Research
Cannabis
Brenden Rabinovitch has researched the therapeutic benefit of medical cannabis for epilepsy since 2019, working on several projects examining the anti-seizure efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) and 𝚫9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on pediatric and adult drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), as well as other neurological conditions. He has several projects in the peer review stage, as well as nearing completion. Brenden has also published on the wound-healing properties of medical cannabis.
See Brenden's publications here.
Psychedelics
Brenden has a key interest in psychedelic medicine, and has been researching this clinically and pre-clincially since 2021. Brenden's primary areas of focus are understanding the basic neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of psilocybin and LSD.
Clinical research
Psychedelics have been shown to be one of the most robust therapy-adjunct treatments for several psychiatric mental health conditions. Brenden's work at North Toronto Neurology (formerly the Neurology Centre of Toronto) studies the clinical utility of psychedelics in the treatment of functional neurological disorder (FND), specifically, functional seizures. His work also involves developing theoretical frameworks for psychedelics in the treatment of seizure disorders (e.g. epilepsy) and spinal cord injury.
Telemedicine; virtual neurology care
Brenden's work in virtual medicine began at NCT, where he worked on a novel model of virtual care to combat the long wait-times to see a neurologist in Ontario, and to better serve the under-serviced communities in Nothern Ontario. Brenden was instrumental in building out the Virtual Rapid Access Clinics (VRACs) program at NCT. The VRACs reduced wait-times from referral to neurology consultation, and increased patient throughput in the clinics, leading to a key healthcare model publication.
Brenden continues to pursue research in improving neurology care and overall access to specialist medical care in Canada and Ontario.
Philosophy
What makes you, you?
Can the atoms composing our body truly give birth to something greater than the sum of their parts?
Brenden has a keen interest in philosophy of mind and brain. He seeks to develop theoretical frameworks and models of the mind that bridge the gap between the immaterial mind and its physical counterpart, the brain. Brenden's main area of interest is causality and consciousness. During his undergraduate studies, he authored a paper, which was accepted as an abstract at the European Society for Philosophy of Psychology and Society for Philosophy of Psychology joint conference 2022. This work delved into the concept of psychedelic-induced changes in consciousness and whether the molecular interactions underpinning these compounds' effects can be causally linked to the changes in consciousness and behavioural manifestations. Additionally, Brenden aims to understand how different brain states are altered by changes in neural circuitry from a theoretical perspective. How the brain arranges itself may allow for a deeper understanding of what consciousness really is. Brenden continues to explore this topic and aims to further explore the causal relationship between the molecules composing the brain and the conscious experience unique to each individual.
