Latest news with #CAMH
Cision Canada
21 hours ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
Over $7.7M in Ontario-Based Platforms to Advance Open Science and Brain Health Innovation Français
Two cutting-edge platforms at CAMH and Western University aim to accelerate AI-driven brain research and global data sharing TORONTO, June 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Brain Canada is pleased to announce an investment of more than $7.7 million to support two innovative research platforms based in Ontario that will drive forward brain health discovery, data sharing, and open science collaboration. Funded through the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), a visionary partnership between Brain Canada and the Government of Canada, through Health Canada, these two projects will provide Canadian and international researchers with the tools and infrastructure they need to transform how brain disorders are studied, understood, and treated. "Through the Canada Brain Research Fund, the Government of Canada is pleased to support these two essential and innovative research initiatives, which will help drive new discoveries and improve care for people affected by neurological conditions," said the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health. The newly supported platforms are the Brain Health Data Challenge (BHDC) platform, led by Dr. Tristan Glatard at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and the Mesoscopic Integrated Neuroimaging Data (MIND) Platform, led by Dr. Ali Khan at Western University. "Canada is at the forefront of a global shift toward open science in brain research," said Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada. "These two platforms exemplify how we can responsibly share data, scale innovation, and build collaborative networks to unlock the full potential of neuroscience and AI." ABOUT THE PROJECTS Building Reproducible AI Frameworks for Brain Health with the Brain Health Data Challenge Platform Tristan Glatard, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (Grant total: $4.9M) With vast amounts of brain health data now available, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we understand, diagnose, and treat neurological conditions. However, data privacy regulations often prevent this information from being used in open AI challenges—a key method that has already accelerated innovation in fields like cancer and medical imaging. The BHDC platform will create a secure, privacy-compliant framework to enable AI competitions using Canadian brain health data. By unlocking these datasets for responsible and collaborative use, the platform will foster the development of reproducible and equitable AI models, helping clinicians tailor treatments and improve care for people living with brain disorders. "With this transformative investment from Brain Canada, CAMH is proud to lead the development of a secure and robust framework for ethical AI in mental health," said Dr. Aristotle Voineskos, SVP of Research and Science, CAMH. "The Brain Health Data Challenge will empower researchers globally to address complex brain health questions using advanced data science—while upholding the highest standards of privacy and equity. By enabling predictive, reproducible AI for serious mental illness, we move closer to better care, earlier interventions and improved quality of life." The Mesoscopic Integrated Neuroimaging Data (MIND) Platform Ali Khan, Western University (Grant total: $2.9 million) The MIND Platform combines ultra-powerful MRI and lightsheet microscopy, which enables researchers to see the brain's structure and activity in unprecedented detail. By linking images of living brains with detailed microscopy of brain tissue, scientists can gain deeper insights into how diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's progress, affect brain circuits, and can be treated. The MIND Platform builds on two internationally recognized imaging facilities at Western University to create a centralized, standardized repository for high-resolution brain tissue data. Through a user-friendly online portal, researchers around the world will be able to send brain tissue for imaging and access powerful tools to analyze the data—without requiring advanced infrastructure at every site. By adopting global data standards and a robust open science framework, the MIND Platform will fuel national and international collaboration, enabling deeper understanding of brain structure, function, and disease. "Western is internationally recognized for its strengths in neuroimaging, with a long history of innovation and collaboration," said Robert Bartha, Vice Dean of Research and Innovation at Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. "The MIND Platform builds on that foundation, pairing powerful imaging technologies with open science to push the boundaries of how we explore and understand the brain." Together, these platforms mark a major step forward in Canada's leadership in brain research, making it easier for scientists to share knowledge, build on each other's work, and transform brain health through open, data-driven innovation. About Brain Canada Brain Canada is a national charitable organization that enables and supports excellent, innovative, and collaborative brain research in Canada. Through the Canada Brain Research Fund, a public-private partnership with the Government of Canada through Health Canada, Brain Canada funds initiatives that advance knowledge, drive innovation, and accelerate the development of diagnostics, treatments, and cures. About the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and a world leading research centre in this field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental illness and addiction. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. For more information, please visit or follow @CAMHnews on Bluesky and LinkedIn. About Western University Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community. CAMH [email protected] Western University Crystal Mackay Director, Media Relations m. 519-933-5944 e. [email protected] Brain Canada Kate Shingler, Senior Director, Strategic Communications [email protected] 514-550-8308 SOURCE Brain Canada
Toronto Sun
10-06-2025
- Toronto Sun
MANDEL: Lawyer with 'underlying psychosis' was on bail for domestic assault when husband killed
