The Douglas Mental Health University Institute is proud to announce that Michael Meaney, PhD, CQ, FRSC, neuroscience researcher at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, has been named to the Order of Canada. Mr. Meaney is receiving the insignia for his outstanding contribution to neuroscience, notably for his work on the role of epigenetics in mental health and in particular that the quality of a child’s social environment can change the expression of specific genes.

Alain Gratton, Director of the Research Centre at the Douglas Institute, points out that “Michael’s work in neuroscience is hugely important. Thanks to his discoveries, we have a better understanding of how the quality of parenting affects the plasticity of genes involved in certain mental disorders. His research has opened up new fields of study, which, in itself, is an outstanding achievement."

Lynne McVey, the new Executive Director of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, praises Michael Meaney’s role in enhancing the Institute's international profile. “Mr. Meaney's appointment to the Order of Canada is a tribute to the excellent work he has done to advance mental health research. It reflects the strength of his international reputation and we feel very privileged to have him here at the Douglas. I would like to congratulate him on receiving this prestigious award and thank him for contributing so significantly to the global outreach of the Institute.”

In addition to being a principal investigator, Mr. Meaney is Associate Director of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Centre; Director of the Program for the Study of Behaviour, Genes and Environment at McGill University; and James McGill Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University.

His work as a researcher has earned Mr. Meaney a number of awards and honours. He is, among others, a Knight of the National Order of Quebec 2007 and a member of the Royal Society of Canada. The team at Radio-Canada's Les Années lumière, a weekly scientific radio show, named Mr. Meaney, along with his colleagues Gustavo Turecki and Moshe Zsyf, 2009 Scientist of the Year. In 2007, he was recognized by the Institute for Scientific Information as a “Most Highly Cited Scientist” in the area of neuroscience.

Information

Florence Meney
Media Relation
Communications and public affairs
Phone: 514-761-6131, ext. 2769
Cell.: 514-835-3236
florence_dot_meney_At_douglas_dot_mcgill_dot_ca

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