Gustavo Turecki

Gustavo Turecki MD-Ph.D.
Gustavo Turecki
Gustavo Turecki
Born (1965-05-11) May 11, 1965
Residence Canada
Nationality Canadian
Education McGill University
Alma mater McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Awards Prix Léo Pariseau for biological and health sciences, Acfas (2016); NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Award, Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation (2016); ACNP Joel Elkes Award (2015); AFSP Research Career Award (2012); Heinz Lehmann Award, CCNP (2012); Radio-Canada Scientist of the Year Award (2009); NARSAD Oxley Foundation Investigator Award (2009); AFSP Distinguished Investigator Award (2009 & 2006).
Website https://mgss.ca

Gustavo Turecki (born May 11, 1965) is a Canadian psychiatrist and professor at McGill University. 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,[1] and works at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, where he heads both the McGill Group for Suicide Studies[2] and the Depressive Disorders Program. He is also the director of the FRQS/FRQSC-funded Quebec Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders and Related Disorders,[3] and the co-director of the Douglas Bell-Canada Brain Bank.[4]

As a clinician and neuroscientist, his research focuses on examining the influence of life experiences on brain function, and their relationship to depression and suicide risk. Among his major contributions, published in over 400 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters,[5] 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 stress-response.

Scientific contributions

Turecki's neurobiological work has focused strongly on the processes underlying depression and suicide. A defining moment in his career came from a collaboration with Michael Meaney and Moshe Szyf, in which they uncovered that early-life adversity epigenetically regulates the glucocorticoid receptor gene, a key component of response to stress.[6] This groundbreaking study helped to reconcile the longstanding debate about the relative influences of genes and environment on behaviour (‘nature vs. nurture’ debate), and garnered international attention, leading to Turecki's selection as the scientist of the year by Radio Canada/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 2009, along with Meaney and Szyf. Turecki's further research on the human brain explored the epigenetic control of genes related to stress-response systems, such as the hypothalamus- pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, particularly in association with childhood abuse and suicide.[7][8] The promising results obtained in studying the epigenetic control of the HPA axis prompted Turecki to study the role of epigenetics in another pathway, the polyamine stress response, which his team had already shown to be linked to suicide risk.[9] More recently, and in parallel to the classic epigenetic studies focusing on DNA and histone methylation, Turecki's focus has expanded to non-coding RNAs and their involvement in depression and suicide,[10] as well as in response to antidepressants.[11]

Turecki also conducts work aiming at refining the depression and suicide phenotype. His clinical work focuses on depression. He leads the Depressive Disorders Program, a clinical group that treats patients affected with major depression and integrates research projects into clinical practice. Two key aspects of this work are exploring how impulsive-aggressive behaviours contribute to suicide risk,[12] and implementing novel protocols and standards in the field.

Turecki's ongoing research endeavours have a strong impact on international neuropsychiatric research. His clinical intervention protocols have helped to improve patient care, and his laboratory has become an international leader in the investigation of the neurobiology of suicide, focusing on functional genomics, epigenetics and other molecular factors. His contributions in creating and managing the Suicide Brain Bank within the Douglas Bell-Canada Brain Bank[13] has allowed researchers from around the world to access unique and valuable human tissues.

Personal life

Turecki is married and has three children. He was born in La Plata, Argentina and moved to Montreal in 1994.

Recognition of work

Turecki is currently an FRQS Chercheur National.[14] His contributions have also been recognized through numerous prizes and awards.

