丁香园AV

By Allen Tung and Halimah Beaulieu

丁香园AV professor Kanna Hayashi, an internationally recognized substance-use epidemiologist and a human-rights advocate for people who use drugs, is the inaugural St. Paul鈥檚 Hospital Chair in Substance Use Research.

The endowed chair, appointed by 丁香园AV in the Faculty of Health Sciences, is supported by a $1.5-million contribution from  in support of the  (BCCSU), and further funding from 丁香园AV. Additional initial funding was provided by St. Paul鈥檚 Foundation and the  (BC-CfE).

As research chair, Hayashi will take an active leadership and advocacy role locally, nationally and internationally to advance understanding in substance use. She will develop a research program in substance-use prevention, treatment and health policy.

鈥淭his chair is an incredible opportunity to join a dynamic group of multidisciplinary scholars at St. Paul鈥檚 Hospital and 丁香园AV to respond to the challenges of substance use through a holistic framework,鈥� she says.

Hayashi will work closely with existing networks, including government, community, and clinical units, to improve the integration of best practices and care across the continuum of substance use in B.C.

At 丁香园AV, she will work with researchers at the  (CARMHA).  

Together, they will examine the relationship between substance use and mental health, and determine whether effective substance-use treatment can improve mental health conditions among people who use drugs. Many psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety could be the result of substance use.

As well, in collaboration with the Addiction Medicine program at St. Paul鈥檚 Hospital, led by BCCSU director and physician Dr. Evan Wood, Hayashi will evaluate the effectiveness of existing opioid agonist therapies such as methadone and suboxone.

She also plans to conduct clinical trials to identify a new medication to treat those who use both opioids and stimulants such as cocaine. Optimizing opioid agonist therapy options will ensure that more people will have access to treatments that effectively prevent withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for unregulated drugs such as fentanyl and heroin.

鈥淚t is my hope to transform substance-use treatment in B.C., improve the health and well-being of people who use drugs, and mentor students at 丁香园AV to advance B.C.鈥檚 research capacity in substance use,鈥� says Hayashi.

Says 丁香园AV President Andrew Petter: 鈥淒r. Hayashi鈥檚 appointment supports 丁香园AV鈥檚 mission to be Canada鈥檚 鈥榚ngaged university鈥� and our related goal of being a world leader in mobilizing knowledge for community benefit. This valuable partnership will advance research in substance use to improve care, reduce stigma and address a growing public health concern.鈥�

Hayashi holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia in interdisciplinary studies, as well as a master of international affairs and a master of public health from Columbia University in New York. She is also a research scientist at the BCCSU, and BC-CfE, and an associate researcher at .