adapted to better meet the unique needs of Indigenous peoples and other marginalized communities? And what strategies can reduce the risk of reoffending and support rehabilitation for individuals involved in the justice system?
A few examples
- Dr. Michael Seto’s internationally recognized research on sexual offending and risk assessment, which informs forensic mental health services in institutional and community contexts.
- Dr. Kimberly Matheson explores the mental illness impacts of colonization, cultural identity and systemic discrimination among Indigenous peoples.
- Dr. Andrew Nicholson contributes research on minority stress particularly among LGBTQ2S+ individuals, helping to build an evidence base for targeted approaches to mental illness support.
Severe and complex mental illness
Research in this priority area focuses on conditions that are persistent, debilitating and often resistant to standard treatments, including schizophrenia, which affects millions worldwide. At The Royal, researchers are working to unravel the biological mechanisms behind schizophrenia and related illnesses to improve diagnostics, treatment and long-term recovery. This includes identifying brain-based biomarkers, addressing difficult-to-treat cognitive and negative symptoms and developing innovative digital and psychological tools to support treatment. Collaborating closely with The Royal’s clinical teams, researchers are using data-driven approaches to personalize treatment and improve quality of life for people living with these complex conditions.
Some key questions we explore are: How can we better treat symptoms that don’t respond to current medications, especially cognitive difficulties and negative symptoms? What new technologies and approaches can help support recovery and everyday functioning for individuals living with severe mental illness? How can psychological therapies for psychosis be enhanced and personalized?
A few examples
- Dr. Synthia Guimond is developing digital and virtual interventions to promote cognitive health in individuals living with schizophrenia.
- Dr. Lauri Tuominen uses advanced neuroimaging, including simultaneous PET-MRI, to explore the role of the brain’s cholinergic system in severe mental illness, research that could lead to new treatment targets.
- Dr. Naista Zhand’s work focuses on treatment-resistant schizophrenia, including efforts to improve clinical outcomes and explore adjunctive medications such as psychostimulants.
Advancing research in trauma and stress-related disorders
Trauma and stress-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affect a wide range of populations, from military personnel and veterans to survivors of violence, accidents and other life-altering events. These conditions can profoundly impact brain function, emotional regulation and quality of life, often requiring specialized and individualized treatment approaches. Research at The Royal is focused on understanding the biological and psychological effects of trauma, as well as exploring new and innovative treatments for people affected by trauma.
Some key questions we explore are: How do trauma and stress affect the brain and biological systems like inflammation and gene regulation? What factors influence resilience and recovery from trauma? And how can treatment be improved to support reintegration for veterans and civilians affected by traumatic events?
A few examples
- Dr. Robyn McQuaid’s research on biological markers of trauma and stress in young adults.
- Dr. David Pedlar’s expertise in veteran health and reintegration.
- Dr. Patrick McGrath’s leadership in trauma-informed treatment, including support for civilians and military personnel affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
Sleep & other transdiagnostics
Almost all types of mental illnesses and cognitive conditions are accompanied with higher rates of sleep issues. These sleep disturbances are not just a mere symptom or epiphenomenon—they often represent a clinical entity on their own requiring full assessment and treatment. Research tells us that sleep issues are transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factors that can take various forms, from insomnia to hypersomnia, disrupted circadian rhythms and sleep apnea.
Poor sleep can worsen mood regulation, increase emotional reactivity, impair cognitive functioning (attention, memory consolidation, executive control) and amplify stress responses. Poor sleep may also increase vulnerability to comorbid physical health risks (cardiometabolic dysfunction, immune dysregulation), thereby contributing to overall morbidity. The good news is that because sleep problems cut across mental illness and cognitive conditions, interventions or biomarkers that target sleep/circadian processes hold promise for more universal (i.e. transdiagnostic) impact for people with diverse neuropsychiatric profiles.
A few examples
Drs. Rébecca Robillard, Stuart Fogel, Elliott Lee, Alan Douglass, Naomi Spitale and Anthony Murkar lead research that seeks to map and intervene in the sleep-mental illness/brain health interface. They are exploring questions like how sleep microstructure (slow waves, spindles), circadian misalignment and autonomic arousal relate to mood, memory, cognition and emotional regulation. This team also develops and tests interventions. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) adapted to people facing mental or brain health challenges, and also novel non-invasive interventions, such as auditory stimulation to boost deep sleep.
