Major Investment to Transform Mental Health Research

OTTAWA, ON, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ - Brain Canada is proud to announce its support for the development of the Brain Imaging Centre Advanced Multi-modal neuroimaging Platform for Psychiatry (BIC-AMPP) at The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group's BIC. Through its 2024 Platform Support Grants (PSG) program, Brain Canada is partnering with The Royal to invest $1.9 million in this groundbreaking initiative, which will integrate multiple brain imaging modalities to revolutionize mental health research.

Led by Dr. Georg Northoff of the University of Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR), the BIC-AMPP project brings together experts in MRI, PET, and EEG imaging to unlock the complex biochemical, structural, and functional changes associated with mental illness. This rare and technically advanced platform will allow researchers to simultaneously capture a more thorough and integrated picture of the brain, laying the groundwork for improved diagnostics and personalized treatments.

"This investment represents a step-change in the capabilities of our team and our infrastructure, positioning Canada at the forefront of brain imaging research for mental health," said Dr. Florence Dzierszinski, President and CEO of the IMHR and vice-president of research at The Royal. "Simultaneous tri-modal imaging is only being actively pursued in two other centres in the world, yet offers endless possibilities with the right technology and skills."

"This platform will enable us to link brain structure, chemistry, and function in real time," said Katie Dinelle, Administrative Director of The Royal's Clinical Brain Research Centre. "It will give us a more complete picture of mental illness and open new doors for discovery."

"Mental health research has long been limited by our inability to fully understand how the brain's structure, chemistry, and function interact," said Dr. Georg Northoff, lead Principal Investigator for the BIC-AMPP. "By integrating multiple imaging modalities in a single platform, we can finally start to connect the dots. This will help us move beyond fragmented insights toward a more holistic understanding of mental illness—one that can inform better, more personalized treatments."

The BIC-AMPP platform is designed to foster collaboration among scientists and provide unprecedented access to simultaneous multi-modal imaging, positioning The Royal as a hub for innovation and knowledge mobilization. Supported by expert scientific staff and a secure, open-access data-sharing infrastructure, the platform will accelerate discoveries that improve mental health care in Canada and beyond. Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada, emphasized the importance of this initiative: "The BIC-AMPP represents a major leap forward in our ability to understand mental illness and develop personalized treatments. Brain Canada is proud to support this visionary platform, which underlines Canada's position as a global leader in brain imaging research."

Brain Canada is contributing over $18 million in this year's PSG program through the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), funded by Health Canada, as well as matching donations from sponsors for a total investment of $36.8 million. By enabling access to cutting-edge tools and specialized skills beyond the reach of individual researchers, the PSG program plays a vital role in strengthening the research landscape.

"Research and innovation deepen our understanding, unlock new treatments, and improve quality of life for people affected by mental illness," said the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health. "Through the Canada Brain Research Fund, the Government of Canada is pleased to support this initiative, bringing together experts from different fields to accelerate discoveries that will improve mental health care for Canadians." 

Over the coming weeks, Brain Canada will unveil the full list of 14 research platforms selected to receive PSG funding. The total investment of $36.8 million represents a major step forward in Canada's ability to support cutting-edge brain research and improve outcomes for people living with brain-disorders. For more information, please visit www.braincanada.ca.

The Royal is one of Canada's foremost mental health care, teaching, and research hospitals and is home to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, the Brockville Mental Health Centre, the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health and the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health. Our mission is to transform the lives of people living with complex mental illness and addictions. Learn more about The Royal, our services, and our impact.

SOURCE Brain Canada