Congratulations to Dr. Kamyar Keramatian, Recipient of a Health Professional-Investigator Award from Michael Smith Health Research BC!

Congratulations to Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Kamyar Keramatian, who has received a Health Professional-Investigator (HP-I) Award from Michael Smith Health Research BC!

Dr. Keramatian is an adolescent and adult psychiatrist who currently serves as the co-medical manager of the UBC Mood Disorders Center and the physician lead for the Coastal Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Program. His research team, which includes people living with bipolar disorders (BD), have developed a virtual group-based educational program for youth at high risk for BD. This award will support Dr. Keramatian’s study exploring the feasibility of implementing this program across BC to increase knowledge of BD, reduce self-stigma, improve help-seeking and enhance resilience in adolescents and young adults who are at high risk of developing BD. This program also aims to help young people with BD to be identified earlier in order to receive more timely care.

Affecting about 2 percent of people in BC, BD can cause individuals to experience extreme changes in their mood, as well as their energy and ability to function. These changes, however, are frequently underreported and unrecognized, especially in youth, which can delay the diagnosis and treatment of BD by several years. By facilitating early identification and treatment of BD in youth, Dr. Keramatian’s research can potentially reduce health-care costs and lead to more efficient access to care and service delivery for youth with BD across BC.