Gustavo Turecki

Gustavo Turecki (born May 11, 1965) is a Brazilian-Canadian psychiatrist, suicidologist, neuroscientist who is a professor at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair Tier in Major Depressive Disorder and Suicide. He is the sitting Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, the Scientific Director of the Douglas Research Centre, and the Psychiatrist-in-Chief of the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS ODIM). He works at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, where he heads both the McGill Group for Suicide Studies and the Depressive Disorders Program, and is the co-director of the Douglas Bell-Canada Brain Bank.

Turecki is both a clinician and a neuroscientist. He has published over 500 peer-reviewed publications and 30 book chapters examining the influence of life experiences on brain function and their relationship to depression and suicide risk. One of his major contributions is the first description of the long-term impact of childhood abuse on the brain, particularly how it affects the activity of key genes involved in the stress response.

Scientific contributions Turecki's neurobiological work has focused on the processes underlying depression and suicide. In collaboration with Michael Meaney and Moshe Szyf, Turecki uncovered that early-life adversity epigenetically regulates the glucocorticoid receptor gene, a key component of response to stress. This study helped to reconcile debate about the relative influences of genes and environment on behaviour (‘nature vs. nurture’ debate), and led to Turecki's selection as the scientist of the year by Radio Canada/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 2009, The results obtained in studying the epigenetic control of the HPA axis prompted Turecki to expand his interest in the epigenetic regulation of the brain, focusing on mechanisms that may explain what happens when individuals are exposed to traumatic experiences early in their lives, as well as what epigenetic processes are involved in depression and suicide. In addition, his work has focused on epigenetic mechanisms explaining response to antidepressants.

Turecki leads the Depressive Disorders Program, and implementing novel protocols and standards in the field.

Personal life He was born in Argentina, moved to Brazil in the 1980s with his family, and moved to Montreal, Canada, in 1994.

Awards and honours Turecki is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

2005 William Dawson Scholar, McGill University 2009 Scientist of the year Award, Radio Canada/CBC 2009 Top 10 findings of the year, Québec Science 2012 Heinz Lehmann Award, CCNP 2012 Research Career Award, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 2014 Samarthji Lal Award for Mental Health Research, Graham Boeck Foundation 2014 Top 10 findings of the year, Québec Science 2015 Joel Elkes Award for Clinical Research, ACNP 2016 Léo-Pariseau Prize, Acfas 2016 Distinguished Investigator Award, NARSAD 2019 Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize, University of British Columbia 2020 Sumitomo/Sunovion Brain Health Clinical Research Award, CINP 2020 Colvin Prize in Mood Disorders Research, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

Selected publications Neurobiology studies

Clinical and behavioural studies of depression and suicide