Our emerging insight into the synergy of open science, AI, and the human brain unveils vast potential to transform our approach to understanding and treating mental illness. Researchers worldwide are discovering innovative ways to achieve groundbreaking advancements in mental health by merging these worlds together. “We’re not doing AI just for the sake of AI, nor open science just for the sake of open science, but rather combining AI and open science to achieve something greater,” says Dr. Tristan Glatard, new Scientific Director of the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics (KCNI).
We sat down with Dr. Glatard to lean a little more about him and the future of the Krembil Centre:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, including your area of research and expertise?
My research in neuroinformatics has focused on developing efficient computational methods for analyzing medical images. I've also explored how to ensure computational environments produce reliable, reproducible results. This work aims to advance both our understanding of the brain and the tools we use to study it. Prior to my role at KCNI, I worked at Concordia University, where I was the Co-Director of the Applied AI Institute.
How do you plan to incorporate new technologies and methodologies, including AI, at KCNI?
KCNI is at the forefront of two key trends in the digital scientific landscape: open science and artificial intelligence. By enabling data sharing at a large scale, it allows researchers to share software tools and identify common goals that AI could potentially address. This approach accelerates scientific progress by providing the necessary infrastructure for the research community to tackle important questions. Ultimately, the KCNI's efforts make it easier for scientists to collaborate, share their findings, and leverage new technologies like AI to solve problems more efficiently.
What excites you most about joining CAMH?
I'm most excited by integrating the clinical world, clinical data, and the undeniable clinical expertise in mental health! Additionally, the strong and well-supported research capacity at KCNI, along with the robust neuroinformatics infrastructure, make this place unique. I don’t think there are many places in the world that can claim to combine a strong IT infrastructure, a powerful research core in brain modeling, and a close connection to clinical expertise.
Are there any specific areas of interest you'd like to explore?
I’m particularly interested in enabling the creation and long-term support of a digital research ecosystem focused on AI, at least for the foreseeable future, while strongly building on open science technologies. By that, I mean open data, open software, open publications, and open methods. I believe this has tremendous potential, and I envision KCNI, and by extension CAMH, becoming a global hub for this vision. The emergence of a digital ecosystem that embraces both open science and AI presents a unique opportunity to globalize how we approach scientific challenges. For mental health, in particular, I see this as a great opportunity.
It sounds like KCNI is pioneering a new approach on a global scale.
The AI ecosystem itself has evolved over the past years, building on the same vision—using common tools, shared data, and therefore addressing common problems that researchers worldwide can tackle together. In mental health, as in other health disciplines, data cannot be shared freely without restrictions. There are significant ethical, legal, and data access requirements around sharing such data, and rightfully so. That’s another aspect that attracted me to CAMH and KCNI. Much has been done around the BrainHealth Databank to facilitate the careful and cautious sharing of mental health data, and there’s a solid foundation to build upon.
Is there anything else you'd like to add about yourself or your vision for KCNI?
Not specifically about myself, but I would like to emphasize that there is an outstanding group of scientists here at KCNI. The work my predecessor, Dr. Sean Hill, and the Director of Operations, David Rotenberg, have accomplished over the past five years is remarkable. I feel both excited and humbled to continue their work and contribute to the success of KCNI in the years ahead.
