The J.M. Cleghorn Award for Excellence and Leadership in Clinical Research was given to Dr. Russell Schachar, a national and international leader in ADHD genetics and executive function measures. Dr. Schachar pioneered one of the first programs in child psychiatric genetics. This generated the first genome-wide significant findings for OCD traits and gave rise to the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders Network (POND). He also co-developed the stop-signal reaction-time—or SSRT task—one of the most widely used cognitive tools in mental health research.

Dr. Pierre Blier from Ottawa, Ontario, received the J.M. Cleghorn Award for Excellence and Leadership in Clinical Research in recognition of his contributions to mood disorder research and advancements in treatment. In 2010, Dr. Blier was the first clinician in Canada to administer intravenous infusions of ketamine in patients with treatment-resistant depression and/or high suicidal ideation in regular clinical care. At that time there were only a handful of publications on this exciting and new approach.

Dr. Rudolf Uher for his major advancements in multiple areas of psychiatric research including psychiatric genetics, personalized treatment for major depressive disorder, and early identification of risk and prevention of mental illness.

Dr. Jitender Sareen for excellence in clinical psychiatric research, his impact on the treatment needs of vulnerable populations, and leadership in mentoring new clinician-researchers.

Psychiatrist and pediatrician, Dr. Harriet MacMillan has led groundbreaking research on the prevalence of child maltreatment and intimate partner violence for over thirty years. Her research has highlighted the important relationship between exposure to child maltreatment and mental health outcomes in adulthood. She developed a concise and valid measure for child abuse, which serves as a foundation for many international surveys. As a result of her studies, decision-makers are refocusing their efforts towards developing and evaluating interventions to prevent child maltreatment before it occurs. Dr. MacMillan also led a trial that found screening for intimate partner violence does not prevent violence against women. Based largely on this work, the WHO guidelines on responding to violence against women recommend against screening in health settings.

Dr. William Honer was recognized for his valuable contributions to the clinical research of schizophrenia. His research has established the effectiveness of medication treatment for first-episode psychosis in mitigating symptoms and relapse. The award not only recognizes the excellence of his research, but also the leadership role he has played in knowledge translation and advancing the next generation of psychiatric researchers.

Dr. Glenda MacQueen was recognized for her major contributions in neurobiological and treatment studies of depression and bipolar disorder, reflect the high standards set by Dr. John M. Cleghorn. This award not only recognizes the excellence of her research but also the leadership role she has played in knowledge translation and health administration as well as advancing the next generation of psychiatric researchers.

Dr. Meir Steiner from Hamilton, Ontario, was recognized for his research in both psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology, as well as his work in the area of postpartum depression and premenstrual syndrome. He was also recognized for his leadership role in advancing this work through organized medicine at home and abroad, as well as mentoring a generation of young researchers who will continue this work in the future.

Dr. Raymond Lam from Vancouver, British Columbia, was recognized for his research into the clinical and neurobiological factors in seasonal, treatment-resistant and workplace depression, which has had a significant impact on contemporary psychiatric practice, nationally and internationally. His clear vision and leadership in advancing evidence-based practice in the field of mood disorders are in keeping with the high standards set by Dr. J.M. Cleghorn. Dr. Lam has mentored a new generation of clinician-scientists, ensuring a strong future for this field of research.

Dr. Vasavan Nair was recognized for his research contributions to the fields of psychopharmacology, geriatric psychiatry and aging which have had a significant impact on contemporary psychiatric practice. At a time when little psychiatric research was being conducted in Canada, Dr. Nair established several research programs. He was instrumental in creating and developing the Douglas Mental Health Research Centre which integrates neuroscience, psychosocial research, and clinical research as well as the Institute’s Program for Dementia with Psychiatric Comorbidity.

Dr. Lakshmi Yatham was recognized for his outstanding contributions to bipolar disorders research and his leadership in advancing bipolar research and education in Canada and internationally. His brain imaging research has significantly advanced our understanding of the neurobiological aspects of bipolar disorder and the role of dopamine in bipolar disorder as well as what role the brain’s 5-HT2 receptors play in activating antidepressant treatments. Dr. Yatham has also lead large clinical treatment trials that have helped change the way bipolar disorder is treated.

