IMHR Researchers
Hymie Anisman (PhD)
Dr. Hymie Anisman is a Professor in the Institute of Neurosciences at Carleton University and a Professor within the Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. He is a world-renowned neuroscientist and an expert on the causes of stress-induced illness, as well as the pharmacological and neurochemical basis for depression and anxiety. He and his team are now engaged in extending that research beyond looking for causes to looking for ways to counteract the changes brought on by stress.
Dr. Anisman's research examines the effect that stressful events have on neurochemical and hormonal activity in the brain, which may be similar to those associated with chronic depression. There is also evidence to suggest persons who might be genetically predisposed to depression (by family history) are made more susceptible to developing severe symptoms following exposure to stressful circumstances. Likewise, it is thought that acute stressful events lead to alterations of immune system activity, making a person vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections which their bodies might otherwise resist with ease. Since bi-directional communication occurs between the brain and the immune system, Dr. Anisman's team are also attempting to determine what signaling molecules might be involved in this interaction, and how these come to influence anxiety and depression.
Dr. Anisman has taught courses on Stress, Behavioural Medicine, and Behavioural Genetics, published more than 200 scientific papers, and his work is supported by numerous federal and provincial granting agencies. He serves on the Editorial Boards of several scientific journals, and has served on numerous Canadian Granting Agencies
