Mental Health Research Team

The Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health brings together over 20 world-class clinicians, neuroscientists, and data scientists affiliated with McGill University. 

Our diverse team is dedicated to

advancing early intervention through innovation and lived experience collaboration.

For professional openings within our mental health group, please check our Opportunities page. 

LEADERSHIP & OPERATIONS

Lenaa Palaniyappan Center Director at the center in youth mental health and professor at McGill University

Lena Palaniyappan

MD, PhD Centre Director

lena.palaniyappan@mcgill.ca

Céline Villemus Operations director and research project manager at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Céline Villemus

MSc Operations Director & Research Project Manager

celine.villemus.comtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca 

SPECIALIST MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH TEAM

Michaele Aubourg research intern at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Michaële Aubourg

Research Intern

Etienne Barou research assistant for DIALOG project at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Etienne Barou

Research Assistant,

DIALOG Project

Elsa Bernier, research assistant and youth navigator for bloom project at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Elsa Bernier

Research Assistant & Youth Navigator, BLOOM Project

Chelsea cuffaro, lived experience coordinator at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Chelsea Cuffaro

Lived Experience Coordinator

Lulwa Daou, research assistant and youth navigator for bloom project at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Lulwa Daou

Research Assistant & Youth Navigator, BLOOM Project

Kelsey Davis, clinical coordinator for DIALOG and BLOOM projects at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Kelsey Davis

 Clinical Coordinator, DIALOG & BLOOM Projects

blank-profile-picture-973460_640

Ranjini Garani

Research Coordinator, DIALOG project

Forrest Day de Larra, community engagement coordinator and youth navigator for bloom project at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Forest Day de Larra

Community Engagement Coordinator &
Youth Navigator, BLOOM Project

Karine Malenfant, research assistant for Q1K project in Ridha joober research group

Karine Malenfant

Research Assistant, Q1K Project, Ridha Joober research group

Senna Mantel, research coordinator for Q1K project in Ridha Joober research group

Senna Mantel

Research Coordinator, Q1K Project, Ridha Joober research group

Melissa Palander, digital solutions specialist for bloom project at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Melissa Palander

Digital Solutions Specialist, BLOOM Project

blank face

Deven Parekh

Data Scientist

Adrianna Redensek, academic lead and research coordinator for bloom project at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Adriana Redensek, Msc

Academic Lead &
Research Coordinator, BLOOM Project

Saba Sagliker Kose, research associate in Sherif Karama research group

Saba Sagliker Kose, MD

Research Associate, Sherif Karama research group

Roozbeh sattari, research coordinator for quebec speech bank project at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Roozbeh Sattari, MA

Research Coordinator, Quebec Speechbank Project

Martin Sellier Silva, research assistant and research liaison for bloom project at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Martin Sellier Silva

Research Assistant and Research Liaison, BLOOM Project

Fatima Abboud , Data Analyst and Statistician at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Fatima Abboud

Data Analyst and Statistician

Sanie Varela, research assistant and family navigator for bloom project at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Sanie Varela

Research Assistant & Youth & Family Navigator, BLOOM Project

Tosh Watson, FT lived experience coordinator at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Tosh Watson

FT Lived Experience Coordinator

Raven , lived experience assistant at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Raven Hudon

Lived Experience Inclusion Rep.

Sophia , Research Assistant for Quebec Speech Bank at the Center of Excellence in Youth Mental Health

Sophia Goertz

Research Assistant for Quebec Speech Bank and BLOOM project

blank face

Marie-Ange Barthel

Research Assistant for Quebec Speech Bank and MOTS+ project

Elissa Zavaglia, research associate, prevention and early intervention program for psychoses at PEPP Montreal

Elissa Zavaglia, Msc, PhD

Research Associate, Prevention and Early intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP-Montreal)

Alban Voppel research coordinator, post doctorat student from Mcgill university at the center of excellence in youth mental health

Alban Voppel

Research Coordinator, MOTS+

Samuel Papp , Administrative Coordinator at the Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health

Samuel Papp

Administrative Coordinator

blank face

Aurore Lebourg

Communication Coordinator

MCGILL TRAINEES & FUTURE MENTAL HEALTH INVESTIGATORS

Jessica Ahrens

Jessica Ahrens

PhD Candidate, Co-supervised with Clifford Cassidy
Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University

