Dr. John C. Roder is a Senior Research Scientist at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital and Professor of the Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, the Department of Physiology and the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. He is actively involved in Collaborative Program in Neuroscience at the University of Toronto. Dr. Roder also holds a prestigious Canada Research Chair in Learning and Memory since October 1st, 2002.
Dr. Roder's groundbreaking work was featured in The Globe and Mail on May 3, 2007. The internationally recognized cancer researcher turned his attention to neuroscience when his son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Dr. Roder, with a team of Canadian, Japanese and Scottish researchers, has pinpointed one of the elusive genetic causes of schizophrenia. The malfunctioning gene may also be implicated with depression and bipolar disorder. The research findings have been published in the journal Neuron.
Wayne Skinner is Deputy Clinical Director, Addictions Programs, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). He leads strategic priorities in problem gambling, concurrent disorders capacity-building and aboriginal addictions and mental health. Mr. Skinner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. He also directs the Addiction Studies Program in Continuing Education at the University of Toronto’s St. Michael's College and teaches in the School of Social Work at York University.
Mr. Skinner worked at the Addiction Research Foundation for over 20 years as a
clinician, program director, consultant, research collaborator and educator. Since 1996, he has played lead role in concurrent disorders, directing the development of the Concurrent Disorders Service at CAMH. Mr. Skinner oversees the problem gambling programming at CAMH. He is involved in research on supporting families affected by concurrent disorders, along with collaborations on treating anger and addiction, telecounselling for problem gamblers, and recovery processes through mutual aid fellowship and peer support. Mr. Skinner has edited a book, Treating Concurrent Disorders: A Guide For Counsellors, which was published in 2005.
