Benjamin Rusak

Professor Emeritus

ben rusak web photo

Email: rusak@dal.ca
Phone: 902-473-2433
Mailing Address: 
Department of Psychiatry Research
8th Floor, Room 8215, AJLB
5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane
Halifax, NS B3H 2E2
 
Research Topics:
  • Chronobiology and sleep
  • Circadian rhythms
  • Mood disorders
  • Neurodegenerative diseases


Education

BA (University of Toronto)
PhD (University of California, Berkeley)

Research interests

Dr. Rusak investigates mechanisms regulating circadian rhythms and sleep, and the application of knowledge of these mechanisms to issues in human health. Current research interests include how sleep and circadian rhythms affect cognition, mood and the risk of developing psychiatric disorders.

Selected publications  

  • Rusak, B. and Groos, G. Suprachiasmatic stimulation phase shifts rodent circadian rhythms. Science, 215:1407-1409, 1982.
  • Rusak, B., Robertson, H.A., Wisden, W. and Hunt, S.P. Light pulses which shift rhythms induce gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Science, 248:1237-1240, 1990.
  • Bernier, D., Bartha, R., Devarajan, S., MacMaster, F.P., Schmidt, M. and Rusak, B. Effects of overnight sleep restriction on brain chemistry and mood in women with unipolar depression. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 34:352-360, 2009.
  • Profitt, M., Deurveilher, S., Robertson, G.S., Rusak, B., Semba, K. Disruptions of sleep-wake patterns in the stable tubule only polypeptide (STOP) null mouse model of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 42(5):1207-1215, 2016. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw017.
  • Wescott, D. L., Morash-Conway, J., Zwicker, A., Cumby, J., Uher, R., Rusak, B. Sleep in offspring of parents with mood disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, (10):1-8, April, 2019. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00225.

Selected awards and honours

  • Fellow, Royal Society of Canada, Academy of Science, 1999-
  • University Research Professor, Dalhousie University, 2002-2007
  • Distinguished Scientist Award, Canadian Sleep Society, 2011
  • Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation Max Forman Senior Research Prize, 2012
  • Heinz Lehmann Award, Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2013

Service & Activity

  • Member, Advisory Board, Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, CIHR, 2004-2013    
  • Member, Life Sciences Advisory Committee, Canadian Space Agency, 2006-2009
  • Member, Research Advisory Committee, NS Health Research Foundation, 2007-2017       
  • Member, Division of Life Sciences Committee for the Selection of New Fellows, Academy of Science, Royal Society of Canada, 2010-2011           
  • Interim Chair, Board of Directors, Canadian Depression Research & Intervention Network, 2013-2016