The Summit will be one of the most research-intensive mental health facilities for young people in Canada.

While serving as an innovative clinical care facility, The Summit is enabling a unique opportunity to develop and implement a world-leading mental health research program with a direct pipeline from discovery to care – all in one setting. University of Calgary-led research will fully integrate with care to enable families to benefit from and contribute to advancing evidence-based best practice therapies that will help young people here and around the world. For more information and to learn how your family can participate in research, visit mentalhealthresearch4kids.com.

“We know there’s an unprecedented number of children and adolescents struggling right now. Our hope is that The Summit opening sends a message to young people and families that the community cares about their well-being and is investing in the very best care and treatments rooted in research evidence.”

– Dr. Susan Graham, Program Co-Lead, Mental Health Research for Kids

Here are a few examples of research led by local scientists:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  In their ongoing studies focused on youth with OCD, researchers have discovered specific genes associated with traits of this disorder. Such discoveries may one day help care providers identify a child’s risk for specific mental health concerns and provide personalized treatments informed by their genetic profile. ƒ
• Personalized prescriptions
  With the added complexity of supporting teens on the autism spectrum, pharmacogenetics researchers are working with these youth and their doctors to individualize medications based on their DNA and factoring in other prescriptions required to manage autism symptoms.
• Brain stimulation
  Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive way to target and “wake up” specific areas of the brain. Already an effective treatment for depression in adults, researchers are now starting a clinical trial to understand whether rTMS may benefit children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

“The Summit will incorporate accessible mental health care with leading-edge research, so we can mobilize academic insights into the best possible clinical care for children and youth. The University of Calgary is honoured to be a part of this historic milestone for child and youth mental health in southern Alberta.”

– Dr. Ed McCauley, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Calgary

This story is included in our Spring 2023 Just 4 Kids newsletter, make sure you check out the other amazing stories!