Jeffrey H. Meyer

Scientific contributions

Notable discoveries that Meyer has made in the field of psychiatric research include:

• The creation of a dietary supplement aimed at enhancing resilience against elevated monoamine oxidase A levels during the early postpartum period. This supplement, formulated with natural antioxidants and monoamine precursors, is designed to prevent depressive moods associated with postpartum blues, a precursor to postpartum depression. Its efficacy is supported by findings from an open trial published in PNAS (2017) and a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study published in eClinical Medicine (2024). Currently, the supplement is manufactured and sold in the United States, with plans for distribution in additional countries, including Canada.
• Discovering a strong presence of neuroinflammation (i.e., gliosis) in those who are experiencing major depressive episodes and that this inflammation in the brain has the potential to worsen over a longer duration if left untreated
• Discovering evidence of elevated levels of monoamine oxidase A in those who are going through early postpartum or perimenopause, as well as those who are experiencing intense emotional states associated with a higher risk for developing major depressive episodes, including: Being unable to control the consumption of alcohol, being in the early stages of nicotine withdrawal, and having a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder
• Discovering a pattern of elevated levels of monoamine oxidase A in those who are experiencing major depressive episodes
• Discovering a pattern of elevated levels of monoamine oxidase B in those with major depressive disorder—specifically in the prefrontal regions of the brain
• Discovering a strong presence of neuroinflammation—specifically in the implicated cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit located in the brain—in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Finding evidence that shows how selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS; i.e., antidepressants) produce 80% occupancy for their target site
• Finding a correlation between seasonal variation and serotonin transporter binding—binding is shown to increase during the winter season, compared to the summer season
• Finding patterns of elevated serotonin 2 receptor and striatal dopamine 2 receptor binding in both the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex—especially in those who score higher in targeted symptom clusters—in those with major depressive disorder who have remained medication-free for an extended period, and that serotonin 2 receptor binding decreases in those who take antidepressants that raise serotonin levels—this implies that it may be more effective to administer therapeutics that target specific subtypes of serotonin 2 receptors (e.g., psilocybin) prior to taking antidepressants that raise serotonin levels

Awards

Meyer has received many awards for his contributions to psychiatric research, including the following:

• The AE Bennett Award from the Society of Biological Psychiatry
• The Distinguished Investigator Award from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
• The Innovations in Psychiatry and Young Investigator Awards from the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology
• The Samarthji Lal Award from the Graham Boeckh Foundation
• The John Dewan Prize from the Ontario Mental Health Foundation
• The Royal College Medal Award in Medicine, for outstanding contributions to psychiatric research
• The Canada Research Chair in Neurochemistry of Major Depression (Tier 1), renewed in 2022 by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
• The CCNP Innovations Award from the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2020).