Clinical Research Chair, Addiction Studies at The Royal

The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group (The Royal) is one of Canada’s foremost academic health science centres dedicated exclusively to mental health and addiction care. Located in Ottawa and affiliated with the University of Ottawa, The Royal integrates specialized clinical care, research, education, and innovation to advance understanding, treatment, and recovery for people living with mental illness and addiction.

At the heart of this work is The Royal’s Research Institute, a globally recognized centre for mental health and addiction research and innovation. Guided by the belief that “Research is Care,” the Institute supports more than 170 active research projects and 41 interventional clinical trials. It brings together scientists, clinician-scientists, trainees, clinical leaders, patients, families, and partners to accelerate the translation of discovery into improvements in care.

The Royal is entering an important period of research growth, supported by a landmark philanthropic investment from the Waverley House Foundation and other donors. This investment will support the recruitment of outstanding research leaders and the establishment of several Clinical Research Chairs, strengthening The Royal’s capacity to advance discovery and position the organization as a global leader in mental health and addiction research and care.

The Opportunity The Royal is seeking an innovative and internationally recognized physician-scientist to serve as Clinical Research Chair, Addiction Studies. The successful candidate will build and lead a globally recognized research program focused on addiction and concurrent disorders, supported by protected research time, competitive start-up funding, dedicated research infrastructure, and strong institutional and philanthropic commitment.

The Chair will join a highly collaborative academic and clinical environment with access to advanced neuroimaging, including MRI, PET, and EEG, interventional psychiatry programs, sophisticated health data platforms, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and a growing network of academic, healthcare, industry, and innovation partners. Areas of research may include precision addiction medicine, neurobiology and neuroimaging, novel therapeutics, concurrent disorders, clinical trials, implementation science, learning health systems, population health, and translational research.

Key priorities for the Clinical Research Chair will include:

Establish and grow a distinctive, internationally recognized addiction research program that advances understanding, prevention, treatment, and recovery.

Advance precision addiction care by leveraging neuroimaging, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and integrated data to improve diagnosis, treatment selection, and outcomes.

Translate discovery into clinical and system impact, influencing patient care, evidence-based practice, policy, and health system transformation.

Build research capacity by recruiting and mentoring trainees, fellows, emerging investigators, and interdisciplinary collaborators.

Strengthen The Royal’s national and international leadership through partnerships with academic institutions, healthcare organizations, government, community organizations, industry, and people with lived experience.

Secure competitive peer-reviewed funding and build a sustainable program with lasting scientific, clinical, and societal impact.

Experience The successful candidate will be an accomplished physician-scientist with a national or international reputation for excellence in addiction, substance use, concurrent disorders, or a closely related area. They will bring a distinguished record of scholarship, peer-reviewed funding, scientific leadership, and experience leading complex research programs and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Candidates will hold an MD or MD/PhD from a recognized academic institution and be certified, or eligible for certification, by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or hold an equivalent international credential. They must also be eligible for medical licensure in Ontario and for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at the University of Ottawa.

An innovative and collaborative research leader, the successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and translating research into meaningful improvements for patients, families, communities, and health systems.

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