Rémi Quirion awarded an honorary doctorate from INRS for his outstanding
contribution to the field of mental health

QUEBEC CITY, Nov. 4 /CNW Telbec/ - At its 2010 graduation ceremonies, INRS (Institut national de la recherche scientifique) awarded an honorary doctorate to Rémi Quirion for his work in the fields of neuroscience and mental health, including research into Alzheimer's Disease, pain, schizophrenia, and the role of various neuropeptides in anxiety and depression.

"Today, we recognize Mr. Quirion's remarkable contribution to developing neuroscience, his research into neurobiology and its social aspects, and his assessment of research into mental health and substance abuse. A number of his interests match those of researchers at INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, with whom he has collaborated for many years. Mr. Quirion is a world-renowned scientist and a true inspiration for the scientific community, his students, and future generations of researchers," stated INRS Director General Daniel Coderre.

In addition to serving as Scientific Director of the Research Centre at the Douglas Institute, Mr. Quirion also works at McGill University as a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Vice-Dean of Science and Strategic Initiatives at the Faculty of Medicine, and Senior University Advisor for Health Sciences Research. In 2009 he was appointed Executive Director of the International Collaborative Research Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease, an initiative by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Mr. Quirion is one of the world's most cited nervous system specialists. He has published 5 books and over 600 scientific texts and articles. He also sits on the advisory boards of some fifteen scientific journals in psychiatry, pharmacology, and neuroscience. Mr. Quirion has received a number of honors over his career.

"It is both a joy and an honor to receive this honorary doctorate. I accept it with great humility and on behalf of all members of my team at the Douglas Institute. It is a great pleasure to be part of the INRS and Université du Québec family," stated Mr. Quirion during his acceptance speech. He also spoke of the importance of education and his pride in the many students he has helped train, and mentioned that 20% of the population suffers from mental illness. "Too often, people who suffer greatly are stigmatized or trivialized. We must work to understand the causes of mental illness in order to provide treatment. We still have a long way to go and we can only reach our goal with support for research. I am optimistic and convinced that we will beat mental illness and improve the lives of our friends and fellow citizens suffering from these illnesses," he added.

The Douglas University Institute in Mental Health
The Douglas is a world-class institute, affiliated with McGill. It treats people suffering from mental illness and offers them hope and cures. Its teams of specialists and researchers continually advance scientific knowledge, integrate it into patient care, and share it with the community to increase awareness and eliminate stigma around mental illness.

INRS
Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS) is a graduate and post-graduate research and training university. It ranks first in Quebec and second in Canada in terms of grants per professor. INRS brings together some 150 research professors from various fields at its four centers in Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, and Varennes. Conducting applied and fundamental research essential to the advancement of science in Quebec, as well as at the international level, INRS also plays a critical role in finding solutions to problems facing our society.

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Photos and tributes available upon request.