Research summary
Half of Canadian families have a member who struggles with a mental health problem, yet the available treatments remain limited and inadequate. The result is poor outcomes for patients and heavy costs for our health care system. As Canada Research Chair in Therapeutics for Mental Health, Dr. Gabriella Gobbi is using a bench-to-bedside method to study drugs to treat mental illness, with the goal of offering a more personalized approach to medicine.
She and her research team plan to conduct a first-in-class clinical trial using melatonin as a treatment for chronic pain and insomnia. They are also working to learn more about how cannabidiol (CBD) works for patients with anxiety, pain and autism spectrum disorder. Finally, they are exploring the potential of psychedelics to treat social anxiety disorder, treatment-resistant depression and autism spectrum disorder. Ultimately, they hope to promote mental health among Canadians by advancing research while connecting with patients and society.