Message from the Director of Research

Carl D'arcy, BA, MA (Sask), PhD (Toronto)

The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan has a long and strong history of both clinical service and research going back 60 years to the initiation of federal funding for health research. The Department is composed of both clinicians and full-time researchers. It is composed of a variety of functional units:

The mandate of the Department is to--

The mandate of the Department’s research units are to--

Contribute to the understanding, alleviating, curing, and prevention of neuropsychiatric disorders. Using knowledge and expertise from a variety of disciplines to:

1. undertake fundamental studies in neurosciences
2. undertake epidemiological and population health studies
3. undertake clinical research
4. apply knowledge and expertise to the study of various neuropsychiatric disorders
5. contribute to the training of the next generation of scientists and clinicians (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and residents).

Department faculty are currently engaged in a broad range of basic biological, epidemiological, behavioural, and clinical research. The training of Departmental faculty is similarly diverse, ranging from psychiatrists to biochemists and physiologists to psychologists and sociologists.

What is unique to the Department is the opportunity and potential for multi- and inter-disciplinary research. Department members collaborate widely with colleagues throughout the university community as well as with colleagues in national and international scientific communities.

There are opportunities for:

• fundamental biological and neuroscience research
• epidemiological, social psychiatry, and population health research
• outcome studies
• clinical research
• drug trials.

The research activities of the Department reinforce its teaching roles. Research strengthens and broadens faculty and enhances their teaching. Research provides opportunities for residents to gain experience and training in doing research, thus enhancing the quality of their training. A research elective during the clinical residency program is encouraged. Research activities are important in the quality of clinical practice.

The research role of the Department is reinforced by its clinical activities and provides opportunities for grounded and focused research.

The Department offers established graduate programs leading to the degrees of MSc and PhD in Neuropsychiatry. Graduate programs in psychiatric epidemiology and social psychiatry leading to degrees MSc and PhD degrees are also possible through the College of Medicine or the School of Public Health. Opportunities for postdoctoral training abound.

You are encouraged to explore our web site at www.usask.ca/psychiatry for more information on the Department.