Clifford Cassidy, University of Ottawa

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Ottawa profile.

Latest papers

Testing dopaminergic markers of problematic social media use using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI.
Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging · 2026
SN/VTA neuromelanin signal is associated with subclinical paranoia irrespective of familial risk for psychosis.
Schizophrenia (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026
Cross-Scanner Harmonization of Neuromelanin-Sensitive MRI for Multisite Studies.
Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · 2021

All 6 publications

Latest funding

From Molecular Markers to Neural Oscillations: Bridging Dopamine and Brain Rhythms in Schizophrenia
CIHR · 2025 · Supervisor
$120,000
Novel markers of risk for age-related neurodegeneration, senescence, and cognitive decline in adults with substance use disorders
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$1,181,924
Understanding the current status of brain imaging for diagnosis and treatment planning in mental illness - perspectives from clinical and research applications.
CIHR · 2023 · Co-investigator
$7,006

All 7 grants and awards

6 publications.

01

Testing dopaminergic markers of problematic social media use using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI.

Shannon H, Montgomery M, Cassidy C, Lemieux M, Yee JA, Brunier LS, Hellemans KGC, Guimond S

Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2026.112144 PMID: 41579630

02

SN/VTA neuromelanin signal is associated with subclinical paranoia irrespective of familial risk for psychosis.

Hamati R, Kanaa N, Chidiac B, Guimond S, Cassidy C, Tuominen L

Schizophrenia (Heidelberg, Germany)2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41537-026-00731-4 PMID: 41571699

03

Cross-Scanner Harmonization of Neuromelanin-Sensitive MRI for Multisite Studies.

Wengler K, Cassidy C, van der Pluijm M, Weinstein JJ, Abi-Dargham A, van de Giessen E, Horga G

Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI2021

DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27679 PMID: 33960063

04

Reliability and Reproducibility of Neuromelanin-Sensitive Imaging of the Substantia Nigra: A Comparison of Three Different Sequences.

van der Pluijm M, Cassidy C, Zandstra M, Wallert E, de Bruin K, Booij J, de Haan L, Horga G, van de Giessen E

Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI2021

DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27384 PMID: 33037730

05

First-in-human imaging and kinetic analysis of vesicular acetylcholine transporter density in the heart using [18F]FEOBV PET.

Saint-Georges Z, Zayed VK, Dinelle K, Cassidy C, Soucy JP, Massarweh G, Rotstein B, Nery PB, Guimond S, deKemp R, Tuominen L

Journal of nuclear cardiology : official publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology2021

DOI: 10.1007/s12350-020-02323-w PMID: 32909238

06

Neuromelanin detection by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its promise as a biomarker for Parkinson's disease.

Sulzer D, Cassidy C, Horga G, Kang UJ, Fahn S, Casella L, Pezzoli G, Langley J, Hu XP, Zucca FA, Isaias IU, Zecca L

NPJ Parkinson's disease2018

DOI: 10.1038/s41531-018-0047-3 PMID: 29644335

From Molecular Markers to Neural Oscillations: Bridging Dopamine and Brain Rhythms in Schizophrenia

SupervisorCIHR2025DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Principal investigators: Ahrens, Jessica

Keywords: Dopamine; Neural Oscillations; Neuroimaging; Psychosis; Schizophrenia

$120,000

Novel markers of risk for age-related neurodegeneration, senescence, and cognitive decline in adults with substance use disorders

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Project Grant

Principal investigators: Nikolova, Yuliya S; Quilty, Lena C; Vieira, Erica L

Keywords: Aging; Biomarkers; Mri; Substance Use

$1,181,924

Understanding the current status of brain imaging for diagnosis and treatment planning in mental illness - perspectives from clinical and research applications.

Co-investigatorCIHR2023CIHR Café Scientifique Program - Open Pool

Principal investigators: Dinelle, Katie; Patrick, Kevin

Keywords: Brain Imaging; Diagnosis; Mental Health; Panel Discussion; World Cafe

$7,006

The role of the cholinergic system in cognitive deficits in schizophrenia

Co-investigatorCIHR2020Project Grant

Principal investigators: Tuominen, Lauri; Guimond, Synthia

Keywords: Acetylcholine; Cognition; Fmri; Pet; Schizophrenia

$623,476

Novel MRI tools tracking developmental change within the dopamine system in children and adults

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Launch Supplement

Principal investigators: Cassidy, Clifford

$12,500

Novel MRI tools tracking developmental change within the dopamine system in children and adults

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Cassidy, Clifford

$112,000

Hearing our Clients' Voices Through a Participatory Action Approach in the Examination of Different Cognitive Behavioural Therapies for Psychosis

Co-investigatorCIHR2019Catalyst Grant: Patient-Oriented Research

Principal investigators: Wright, Nicola P; Baines, Alexandra S; Aubry, Tim D

Keywords: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Health Equality; Health Promotion; Mindfulness; Participatory Action Research; Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Treatment; Virtual Reality; Yoga

$99,999

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Psychiatry
Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
Institut de génie biomédical
Department of Medicine
Other

Co-authors at University of Ottawa, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Jean-Paul Soucy

Institut de génie biomédical

1 shared papers, latest 2021

Robert deKemp

Department of Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2021

Benjamin Rotstein

Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology

1 shared papers, latest 2021

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2020

Subject: Prospective PhD student Dear Professor Cassidy, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Testing dopaminergic markers of problematic social media use using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Novel MRI tools tracking developmental change within the dopamine system in children and adults" (2020), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Clifford Cassidy

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Testing dopaminergic markers of problematic social media use using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI.

SN/VTA neuromelanin signal is associated with subclinical paranoia irrespective of familial risk for psychosis.

Cross-Scanner Harmonization of Neuromelanin-Sensitive MRI for Multisite Studies.

Reliability and Reproducibility of Neuromelanin-Sensitive Imaging of the Substantia Nigra: A Comparison of Three Different Sequences.

First-in-human imaging and kinetic analysis of vesicular acetylcholine transporter density in the heart using [18F]FEOBV PET.

Neuromelanin detection by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its promise as a biomarker for Parkinson's disease.

From Molecular Markers to Neural Oscillations: Bridging Dopamine and Brain Rhythms in Schizophrenia

Novel markers of risk for age-related neurodegeneration, senescence, and cognitive decline in adults with substance use disorders

Understanding the current status of brain imaging for diagnosis and treatment planning in mental illness - perspectives from clinical and research applications.

The role of the cholinergic system in cognitive deficits in schizophrenia

Novel MRI tools tracking developmental change within the dopamine system in children and adults

Novel MRI tools tracking developmental change within the dopamine system in children and adults

Hearing our Clients' Voices Through a Participatory Action Approach in the Examination of Different Cognitive Behavioural Therapies for Psychosis

Frequent collaborators

Synthia Guimond

Lauri Tuominen

Jean-Paul Soucy

Rami Hamati

Katie Dinelle

Robert deKemp

Zacharie Saint-Georges

Benjamin Rotstein