NPI
The Ontario Node is led by Dr. Jürgen Rehm, Senior Scientist in the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research (IMHPR) and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), in Toronto, Ontario.
Dr. Rehm is a leader in generating and analyzing the scientific data needed to inform clinicians and policy-makers of strategies to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-related harm. His recent research has included interactions between socio-economic status, poverty and substance use, including analysis of policies and interventions with respect to reducing or inequalities. His work has been awarded with numerous awards and prizes, most importantly, the Jellinek Memorial Award (2003) and the European Addiction Research Award (2017).
RESEARCH TEAM
Dr. Farihah Ali is the Scientific Lead and Node Manager for the Ontario Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters within the Institute of Mental Health Policy Research (IMHPR) at CAMH. Dr. Ali's current work focuses on substance use and addiction, harm reduction, and speciality-based addiction treatment to help support the development of evidence-informed interventions, and public-policy to support People Who Use Drugs.
Cayley Russell is a Research Manager with the Ontario Node of the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (OCRINT). She has a combined Master’s degree in Criminology with a specialization in Addiction Studies from the University of Toronto. As a qualitative researcher, her research interests largely focus on developing a deep understanding of the complexities of addictions among vulnerable populations, towards improving substance use service systems to address their needs. As an integral part of the OCRINT team since its inauguration, she has undertaken and led numerous projects and published a wide array of articles and reports, and is currently supporting OCRINT work related to opioid agonist treatment experiences among correctional populations.
Dr. Bundit Sornpaisarn is a Project Scientist with the Ontario Node of the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (OCRINT). He had graduated Master’s degree in Public Health (Mental Health) from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. degree in Public Health (Social and Behavioural Health Science) from the University of Toronto. His research interests mainly focus on mental health and addiction research, especially alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use. Policy evaluation, policy processes, and taxation measures are also his main focuses. As a member of the OCRINT team, he has undertaken the expert consultation process to prioritize substance use research in Ontario and conducted several studies focusing on the research as mentioned above.
Dr. Sameer Imtiaz is a Project Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Institute for Mental Health Policy Research. As a member of the Ontario Node of the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (OCRINT), he conducts epidemiological research in the areas of substance use and addiction to inform clinical and policy interventions geared towards improving the health of people who use substances.
Justine Law is a Research Analyst for the Ontario Node of the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (OCRINT) within the Institute of Mental Health Policy Research (IMHPR) at CAMH. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Science from the University of British Columbia, and currently provides research support for the development and implementation of various OCRINT projects.
Ashima Kaura is a Research Analyst for the Ontario Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters within the Institute of Mental Health Policy Research (IMHPR) at CAMH. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Toronto, and currently provides research support for the development and implementation of various OCRINT projects.
Margret Lo is a Research Coordinator with the Ontario Node of the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (OCRINT), for the Decriminalization Evaluation. She has a Master's degree in Public Health from McMaster University, and has a passion for qualitative research. Her research interests include health policy, policy and program evaluation, and substance use and addiction.