  • 2005 William Dawson Chair, McGill University[15]
  • 2009 Scientist of the year Award, Radio Canada/CBC,[16][17]
  • 2009 Top 10 findings of the year, Quebec Science[18]
  • 2010 Celebrity of the Week, La Presse[17]
  • 2012 Heinz Lehmann Award, CCNP[19]
  • 2012 Research Career Award, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention[20]
  • 2014 Samarthji Lal Award, Graham Boeck Foundation & CIHR-INMHA[21]
  • 2014 Top 10 findings of the year, Québec Science[22]
  • 2015 Joel Elkes Award for Clinical Research, ACNP[23]
  • 2016 ACFAS Léo-Pariseau prize View ACFAS website
  • 2016 NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Award View NARSAD website

Selected publications

Neurobiology studies

  • McGowan, P; Sasaki, A; D'Alessio, ACD; Dymov, S; Labonté, B; Szyf, M; Turecki, G; Meaney, M (2009). "Epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor in human brain associates with childhood abuse". Nat Neurosci. 12 (3): 342–8. doi:10.1038/nn.2270. PMC 2944040.
  • Turecki, G; Ernst, C; Jollant, F; Labonté, B; Mechawar, N (2012). "The neurodevelopmental origins of suicidal behavior". Trends Neurosci. 35 (1): 14–23. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2011.11.008.
  • Labonté, B; Suderman, M; Maussion, G; Lopez, JP; Navarro-Sánchez, L; Yerko, V; Mechawar, N; Szyf, M; Meaney, MJ; Turecki, G (2013). "Genome-wide methylation changes in the brains of suicide completers". Am J Psychiatry. 170 (5): 511–20. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12050627.
  • Nagy, C; Suderman, M; Yang, J; Szyf, M; Mechawar, N; Ernst, C; Turecki, G (2014). "Astrocytic abnormalities and global DNA methylation patterns in depression and suicide". Mol Psychiatry. 20: 320–328. doi:10.1038/mp.2014.21. PMC 5293540.
  • Lopez, JP; Lim, R; Cruceanu, C; Crapper, L; Fasano, C; Labonte, B; Maussion, G; Yang, JP; Yerko, V; Vigneault, E; El Mestikawy, S; Mechawar, N; Pavlidis, P; Turecki, G. "miR-1202 is a primate-specific and brain-enriched microRNA involved in major depression and antidepressant treatment". Nat Med. 20: 764–8. doi:10.1038/nm.3582. PMC 4087015. PMID 24908571.
  • Turecki, G. "The molecular bases of the suicidal brain". Nat Rev Neurosci. 15: 802–16. doi:10.1038/nrn3839. PMC 5293539. PMID 25354482.
  • Turecki, G; Brent, DA (2016). "Suicide and suicidal behaviour". Lancet. 387: 1227–39. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00234-2. PMID 26385066.

Clinical and behavioural studies of depression and suicide

  • Dumais, A; Seguin, M; Lalovic, A; Lesage, A; Chawky, N; Roy, M; Benkelfat, C; Turecki, G (2005). "Behavioral risk factors for suicide in major depression". Am J Psychiatry. 162: 2116–24. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.162.11.2116.
  • Brezo, J; Bureau, A; Mérette, C; Jomphe, V; Barker, ED; Vitaro, F; Hébert, M; Carbonneau, R; Tremblay, RE; Turecki, G (2009). "Differences and similarities in the serotonergic diathesis for suicide attempts and mood disorders: A 22-year longitudinal gene-environment study". Mol Psychiatry. 15 (8): 831–43. doi:10.1038/mp.2009.19.
  • McGirr, A; Alda, M; Séguin, M; Cabot, S; Lesage, A; Turecki, G (2009). "Familial aggregation of suicide is explained by cluster B traits: A three-group family study of suicide controlling for major depressive disorder". Am J Psychiatry. 166 (10): 1124–34. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.08111744.
  • Dalca, IM; McGirr, A; Renaud, J; Turecki, G (2013). "Gender-specific suicide risk factors: A case-control study of individuals with major depressive disorder". J Clin Psychiatry. 74: 1209–1216. doi:10.4088/jcp.12m08180.

