The 22q11.2 Society
www.22qsociety.org


Promoting research, diagnosis, prognosis, and management of 22q11.2DS & related disorders

Anne Bassett

Treasurer


Anne Bassett (CM, MD, FRCPC) holds the Dalglish Family Chair in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) and is the Director of the Dalglish Family 22q Clinic for the Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This is the first comprehensive, multidisciplinary clinic of its kind worldwide fully dedicated to the care of adults with 22q11.2DS and their families.

Dr. Bassett is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and Director of the Clinical Genetics Research Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She holds the Canada Research Chair in Schizophrenia Genetics and Genomic Disorders, and is a Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute. She is also an Associate Member of the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists, and is an Associate Staff member of both the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry at University Health Network in Toronto. Dr. Bassett is also the Medical Director of the International 22q11.2 Foundation.

Areas of research

Dr. Bassett is an internationally renowned expert in the study of 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. An exciting aspect of this research involves the direct translation of research findings into clinical practice. She led an international panel that developed the first clinical practice guidelines for 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, published in the Journal of Pediatrics in 2011. Her studies of the expression in adults have improved the ability of clinicians to make the diagnosis of 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Dr. Bassett's pioneering research has also included many other notable 'firsts' in the field of 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome research, in basic science and clinical arenas: delineating genome-wide copy number variation, reproductive fitness, neuropathology and longevity in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, addressing adult-related genetic counselling issues, outlining the functioning of adults with the syndrome and surveying both adult patients and their caregivers about service availability and burden of illness.

In addition, Dr. Bassett is the principal investigator of studies aiming to discover the underlying genetic causes of complex diseases, such as schizophrenia and congenital cardiac disease. These diseases are prevalent in the general population and play a major role in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Her work has helped to localize multiple genes and genetic variants for these conditions, and to characterize new genetic subtypes of illness. The ultimate goal of Dr. Bassett's research program is to use these discoveries to gain new insights into the mechanism of illness that promise to help in the development of new treatments.

Dr. Bassett is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, papers, and book chapters, and has had consistent funding from major national and international agencies, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the National Institute of Mental Health, for her research. Her students and trainees have enjoyed great success, including awards such as the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Canada's equivalent to the Rhodes Scholarship) and Brain Canada Training Award. Dr. Bassett's active career also includes substantial public service, particularly for the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and The International 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Foundation.

Of her many awards and honours, Dr. Bassett received the J.M. Cleghorn Award for clinical research excellence from the Canadian Psychiatric Association in 2011, has a Distinguished Fellowship from the American Psychiatric Association and was elected as a Member of the American College of Psychiatrists.

Dr. Bassett received the Angelo DiGeorge Medal in 2014 and the Lieber Prize For Outstanding Achievement In Schizophrenia Research in 2020. She was named to the Order of Canada in 2023.

Source: www.22qsociety.org/about/officials/content.asp?s=96&p=154&pv=1

The 22q11.2 Society Registered Charity No. 1165896