Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Jörg Gsponer has been appointed Head, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, effective to June 30, 2029.

Dr. Gsponer is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, where he has served as interim Head since February, 2024. Using advanced computational methods to explore genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data, his research aims to better understand cellular processes in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. He has made significant contributions to the field of computational biochemistry, and was awarded a Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award for Overall Excellence in recognition of his work.

In his role as Head of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dr. Gsponer will provide strategic leadership to the department, helping foster excellence and innovation in education, research and service. Dr. Gsponer will collaborate with a talented and dedicated team of colleagues to continue strengthening the Department's standing as one of North America’s leaders in research and education in biochemistry and molecular biology.

I am also pleased to announce that Dr. Lakshmi N. Yatham has been reappointed Head, Department of Psychiatry, effective to June 30, 2029.

Dr. Yatham is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the UBC Institute of Mental Health. He is also the Regional Head of Psychiatry and Regional Program Medical Director for Mental Health and Addictions at Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Healthcare.

Dr. Yatham’s research on bipolar disorder has contributed to numerous advances including understanding of disease progression, biology and the development of several new treatments. He is the principal author of the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments and International Society for Bipolar Disorders guidelines for the management of bipolar disorders, which are used by clinicians around the world.

For his contributions to research, education and advocacy, Dr. Yatham has won numerous prestigious awards, including the Mogen Schou Award and the Frank and Kupfer Award from the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. He is also a recipient of the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology Medal, the John M Cleghorn Award from the Canadian Psychiatric Association and the Colvin Research Prize in Mood Disorders from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation in the United States.

In addition, Dr. Yatham serves as Editor-in-Chief for the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Field Editor at Large for Bipolar Disorders, and on the editorial boards of many international journals. Dr. Yatham has held leadership positions with a variety of national and international professional organizations, including serving as President of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders and President of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry.

In his second term, Dr. Yatham will continue to strengthen the Department’s collaborative partnerships with UBC departments, schools and centres, health authorities and government to help advance psychiatry education and translational mental health research and promote evidence-based care for the benefit of patients and families here in B.C. and beyond.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Gsponer and Dr. Yatham on their appointments.

Sincerely,

Dermot Kelleher, MD, FMedSci
Dean, Faculty of Medicine
Vice-President, Health
The University of British Columbia