Dr. Emmanuel Stip, a pioneer in the research of cognitive difficulties in schizophrenia and the effects of antipsychotics on cognition, uncovered the connection between the performance of cognitive tasks and the occupation of dopamine receptors by antipsychotics. Also a pioneer in the use of functional neuroimaging in psychiatric research, he is an important contributor to the development of environmental cognitive remediation through his innovative use of technological development concepts such as smart home and mobile computing. He also developed SSTICS, a subjective scale used to measure cognitive problems or cognitive insight in schizophrenia.

Dr. Anne Bassett, is a national and international expert in schizophrenia genetics research. She is best known for her pioneering studies of an under-recognized subtype of schizophrenia known as 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Dr. Bassett has extended her research in schizophrenia to the newfound phenomenon of copy number variation, or CNV, and heads up the world’s largest study of CNVs in a systematically assessed sample with schizophrenia.

Dr. Stanley Kutcher is reknown both nationally and internationally for his contributions to child and adolescent mental health research. His accomplishments include the development and assessment of a novel psychotherapeutic intervention program for primary care physicians, the development of the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale and the establishment of the first Canadian clinical-research clinics for adolescents with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and psychotic disorder.

Dr. Allan Kaplan has contributed significantly both nationally and internationally to research in eating disorders with a particular focus on the psychobiology and treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In 2002 he was appointed the first Chairholder of the Loretta Anne Rogers Chair in Eating Disorder, the world’s first Chair in eating disorders. His work has received substantial grants from, among others, the Ontario Mental Health Foundation, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the National Institute of Mental Health.

Dr. Michel Maziade is a child psychiatrist and a pioneer in psychiatric genetics with a vision for interdisciplinary collaboration and research. He was one of the first researchers in the world to explore schizophrenia and bipolar disorder conjointly creating a unique and priceless genetic database around which he built the internationally reknown Laval-Robert Giffard University Research Centre. Dr. Maziade has been the Centre’s scientific director since its inception in 1987.

Dr. Paul Grof was recognized for his research contributions in the field of bipolar disorder and recurrent depression. Dr. Grof’s major contribution has been the recognition of the heterogeneity of bipolar disorders using the responder variable. His 30-year study of consenting patients and their family members is also an invaluable contribution to clinical research.

Dr. Harvey Chochinov was recognized for his research which has expanded the fields of psychiatry and palliative medicine, bringing them closer together in the service of improving end-of-life care. His work has helped define the competencies and standards of care for practitioners around the world who attend to the dying and their loved ones.

Dr. Chawki Benkelfat contributed to the understanding of mental disorders, particularly mood disorders and substance use, using brain imaging to determine the neurobiological mechanisms behind these symptoms.

Dr. Sidney Kennedy was recognized for his lasting contributions to psychiatry’s understanding of mood and eating disorders and their treatments, his work in translating research into clinical practice and his championship of evidence-based psychiatry.

Dr. Ashok Malla was recognized for his overall contributions to schizophrenia and psychosis research and for establishing the early intervention program for psychosis at the London Health Sciences Centre.

Dr. Robert Zipursky was recognized for his remarkable productivity, with work on structural brain abnormalities in psychiatric illness, on mechanisms of antipsychotic medications and schizophrenia, on the study of first-episode schizophrenia, on health services research and on ethical issues in schizophrenia research.

Dr. Peter Williamson was recognized for his pioneering work in neuroimaging of schizophrenia, the excellence of his research, and for being an outstanding educator in neuropsychiatry research development.

Dr. David “Dan” Offord was founding director of the Offord Centre for Child Studies. Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, and one of the world’s leading experts in child development and children’s mental health. He was an outstanding scientist, a devoted clinician and a passionate advocate of children and youth, an extraordinary leader who work has had a profound influence on the practice of child psychiatry , and on mental health research and policy across many continents.