The Tarek K. Rajji Award in Brain Stimulation Research
Description
The Tarek K. Rajji Award in Brain Stimulation Research will be awarded annually to a trainee at the University of Toronto conducting brain stimulation research related to dementia or a cognitive disorder at a Toronto Dementia Research Alliance (TDRA) site. The award is to recognize the trainee’s contributions to an innovative research project.
Established in 2012, TDRA is a collaboration among the University of Toronto, Baycrest, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and the University Health Network (UHN). TDRA is working together to better understand, prevent, and treat dementia by creating a stronger link between basic science and clinical research, embedding research into care, improving outreach and education to the community, and increasing the efficiency of collaborative research processes across the city.
Dr. Tarek K. Rajji served as the Executive Director of TDRA from September 2020 through September 2024. His research and clinical psychiatry practice incorporate innovative brain stimulation techniques and technologies. During his tenure, Dr. Rajji's leadership, guidance, and innovative approaches were invaluable in advancing both TDRA and the broader dementia
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We are not accepting applications for the Tarek K Rajji Award at this time.
Meet the 2025 Award Recipient
Ilya Demchenko, PhD candidate in Medical Science with a Collaborative Specialization in Neuromodulation at the University of Toronto, is the winner of the 2025 inaugural Tarek K. Rajji award in Brain Stimulation Research. Ilya’s research, under the supervision of Dr. