It is with great pride and a deep sense of humility that I undertake the challenge of leading the first steps of the Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction(INMHA). Canada is fortunate to be a world leader in all three areas. Together, our mission consists of promoting more intensive collaborations among all Canadian scientists interested in the nervous system and the mind, the impact of modern life on healthy brain functions, and the development of addictions. I firmly believe that the timing could not be better to bring together the various disciplines (from genetics to anthropology "en passant par" first class clinical service delivery research, and patient care) interested in understanding higher brain functions and their relevance to the well being of our society. We, scientists, must never forget that at least one-out-of-every four Canadians will suffer from an illness (too often chronic) covered under the umbrella of our Institute; this has tremendous human, economic and societal costs for Canada.
Recent breakthroughs in genetics, especially the Human Genome Project, exciting developments in brain imaging and the explosion of knowledge in neuroscience and epidemiology now make it possible to use successfully a multidisciplinary, biopsychosocial approach to discover the causes of neurological, psychiatric and addictive disorders. This integrated approach should lead to the development of truly effective treatments and of improved care for a variety of conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, spinal cord injuries, pain, attention deficit disorder, suicide, schizophrenia, depressive illnesses, epilepsy, drug abuse and others.
I am most enthusiastic about this new challenge and the associated opportunities. However, I will not be able to accomplish anything without the direct support of all scientists working in the field of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, and all volunteers in lay organizations dealing with the related diseases. We must all share the same vision to improve the quality of life of Canadians suffering from brain diseases, mental illnesses and addiction, and "buy in" to the opportunities and challenges offered by our unique Institute. As strongly advocated by Professor Eric Kandel, one of the three Neuroscientists-Psychiatrists awarded the 2000 Nobel Prize in Medicine, the time is ripe to break down barriers between disciplines and to use new knowledge, new technologies and our very best scientists to solve the mysteries of the human brain and mind. Let's make our Institute a world leader and a unique model of integrated talents. The journey is just beginning and with your help and support it promises to be a fascinating one.
