Venture Lab

The Venture Lab supports research on adolescent brain development and risk factors for mental health and substance use disorders. Led by Dr. Patricia Conrod, Professor of Psychiatry at the Université de Montréal, we are working on the development of new mental health promotion strategies by studying the influence of genetic, environmental, and neuro-developmental influences on mental health and addiction.
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Based out of CHU Sainte-Justine’s Research Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Venture Lab features an international roster of scientists conducting a number of important research projects with a key focus on personality, building resilience and early intervention. Dr. Conrod's brainchild, the PreVenture Program, is also hosted at the VentureLab, where PreVenture experts are trained, and provide training and supervision to health and educational professionals from around the world.

More about Venture Lab

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Projects

PreVenture

An evidence-based prevention program that uses personality targeted interventions to promote mental health and delay substance use amongst teens. The program is designed to help students set long term goals and channel their personality towards achieving them.

CUSP

The Canadian Underage Substance Use Prevention (CUSP) Trial is a multi-site, pan-Canadian study that aims to evaluate the long-term effects of PreVenture on preventing risk behaviours that can lead to substance misuse amongst senior high school students. The study is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).
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Well-Venture

Adapting Personality-Targeted Interventions for Reducing Substance Use and Mental Health Problem in Youth in Child Welfare System. Substance use problems are a major concern in adolescents involved in the child welfare system.

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ProVenture

ProVenture is a brain imaging project designed to study changes in neurodevelopment brought about by cannabis consumption. This study is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).

News & Events

Scoping review highlights (urgent) need for interventions addressing youth opioid use

The EHT research team from across Canada are delighted to share the results of a scoping review published on May 9th, 2022 in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. The review showed that research on treatment for youth and young adults remains sparse and more focus is needed on interventions that address the unique social contexts of use for this population, including treatments that focus on women/females and gender diverse youth.

[What We're reading]

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"How to Advocate for Mental Health Research" - A panel discussion from the Society for Neuroscience

Dr. Patricia Conrod participated in the Society for Neuroscience's panel discussion on "How to Advocate for Mental Health Research". The aim was to present ways the media and the neuroscience community can work together to advocate for continued foundational mental health research. Dr. Conrod's extensive experience working with the media contributed to a rich and varied discussion with leaders in the field of mental health.

[What We're Listening To]

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Feasibility Assessment of UniVenture Presented at the CCSA’s Issues of Substance 2021

Marion Audet and Nora Fripp have presented their pilot results at the CCSA’s Issues of Substance Conference 2021. Their presentation looked to identify the feasibility of the UniVenture Program and highlighted the importance of developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant adaptations. Click on the image to view all of the presentations within the Issues of Substance Conference 2021

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UniVenture Awarded $2.5 million SSHRC Grant

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) has awarded Partnership Grants of CAD$2.5 million for 5-year multi-site study titled “UniVenture: A Partnership to Address Heavy Drinking and Other Substance Misuse on Canadian University Campuses”

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Canadian Journal of Psychiatry

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Youth Opioid Crisis in North America

An article commentary by Dr Ranmalie Jayasinha, Stephanie Nairn and Dr Patricia Conrod highlights the parallel COVID-19 and opioid...

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All Venture Lab News, Events & What We're Reading