Leahain Malcolm Shortly after the Jamaican gay couple claimed refugee status here in 2020, Leahain Malcolm was taken to CAMH after telling husband Dr. Rupert Brown that he was hearing the voice of Justin Trudeau and wanted to see him. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In January 2021, Malcolm was charged with assaulting Brown after being accused of infidelity and was hospitalized at CAMH again, this time for 12 days, and diagnosed with amphetamine-induced psychosis. A few weeks later, Malcolm called 911 to report that voices told him to kill his 38-year-old husband because he was a demon, according to the Crown. On Feb. 27, 2021, police found Brown's body in the couple's blood-spattered Eglinton Ave. W. apartment. He'd suffered more than 30 sharp force injuries, including two that would have been fatal: a stab wound to the chest and an incised wound to the left arm that severed an artery. Malcolm has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder — with his defence team expected to argue before Superior Court Justice Heather McArthur that he's not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Testifying for the defence, Dr. Lisa Ramshaw told lawyer Andrea VanderHeyden that her 2023 assessment found Malcolm 'likely' has an underlying psychotic disorder and it's 'likely' he did experience psychotic symptoms at the time he allegedly killed his husband. Dr. Rupert Brown. But the forensic psychiatrist admitted she can't be definitive in her opinion, especially when Malcolm told her he doesn't remember the slaying, so there are a lot of 'ifs' in her conclusion. 'If he was psychotic and he feared he was going to be killed by his husband, thinking that his husband was a form of a demon, it is likely that he would have been unable to access the moral wrongfulness at the time. It's an 'if, then' scenario. It is not a firm opinion,' she explained. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'But I can't tell you, with the information I have, whether that is truly the case.' While Ramshaw admitted that she's can't offer a firm opinion whether she supports or doesn't support a finding of NCR, it was clear to her that the accused killer wants to be found not criminally responsible and that could have tailored his answers during his assessment. 'When a human being wants something, it will impact his storytelling,' she said. Court heard Malcolm was first hospitalized in Jamaica in 2019 after a suicide attempt — he was depressed over a series of issues: he'd graduated with a law degree in 2014 but failed his certification three times, he'd contracted HIV and felt his sexual orientation wasn't accepted. He reported stopping his anti-psychotic medications after coming to Canada in January 2020. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Crown attorney Brady Donohue grilled the defence expert, suggesting Malcolm's claim about 'hearing voices' on the 911 call and to police is self-serving. He didn't report hearing voices when he was at CAMH just weeks before the killing and he's only been diagnosed in the past with substance-induced psychosis — not schizophrenia. She questioned why he wasn't exhibiting any of those symptoms in his police interview just hours later. Ramshaw insisted it's 'not that unusual' for psychotic symptoms to disappear and cautioned that she hasn't diagnosed Malcolm with schizophrenia – only that she can't rule it out. Read More This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Donohue pressed her on Malcolm's police interview where he's calm, gives nuanced answers, shows no problems with his memory and knows where he is. 'From the interview, from watching it, he doesn't have any overt psychosis,' Ramshaw agreed. Donohue pointed to many times where Malcolm chooses not to answer certain police questions. 'Doesn't that indicate that he's capable of making a decision?' the prosecutor asked. 'Mr. Malcolm could be psychotic and still capable of exercising rational choice.' The forensic psychiatrist agreed that appears to be true during his police interview. 'But that doesn't necessarily translate to what he was experiencing earlier on with his husband and his beliefs at the time.' Ramshaw then repeated that she's 'not definitive' about her opinion. 'Mine is really based on, if he was psychotic and if he truly feared that his husband was Satan.' The trial continues. mmandel@ RECOMMENDED VIDEO NHL Toronto Maple Leafs Editorial Cartoons Columnists Toronto Blue Jays
CTV News
01-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Program that helps cancer patients stop smoking available at LHSC
From left: Jennifer Murray (Nurse Practitioner, Cancer Care), Catherine Bond-Mills (Pharmacist, Pharmacy – Oncology and Renal), and Spencer Martin (Manager, Pharmacy – Oncology and Renal) in the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) is a program offered by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) which helps patients stop smoking. The program is now being offered in London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) to patients with head and neck cancers - although they already have a positive cancer diagnosis, it's important for those patients to quit smoking as it can improve outcomes. '[Smoking cessation] should be a high-priority intervention. We know it can take numerous attempts at quitting before patients can break the habit, and we also know that nicotine replacement therapy can double the chances of someone quitting successfully,' explained Jennifer Murray, Nurse Practitioner, Cancer Care at LHSC. 'Follow-up is critical in supporting patients in their goals given the chronic and relapsing patterns of tobacco addiction. With the STOP program, patients can now be connected to counselling surrounding their nicotine use and access nicotine replacement products.' Head and neck cancers include mouth, throat and voice box, but does not include brain, esophageal or lung cancers. Murray supports patients at LHSC's Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, and will identify patients that are smoking and interested in quitting. The program includes the provision of nicotine replacement therapy like patches, gum or losenges, as well as counselling - providing up to 26 weeks of services free of charge. The program is more than counselling, it requires the support of several healthcare workers, 'Pharmacists play a critical role by offering personalized smoking cessation counselling, assessing patient readiness to quit and helping develop tailored plans to quit,' said Interim Pharmacy Manager Spencer Martin, who cares for patients in oncology and renal medicines at LHSC. 'The STOP program allows us to take a more proactive role in a patient's smoking cessation journey – a critical, but often under addressed aspect of patient care in cancer populations.'
