The CHAIM Centre Welcomes Two New Advisory Committee Members

The CHAIM Centre welcomes two new members to our Advisory Committee, Dr. Zul
Merali and Millie Close. The former President and Scientific Director of the Institute of Mental Health Research and a professor at both the University of Ottawa and Carleton, Dr. Zul Merali is from Uganda but moved to Canada for his education. He graduated from McGill University with a BSc in Biochemistry and later completed his PhD in Pharmacology at the University of Ottawa. He is a strong advocate for creating research pathways to better understand mental health and help those
suffering from mental illnesses. His goal as an Advisory Committee member is to build meaningful connections with national and international leaders in mental health. Dr. Merali speaks five languages which means he’s striving to be five-times funnier!

​Millie Close is from Brockville, Ontario and is currently finishing her final year as an
undergraduate student at Carleton University. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a concentration in disability and chronic illness while working on a minor in Communications and Media Studies. She is passionate about supporting students as they cope with the pressures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which she does through her role as President of the Carleton Science Student Society. Her goal as an Advisory Committee member is to provide a student perspective to outreach planning and get more students engaged in health research and practice. Millie is a classically trained singer who also plays the trumpet, piano, a little bit of guitar, and is teaching herself how to play the clarinet!