Candice Canonne

Candice Canonne, MSc

PhD Candidate, Co-supervised with Naguib Mechawar
Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University

Dlikan, Mona

Mona Dlikan

MSc Candidate, Co-supervised with David Rudko
Biological & Biomedical Engineering Program, McGill University

photo

Rukun Dou

MDCM Candidate, McGill University

Headshot

Fiona Meister, MA

PhD Candidate, Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University

headshot_Chaimaa_edited

Chaimaa El Mouslih

PhD Candidate, Co-supervised with Debra Titone
Clinical Psychology, McGill University

GonzalesAste_Fernando

Fernando Gonzales Aste, MD

Psychiatry Resident,
McGill University

MEITU_20241115_203804760[1]

Danqing Huang, MSc

Visiting Graduate Trainee (PhD candidate), 
McGill University

headshot

Lydia Jiayan Xu

Undergraduate Research Trainee, Faculty of Arts, McGill University 

Emmanuel Olarewaju, MSc

Emmanuel Olarewaju

PhD Candidate,
Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University

Matt Park

Matt Park, MD

PhD Candidate, Co-supervised with Mallar Chakravarty
Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University

Photo profesionnelle

Juliette Thibaudeau, MDCM

Resident in Psychiatry,
McGill University 

IMG_7132

Hsi (Tiana) Wei, Ma, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University 

profile

Evan Su

Undergraduate summer student (T-CAIREM), 
University of Toronto

Wang, Laetitia

Laetitia Yingqi Wang

MD/PhD Candidate,
Western University

Farida Zaher

Farida Zaher

MSc Candidate, Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University 

Abhijit Chinchani Posdoctoral researcher at McGIll university and the Center of Excellence in Youth Mental Health

Abhijit Chinchani

Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University

CIUSSS CLINICAL SERVICE LEADS & HEALTH PARTNERS

Our integration with the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal ensures that our research is directly implemented into the

Quebec Healthcare System 

Photo Chantal 3

Chantal Fournier, TS, MAP

Assistant Director of Specialized Services, CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal

Amine Saadi lower quality resized

Amine Saadi, Inf.Clin., DESS

Director, Mental Health and Addictions Programs, CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal

Susie Theberge, MSW D60_8877

Susan Theberge, MSW

Coordinator, Youth Mental Health Continuum, CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal

COMMITTEES : KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Media & Digital Presence

Lulwa Daou

Forest Day de Larrañaga

Fiona Meister

Melissa Palander

Tosh Watson

Communication

Fatima Abboud

Etienne Barou

Ranjini Garani

Adriana Redensek

Martin Sellier Silva

Celine Villemus

Event Planning

Forest Day de Larrañaga

Adriana Redensek

Céline Villemus

Farida Zaher

Workshop & Activities

Freeha Anjum

Elsa Bernier

Kelsey Davis

Forest Day de Larrañaga

Martin Sellier Silva

Melissa Palander

ALUMNI : GLOBAL RESEARCH IMPACT

Nanyu Kuang

Visiting PhD Scholar
Fudan University, China
Dec. 2022 – Jun. 2023

Théo Korchia, Md

Clinical Fellow
Psychiatry, McGill University
Jun. 2022 – Jun. 2023

Alexander Murray

Visiting PhD Scholar
University of Birmingham, UK
May – Aug. 2023

Evelyn Chan

Undergraduate Student
McGill University
Sep. 2023 – Apr. 2024

Mengdi Zhu

Undergraudate Student
McGill University
Sep. 2023 – Apr. 2024

Anthony DiMaggio

Undergraduate Summer Student
University of Toronto
Jun. – Aug. 2024

Gleb Melshin, MDCM Cand.

Undergraduate Research Intern
McGill University
May – Aug. 2024

Leija Fan

Visiting PhD Scholar
Central South University, China
Aug. 2022 – May. 2024

Luke Bregulla

Visiting MSc student, SRH Hochschule Heidelberg University
Sep. – Dec. 2024

Huan Huang, MD, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
McGill University
Jan. 2024 – Jan. 2025