Clinical Research Chair, Mood and Anxiety Disorders

The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group (The Royal) is one of Canada’s foremost academic health science centres dedicated exclusively to mental health and addiction care. Located in Ottawa and affiliated with the University of Ottawa, The Royal integrates specialized clinical care, research, education, and innovation to advance understanding, treatment, and recovery for people living with mental illness and addiction.

At the heart of this work is The Royal’s Research Institute, a globally recognized centre for mental health and addiction research and innovation. Guided by the belief that “Research is Care,” the Institute supports more than 170 active research projects and 41 interventional clinical trials. It brings together scientists, clinician-scientists, trainees, clinical leaders, patients, families, and partners to accelerate the translation of discovery into improvements in care.

The Royal is entering an important period of research growth, supported by a landmark philanthropic investment from the Waverley House Foundation and other donors. This investment will support the recruitment of outstanding research leaders and the establishment of several Clinical Research Chairs, strengthening The Royal’s capacity to advance discovery and position the organization as a global leader in mental health and addiction research and care.

The Opportunity

The Royal is seeking an accomplished clinician-scientist to serve as Clinical Research Chair, Mood and Anxiety Disorders (Chair). The successful candidate will establish and lead an internationally recognized research program focused on advancing the understanding, prevention, and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, with particular emphasis on bipolar disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and treatment-resistant anxiety, and related difficult-to-treat conditions.. Supported by protected research time, competitive start-up funding, dedicated research infrastructure, and strong institutional and philanthropic commitment, the Chair will advance innovative approaches to understanding illness mechanisms, identifying biomarkers, improving treatment selection, and developing more effective, personalized interventions.

The Chair will join a highly collaborative academic and clinical environment with access to advanced neuroimaging and electrophysiological platforms, interventional psychiatry programs, clinical trials infrastructure, and a growing network of national and international research partners. Opportunities exist to advance research spanning clinical neuroscience, chronobiology, sleep and circadian rhythms, psychopharmacology, neurostimulation, and novel therapeutics. Particular areas of interest may include the role of sleep and biological rhythms in mood disorders, use of existing and emerging pharmacological treatments, early identification of illness trajectories, and the development and evaluation of innovative interventions. The Chair will work across disciplines to translate scientific discovery into meaningful improvements in clinical care and patient outcomes.

Key priorities for the Chair will include:

• Establish and grow a distinctive, internationally recognized research program in mood and anxiety disorders, with particular emphasis on bipolar disorder, and treatment-resistant anxiety and.
• Advance understanding of the biological, clinical, and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying mood disorders, including the role of sleep, circadian rhythms, and other potential biomarkers in illness progression and treatment response.
• Develop and evaluate innovative therapeutic approaches, including pharmacological interventions, chronotherapeutic strategies, brain stimulation, and emerging treatments, with a focus on improving outcomes for individuals with complex or treatment-resistant conditions.
• Translate research into clinical practice through rigorous clinical trials, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of evidence-informed approaches to early identification, personalized treatment, and ongoing care.
• Build research capacity by recruiting and mentoring trainees, emerging investigators, and interdisciplinary collaborators across psychiatry, neuroscience, clinical research, and related fields.
• Strengthen The Royal’s national and international research profile through partnerships with academic institutions, healthcare organizations, research networks, and industry.
• Secure competitive peer-reviewed funding and complementary investment to establish a sustainable research program with lasting scientific, clinical, and health system impact.

Experience

The successful candidate will be an accomplished clinician-scientist with an established national or international reputation in mood disorders, affective neuroscience, or a closely related field. They will bring a distinguished record of research achievement and scholarly productivity, success securing competitive peer-reviewed funding, experience leading clinical and translational research programs, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing evidence-based treatments for individuals living with mood and anxiety disorders.

Candidates will hold an MD or equivalent medical degree from a recognized academic institution and be certified, or eligible for certification, by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or hold an equivalent international credential. They must be eligible for medical licensure in Ontario and for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at the University of Ottawa. Advanced research training and substantive expertise in mood disorders, clinical neuroscience, psychopharmacology, chronobiology, interventional psychiatry, clinical trials, or related fields would be considered an asset.

A collaborative and innovative research leader, the successful candidate will bring the scientific credibility, clinical expertise, intellectual curiosity, and relationship-building skills to work effectively across disciplines and organizational boundaries. They will demonstrate a commitment to mentorship, research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and translating scientific advances into meaningful improvements in care for patients and families.

To confidentially explore this opportunity, please submit your CV or contact Heather Spiegel or Judy Mandelman at [email protected]. An Executive Brief is available upon request.