Research

Introduction to Research in the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry

Research development is a core component of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Western. The Division enjoys a strong collaborative relationship with other disciplines involved in the care of the elderly; this is also reflected in some of the collaborative research projects developed between Geriatric Psychiatry and Geriatric Medicine.  

Recent Publications by Members of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry

  1. Udo, I., Shangobiyi, A., Njoku, U., Eleye-Datubo, T., Awani, T., & Odeyale, F. Thoughts on the new Continuing Professional Development guideline of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. BJPsych Bulletin. 2026;50(3):289-289. doi:10.1192/bjb.2026.10239. 

  2. Udo, I., & Awani, T.G. Medical education in the UK and Canada: a comparative critical reflection. BJPsych Advances. Published online 2026:1-3. doi:10.1192/bja.2026.10214.

  3. Khanna, A., Bhatia, M., Khan, T., Kheiri, B., Murgai, S., Blair, M., Awani, T., Burhan, A., & Sun, W. Immersion as a Therapeutic Dimension in Reminiscence Therapy for Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. PROSPERO 2026 CRD420261321683. Available from https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261321683.

  4. Khanna, A., Khan, T., Murgai, S., Soni, N., Blair, M., & Awani, T. Artificial Intelligence-Based Pain Assessment in People Living With Dementia: A Systematic Review of Diagnostic Approaches, Modalities, and Clinical Implementation . PROSPERO 2026CRD420261344029. Available from https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261344029.

  5. Kelkar R, Liu GC, Goodman MS, Al-Hashemi A, Rhee TG, Blumberger DM, Kaster TS. Clinical Effectiveness of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Psychotic vs Nonpsychotic Depression: A Cohort Study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2025 Jan 29;86(1):24m15399. doi: 10.4088/JCP.24m15399. PMID: 39898922; PMCID: PMC12376854.

  6. Jeanette Hui, Alisson P. Trevizol, Caroline W. Espinola, Radhika S. Kelkar, Hyewon Lee, Benoit H. Mulsant, Jake Prillo, Reza Zomorrodi, Christoph Zrenner, Daniel M. Blumberger,
    Feasibility and clinical effects of accelerated sequential bilateral theta burst stimulation in late-life depression (ACCELDER Trial), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Volume 3, 2025,100167, ISSN 3050-5291, 
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transm.2025.100167. 

  7. Michelle S. Goodman, Rafae A. Wathra, Radhika S. Kelkar, Alisson P. Trevizol, Tyler S. Kaster, Daphne Voineskos, Daniel M. Blumberger,
    Retreatment with intermittent theta burst stimulation for depression: A retrospective chart review, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Volume 2, 2025,100087, ISSN 3050-5291, 
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transm.2025.100087.

  8. Udo, I., Javinsky, T., & Awani, T. (2022). Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing: Part 1 – theory, procedure and use in PTSD. BJPsych Advances, 1-10. doi:10.1192/bja.2022.32.

  9. Javinsky, T., Udo, I., & Awani, T. (2022). Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing: Part 2 – wider use in stress and trauma conditions. BJPsych Advances, 1-10. doi:10.1192/bja.2022.31.

  10. Ionson, E., Limbachia, J., Rej, S., Puka, K., Newman, R. I., Wetmore, S., ... & Vasudev, A. (2019). Effects of Sahaj Samadhi meditation on heart rate variability and depressive symptoms in patients with late-life depression. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 214(4), 218-224.

  11. Vasudev, A., Torres-Platas, S. G., Kerfoot, K., Potes, A., Therriault, J., Gifuni, A., ... & Rej, S. (2019). Mind-Body Interventions in Late-Life Mental Illnesses and Cognitive Disorders: A Narrative Review. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(5), 536-547.

  12. Patience, J., Lai, K. S. P., Russell, E., Vasudev, A., Montero-Odasso, M., & Burhan, A. M. (2019). Relationship Between Mood, Thinking, and Walking: A Systematic Review Examining Depressive Symptoms, Executive Function, and Gait. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(12), 1375-1383.

  13. Peckham, S. B., Ionson, E., Nassim, M., Ojha, K., Palaniyappan, L., Gati, J., ... & Rej, S. (2019). Sahaj Samadhi meditation vs a Health Enhancement Program in improving late-life depression severity and executive function: study protocol for a two-site, randomized controlled trial. Trials, 20(1), 605.

Grants Currently held by Members of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry

  1. Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation for Depression in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Single-Arm, Open-Label Feasibility Study (Funded by Schulich school of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Psychiatry- Internal seed funding competition 2024-2025)(R. Kelkar)

  2. Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation for Depression in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Single-Arm, Open-Label Feasibility Study (Funded by Catalyst grant competition 2025 by Schulich school of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Psychiatry)(R. Kelkar)

  3. NAB-IT: Nabilone for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease Blinded Intervention Trial.  Sponsored by Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI), Weston Brain Institute (WBI) & Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), Role: Site PI (Dr. T. Awani)

  4. CALM-IT: Cannabidiol Medication Intervention Trial. Sponsored by Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI) & Weston Brian Institute. Role: Site PI (Dr. T. Awani)

  5. A Study of ML-007C-MA for the Treatment of Hallucinations and Delusions Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease Psychosis. Sponsored by MapLight Therapeutics, Inc. Role: Site PI (Dr. T. Awani)

  6. CN012-0023: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of KarXT + KarX-EC for the Treatment of Agitation Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease (ADAGIO-1). Sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). Role: Site PI (Dr. T. Awani)

  7. Development of Geriatric BI Dashboard for Patient care & Research Readiness. Part funded by the Department of Psychiatry, Western University Canada, Catalyst fund. Role: PI (Dr. T. Awani)

  8. Virtual Reality to Advance Dementia Care and Quality of Life.  Part funded by Internal Research fund grant (St. Josephs Health Care, London).  Role: Site PI (Dr. T. Awani)

  9. Escitalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer Disease (Lyketsos, C., Porsteinssen, A., Burhan, A.M., VanBussel, L. & Vasudev, A.). From National Institute on Aging $3,000,455USD; 06/2017-06/2022.

  10. Cognitive Outcomes and the Response/Remission Efficacy of Convulsive Therapies in Treatment Resistant Depression: The CORRECT-TRD Trail (Blumberger, D.M. & Burhan, A.M.). From Brain Canada Foundation $1,499,918; 12/2016-12/2019.

  11. Summer Research Institute on Suicide Prevention: The Development of a Patient-Oriented Research Training for Researchers, Clinicians, Policy Makers and People with Lived Experience of Suicide (Hatcher, S., Heisel, M.J.). From CIHR $24,989; 2017-2018.