CAMH launches Big Data centre for mental health

TORONTO – The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has announced the creation of the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, a facility that will accelerate global collaborations in brain science using the power of big data, artificial intelligence and brain modelling to fundamentally change how mental illness is understood.

Thanks to a transformational $15-million gift from the Krembil Family, CAMH welcomes Dr. Sean Hill as the inaugural Director of the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics.

The announcement was made at an event led by Dr. Catherine Zahn (pictured), CAMH president and chief executive officer; Dr. Sean Hill, inaugural director of the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics; the Honourable Michael Wilson and the Krembil family.

“Every discovery is a cause to be hopeful – hopeful that we will soon see options for prevention, treatment and cure. Some are calling for a “moonshot” for mental health in Canada, and I couldn’t agree more, with the establishment of the new Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics,” said Dr. Zahn.

“Neuroinformatics stands to fundamentally change how mental illness is understood and CAMH will be at the centre of this research. Our family is thrilled to enable this transformative work,” said Bob Krembil.

The Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, located at 250 College Street, will be comprised of world-leading specialists employing big data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and visualization and multi-scale modeling to bridge the levels of the structure and function of the brain – from genes to circuits to behaviour.

The centre will operate as an incubator for medical technologies to identify, manage and treat mental illness, while shaping policy at national and global levels.