National Post
21-05-2025
- National Post
Toronto man who killed his mom because 'he thought she was a zombie' gets absolute discharge
A Toronto man who stabbed his mother to death nearly a dozen years ago because 'he thought she was a zombie' has been granted an absolute discharge by the Ontario Review Board. Article content Article content Neil Williams, 55, was charged with second-degree murder for his mom's Nov. 5, 2013, death. But he was found not criminally responsible in the fall of 2014 on account of a mental disorder. Since the end of 2023, Williams has been living on his own, reporting regularly to a psychiatrist at Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Article content Article content 'The board finds that Mr. Williams no longer meets the threshold of posing a significant threat to the safety of the public and accordingly, he must be absolutely discharged,' according to a recent decision from the five-member panel. Article content 'He told the 9-1-1 dispatcher that he had stabbed his mother in the chest because he 'thought she was a zombie,'' said the decision. Article content 'Neil Williams was found by his mother's side attempting to perform CPR,' said the decision. 'Janet Williams was pronounced dead at the hospital.' Article content Williams told investigators he 'was at home with his mother and father that morning,' said the decision. Article content Article content 'He was feeling unwell and vomited. He was unable to take his medication for his bipolar disorder because he was feeling sick. He started to get paranoid thoughts. It felt as though someone was after him.' Article content Article content That feeling 'went away but returned after his father had left for work,' said the decision. 'He then got strange thoughts and paranoia about his mother. He remembered getting a knife. His memory got blurry after he got the knife. He vaguely remembered stabbing his mother. After he stabbed his mother the paranoid feelings went away and he felt dread.' Article content Before his mother's death, Williams was living with his parents in a Toronto home, said the decision. 'He was unemployed and financially supported by them.' Article content His mom was trained as a lawyer, but she stopped working after Williams was born and returned to employment when he was in his early 20s. 'Mr. Williams describes having had a positive relationship with his mother.'
Toronto Sun
19-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Man linked to multiple slayings found after absconding from CAMH
James Rushton, 43, who was found not criminally responsible for father's 2019 death, located by cops Monday James Rushton, 43, walked away from CAMH on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Queen and Ossington in Toronto. Photo by Police handout The man found by police after walking away from a downtown psychiatric ward was responsible for the death of two people — including the 2019 stabbing death of his father. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account James Rushton, 43, absconded from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) at Queen St. W. and Ossington Ave. Sunday at around 3:30 p.m. He was located by police Monday afternoon and returned to custody. He was found not criminally responsible for the October 2019 second-degree murder of his father Thomas Denney, 62. According to media reports, police found Rushton at the time near King St. and University Ave. — incoherent and covered with blood — after repeatedly stabbing his father. Denney's murder came two years after Rushton was convicted of bashing his father's head with a rock, a crime for which he was sentenced to time served for his 200 days of pretrial custody. At the time of that May 2017 attack, Rushton had been released on a recognizance while facing charges from the previous November of robbery, failure to comply with probation conditions and possession of the proceeds of crime. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He was also convicted in the 2000s for domestic violence against his sister and a former partner. In 2019, Rushton reportedly told arresting officers that his father was the devil and that he'd killed before. In 2005, he was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison on a manslaughter conviction after sucker-punching a man who allegedly pulled on a female acquaintance's blouse — with the judge noting he was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine at the time. His victim died after a single punch, court documents stated. Freed in 2008 on a statutory release, he was sent back to prison to complete his full term after he admitted to using crack. A 2008 parole board document, obtained by the Toronto Sun, highlights Rushton's history of drug- and booze-fuelled violence. bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Read More
