Director Message

Welcome Back 2026

Dear Mathison Centre members, trainees and staff,

I am delighted to welcome you and your teams to the start of another promising academic year as we continue advancing the mission of the Mathison Centre. Since stepping into the role of Director, I have had the privilege of meeting many members of our community and beginning important conversations with many of you about how we can further strengthen our research partnerships, collaborations, and collective impact. These conversations will continue to be an important part of how we move forward.

I am grateful to everyone who has taken the time to share ideas, insights, and feedback. A special thank you to Drs. Kara Murias, Tamara Pringsheim, Paul Arnold, Leah Mayo, and Iliana Ortega for joining the Centre's leadership team. I look forward to working alongside them, and with all of you, during what promises to be an exciting and productive year. As we begin the academic year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on some of our recent successes and highlight several exciting developments on the horizon.

Celebrating Excellence

Congratulations to our members and trainees for their remarkable achievements over the past year. Researchers affiliated with the Centre secured a total of $10.2 million in new CIHR Project Grant funding as principal investigators in the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 competitions. Along with many other grants from other agencies and sponsors to our members, this is a tremendous accomplishment that reflects the strength and impact of our research community.

I would also like to recognize the many members who received prestigious awards and honours throughout the year, including Dr. Pamela Roach, who was recently named to the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists and Dr. Frank Stahnisch elected fellow to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

These accomplishments, along with numerous publications, presentations, and partnerships, continue to elevate the profile and impact of the Centre. I encourage you to visit our news page to learn more about the outstanding work being carried out across our community.

Growing our Community

The Mathison Centre continues to grow. Our membership has increased to 147 members, up from 139 members last fall. Please join me in welcoming our newest members and making connections as we work together to advance mental health research.

As we celebrate new additions to our community, I would also like to acknowledge the recent retirement of Dr. Andrew Bulloch. Andrew served as Interim Director of the Mathison Centre from 2014 to 2015 and remained actively engaged in our outreach and community-building efforts throughout his career. We extend our sincere gratitude for his 44 years of service to the University of Calgary and wish him all the very best in retirement.

Upcoming this Fall

I am excited to share several major events taking place this fall:

Youth Mental Health Research Connector – October 16. This half-day networking event will bring together University of Calgary faculty members and community partners to showcase research excellence, highlight existing collaborations, and foster new opportunities for partnership.

University of Calgary Mental Health Research Day – October 28. Held during UFlourish, this event is a collaboration between the Mathison Centre and the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Together, we will advance dialogue and promote research collaboration around mental health and wellbeing of our campus community.

Mathison Centre Research Day 2026 – November 16. This year's Research Day will highlight our recently formed Scientific Advisory Committee of international leaders in Mental Health and Neuroscience. These esteemed colleagues will discuss their recent work highlighting the themes and initiatives at the core of the Mathison Centre, including youth mental health, translational psychiatry, stress, psychedelics and novel approaches to clinical trials.
- Dr. Kerry Ressler – Chief Scientific Officer and Professor of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard University
- Dr. Carolyn Rodriguez – Professor of Psychiatry, Stanford University
- Dr. Francis Lee – Chair of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College

Supporting our Trainees

Our trainees are central to the success of the Mathison Centre. The Mathison Trainee Organization (MTO) provides a vibrant, student-led community where trainees can connect through social events, networking opportunities, and professional development activities. The group works closely with the HBI Trainee Organization (HBITO) to create opportunities that enhance the trainee experience across the institute. I encourage all researchers to support trainee engagement by sharing information about these groups and encouraging trainees to connect by emailing mto@ucalgary.ca to receive updates on upcoming events and initiatives.

Coming up soon for our trainees are Graduate Research in Progress presentations on October 21 from 12:00 pm - 1:30pm in HS O1504/O1506. This will be an excellent opportunity for trainees to connect and grow their networks. Please encourage your trainees to sign up to present using this link.

Looking Ahead

Our collective successes, from grants and awards to publications and partnerships, are instrumental in strengthening the Centre's reputation and research impact. We want to celebrate these achievements with you. Please share your notable accomplishments by emailing mathison.centre@ucalgary.ca.

At the beginning of my term as Director, I shared a vision of building on the unique strengths of the Mathison Centre to further establish it as a leading local, national, and international centre for mental health research. I remain deeply committed to this vision and look forward to supporting the many talented individuals and teams whose work makes it possible. My door is always open, and I welcome your questions, ideas, and suggestions as we continue working together to advance the Centre's mission.

Thank you for your continued dedication, collaboration, and commitment to advancing mental health research and education. I wish each of you a successful and rewarding year ahead.

Dr. Matt Hill
Director, The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education