CBB is pleased to welcome University of Toronto's Associate Professor Dr. Venkat Bhat to campus on October 11, 2024 to present his research and discuss the development of his Interventional Psychiatry Program at St. Michael’s Hospital.
Those interested in AI, data science, psychology & neuroscience are particularly encouraged to join us for Dr. Bhat's talk, Interventional Psychiatry & Digital Interventions: Clinical & Emerging Research Perspectives from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. in DC 1302.
If you have any questions regarding this talk or speaker, please email Mohammad Kohandel.
Abstract
The Interventional Neuropsychiatry Program at the University of Toronto has three pillars with a focus on novel and emerging treatments in the realms of: A) Pharmacology (e.g., IV ketamine, nitrous oxide, psychedelics); B) Brain stimulation (e.g., rTMS, TI, FES); C) Digital Interventions/Therapeutics. The research program aims to understand mechanisms behind treatment response with an emphasis on digital data capture accompanied by application of AI/analytics. This talk will provide an overview of research paradigms in this emerging domain with a particular emphasis on activities within the Digital Pillar which houses the Digital Interventions & Intelligence Group (DiiG).
DiiG is a multi-institutional group examining digital interventions (combinations of VR, app and wearable-based monitoring) in illness and wellness. DiiG activities include digital interventions to understand a) stress response among health care professionals, student populations/physical activity programs, workplace wellness, and other specific populations with mental illness to develop digital biomarkers; b) Remote mental health monitoring in Canada’s Arctic & North; c) International projects examining barriers/facilitators to digital implementation in health care (e.g., Canada-Brazil collaboration); d) Applications of Generative AI in mental health.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Venkat Bhat, MD, MSc, FRCPC, DABPN
Staff Psychiatrist at St Michael’s Hospital; Clinician-scientist, University of Toronto
Dr. Bhat is a staff psychiatrist at St. Michael’s Hospital and at the University Health Network. He is an Associate Professor within the Department of Psychiatry at University of Toronto. He envisioned and developed the Interventional Psychiatry Program at St. Michael’s Hospital, an interdisciplinary program which offers emerging interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders. He co-developed the multi-institutional Digital Interventions & Intelligence Group (DiiG), leads the Health Care AI/Analytics pillar within the Institute for Biomedical Science, Engineering & Technology, is a member within Faculties of Medicine & Biomedical Engineering, and within the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Science and Technology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Bhat has over 130 publications and delivered over 150 presentations, his research program has been supported by principal funding bodies in Canada and US (>9M CDN as PI and 25M CDN as co-I), and he has mentored over 35 trainees across disciplines. His work has been recognized by organizations including RCPSC, AFSP, BBRF, ACNP, ASCP, APA, CPA, he is a member of the ACP and fellow of CCNP.