L’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec – Research
(F1) One element at L’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec – research – has been developing more and more over the last several decades. Since the 1950s, we have seen rapid development of laboratories. In 1954, another laboratory was added to the biology laboratory for the purpose of furthering research. In 1958, this biology laboratory already had two doctors of science working there.1 In 1966, the Hôpital Saint-Michel-Archange officially became a research and teaching centre and promoted training for its team members at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.2 A broad-scale project was carried out in 1987. In partnership with Université Laval and the Hôtel-Dieu du Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus, L’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québeccreated the Centre de recherche Université Laval Robert-Giffard (CRULRG). Its principal mission was to advance science with respect to neuropsychiatric illness in adults and children, as well as the brain and behaviour. Pioneering fields such as neuroscience and genetics are studied and taught at the Centre. Research at CRULRG mainly focuses on four distinct areas:
- evaluative and clinical research,
- systemic neurobiology,
- genetic epidemiology,
- cellular neurobiology.3
Neuroscience has developed in the last 25 years. It attempts to understand how the brain functions and to connect its different areas to specific functions. For example, this science has determined that language is connected to the frontal lobe. Through neuroscience we may find the origin of mental illnesses so that they can be effectively treated. Many advances have been made in this field – over the years more than a hundred neurotransmitters have been discovered, such as serotonin in 1952 and dopamine in 1957.
CRULRG is recognized by the Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec, and its research on illnesses such as schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and a number of others have earned the Centre an excellent reputation both nationally and internationally.4
- Jules Lambert, Mille fenêtres, op.cit., p. 77.
- Jules Lambert, L’Hôpital psychiatrique…, op. cit., p. 12.
- http://www.institutsmq.qc.ca/index.php?id=accueil
- http://www.institutsmq.qc.ca/index.php?id=59/
