On July 16, 2019, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of British Columbia announced that it was awarding Gustavo Turecki, MD, PhD, the prestigious Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize, an honour bestowed upon Canadian physicians or scientists who make outstanding contributions to the treatment, amelioration, or cure of brain disorders. Among other criteria, an important factor considered is “the candidate’s impact on policy and practice, forging partnerships with scientists and others to foster brain disorders research and/or to implement discoveries, and cultivating future leaders in the field”.

Dr. Turecki was chosen for his remarkable achievements in improving our understanding of how early-life adversity changes the brain to influence suicidal behaviour and depression, as well as in promoting research in the field locally, nationally, and internationally, and in engaging in meaningful dialogue with policy makers and service users.