RISE Institute · Consulting Services
Psychiatric Research & Development Consulting
RISE Institute offers specialized consulting services for organizations engaged in psychiatric drug development, clinical program design, and mental health research. Our team brings together world-leading expertise in mood disorders, psychopharmacology, and clinical trial methodology.
Our Approach
Science-Led. Clinically Grounded.
Our consultants are active researchers and clinicians with deep expertise across the full spectrum of psychiatric drug development — from early-phase study design through regulatory submission and interpretation of results.
We bring the scientific rigour of academic medicine together with the practical experience of clinical trial conduct, offering clients a rare combination of thought leadership and operational insight.
Who We Work With
What We Offer
Consulting Services
Our consulting engagements are tailored to each client's program and objectives. Core service areas include:
Global Recognition
Our lead consultant is among the world's most cited researchers in psychiatry, recognized by Clarivate Analytics as one of "The World's Most Influential Scientific Minds."
Active Clinical Researchers
Our team conducts ongoing clinical research in mood disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and psychopharmacology — ensuring advice grounded in current evidence.
Regulatory Experience
Direct experience contributing to CANMAT, Florida Best Practice, and international clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of major depressive and bipolar disorders.
Our Consultants
Meet the Team
Our consulting practice is led by internationally recognized experts in psychiatric research, clinical pharmacology, and mood disorder treatment.
Dr. Roger S. McIntyre
MD, FRCPC
Professor of Psychiatry & Pharmacology, University of Toronto · Executive Director, Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation
Dr. Roger S. McIntyre is one of the world's foremost authorities in mood disorders and psychopharmacology. He has authored or co-authored more than 1,000 peer-reviewed articles and has edited several textbooks on mood disorders. His research focuses on the phenomenology, neurobiology, and novel therapeutics of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, with particular emphasis on cognitive function and medical comorbidity.
Dr. McIntyre completed his medical degree at Dalhousie University and received his psychiatry residency training and Fellowship in Psychiatric Pharmacology at the University of Toronto. He is the lead author of the Florida Best Practice Psychotherapeutic Medication Guidelines for Adults with MDD and Bipolar Disorder, the International Expert Opinion on Ketamine and Esketamine in Mood Disorders, and a contributor to the CANMAT guidelines for the treatment of depressive and bipolar disorders.
Named one of "The World's Most Influential Scientific Minds" by Clarivate Analytics — 2014 through 2023Dr. Hartej Gill
PhD
University of Toronto
Dr. Hartej Gill is a researcher with over 100 publications and book chapters spanning various topics in psychiatry and neuroscience. With 10 years of experience and publications in top psychiatric journals, Dr. Gill has extensive knowledge developing clinical protocols and best practices for clinical research.
His research contributions include investigations into ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, novel therapeutic approaches in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorders, cognitive dysfunction, and the application of GLP-1 receptor agonists in psychiatric populations.
Dr. Margarita Shekotikhina
MD, FRCPC
Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto · Staff Psychiatrist, Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Margarita Shekotikhina is a staff psychiatrist at Trillium Health Partners and Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Her clinical practice spans emergency psychiatry, inpatient psychiatric care, and shared care models, with a subspecialty focus on IV ketamine for treatment-resistant mood disorders.
Dr. Shekotikhina completed her MD at Poznan University of Medical Sciences and her psychiatry residency at the University of Ottawa, where she served as chief resident. She is actively involved in clinical research with publications focused on treatment-resistant mood disorders and is committed to evidence-based, patient-centred psychiatric care.
Inquire About a Consulting Engagement
To discuss how RISE Institute's consulting team can support your research or development program, please reach out to us directly. We welcome inquiries from sponsors, academic institutions, and healthcare organizations.