Tyler Kaster

Research Synopsis

Dr. Kaster’s research is focused on the clinical application of interventional psychiatry treatments for severe psychiatric illness. This is accomplished through leading and collaborating on clinical trials of new treatments including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), ketamine, magnetic seizure therapy, and psychedelics. It is also accomplished through observational studies leveraging administrative health databases of established treatments such as medications and ECT.

His current research is supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health research to conduct a multi-site clinical trial of rTMS for bipolar depression and a separate study to determine the association of rare events potentially associated with ECT amongst those with schizophrenia. He is also a co-investigator on studies examining methods to personalize rTMS treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder using an individual’s brain activity as well as a trial of an intensified form of rTMS known as accelerated rTMS.