Expansion plans for the Douglas

Verdun MNA Henri-François Gautrin disclosed the principal aspects of the project on behalf of Mr. Philippe Couillard, Minister of Health and Social Services.

The Verdun MNA reminded his audience that the government has accorded a major emphasis on high level research with the aim of improving the quality of care and treatment for patients. “In creating a Neurophenotyping Centre, we generate multiple possibilities for expanding the Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Centre which will be able to develop fields of activity considered unique in North America. It will accomplish this goal by performing neurophenotyping analysis on a large scale. The new installations will enable researchers to test animals for human diseases like Alzheimer’s, and to identify, by more subtle testing, certain environmental factors that contribute to the development of the disease” stated Mr. Gautrin.

The financial contribution of the Minister of Health and Social Services for the project’s completion has reached $5, 433, 000.00. The Foundation of the Douglas Mental Health University Centre, McGill University, the Montreal Health and Social Services Agency and the the Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute will assume the balance of the costs, totalling about $1.5 million.

In addition to the construction of the building which will house laboratories, analysis units and a modern animal supply facility, the project is also planning the construction of a tunnel that will link the new centre with that of the Research Centre. Minor re-location and space planning will also be carried out to ensure full functionality between the two complexes. Construction work will begin in a few months. The total project will be completed under the governance of Montreal’s Health and Social Services Agency.

It should be noted that the future centre will stimulate research work of the Douglas. The activities to be carried out in this pavillion will contribute to state-of-the-art treatments that are more effective for patients suffering from mental disorders like depression, schizophrenia, dementia and Alzheimer’s.