References

  1. ↑ "Research | Department of Psychiatry - McGill University". mcgill.ca. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  2. ↑ "McGill Group for Suicide Studies". mgss.ca. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  3. ↑ "Quebec Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders and Related Disorders RQSHA". reseausuicide.qc.ca. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  4. ↑ "The Brain Bank | The Douglas Bell Canada Brain Bank". douglasbrainbank.ca. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  5. ↑ "g turecki[Author] - PubMed - NCBI". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  6. ↑ McGowan, P; Sasaki, A; D'Alessio, ACD; Dymov, S; Labonté, B; Szyf, M; Turecki, G; Meaney, M (2009). "Epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor in human brain associates with childhood abuse". Nat Neurosci. 12 (3): 342–8. doi:10.1038/nn.2270. PMC 2944040.
  7. ↑ Labonté, B; Suderman, M; Maussion, G; Navaro, L; Yerko, V; Mahar, I; Bureau, A; Mechawar, N; Szyf, M; Meaney, MJ; Turecki, G (2012). "Genome-wide epigenetic regulation by early-life trauma". Arch Gen Psychiatry. 69 (7): 722–31. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.2287. PMC 4991944.
  8. ↑ Labonte, B; Yerko, V; Gross, J; Mechawar, N; Meaney, MJ; Szyf, M; Turecki, G (2012). "Differential Glucocorticoid Receptor Exon 1(B), 1(C), and 1(H) Expression and Methylation in Suicide Completers with a History of Childhood Abuse". Biol Psychiatry. 72 (1): 41–8. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.01.034.
  9. ↑ Gross, JA; Fiori, LM; Labonté, B; Lopez, JP; Turecki, G (2013). "Effects of promoter methylation on increased expression of polyamine biosynthetic genes in suicide". J Psychiatr Res. 47 (4): 513–9. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.11.016. PMC 5293536.
  10. ↑ Lopez, JP; Fiori, LM; Gross, JA; Labonte, B; Yerko, V; Mechawar, N; Turecki, G (2013). "Regulatory role of miRNAs in polyamine gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of depressed suicide completers". Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 17 (1): 23–32. doi:10.1017/S1461145713000941.
  11. ↑ Lopez, JP; Lim, R; Cruceanu, C; Crapper, L; Fasano, C; Labonte, B; Maussion, G; Yang, JP; Yerko, V; Vigneault, E; El Mestikawy, S; Mechawar, N; Pavlidis, P; Turecki, G (2014). "miR-1202 is a primate-specific and brain-enriched microRNA involved in major depression and antidepressant treatment". Nat Med. 20: 764–8. doi:10.1038/nm.3582. PMC 4087015. PMID 24908571.
  12. ↑ McGirr, A; Renaud, J; Bureau, A; Seguin, M; Lesage, A; Turecki, G (2008). "Impulsive-aggressive behaviours and completed suicide across the life cycle: a redisposition for younger age of suicide". Psychol Med. 38 (3): 407–17. doi:10.1017/s0033291707001419.
  13. ↑ http://douglasbrainbank.ca
  14. ↑ http://www.frqs.gouv.qc.ca/fr/financement/resultats/2012-2013/pdf/Chercheurs%20nationaux%202012-13.pdf
  15. ↑ https://www.mcgill.ca/provost/distinguished/wds
  16. ↑ fr:Scientifique de l'année (Société Radio-Canada)
  17. 1 2 http://ici.radio-canada.ca/emissions/rdi_week_end/2009-2010/Entrevue.asp?idDoc=101300
  18. ↑ http://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/les-10-decouvertes-2009/Une-epine-dans-la-tete
  19. ↑ https://ccnp.ca/Awards/PastWinners
  20. ↑ https://www.afsp.org/research/research-connection/gene-expression-in-the-brain-and-suicide
  21. ↑ http://grahamboeckhfoundation.org/news/dr-turecki-2014-recipient-dr-samarthji-lal-award
  22. ↑ http://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/10-decouvertes-2014/8-Cette-molecule-qui-nous-deprime
  23. ↑ "Elkes Past Winners - ACNP". www.acnp.org. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
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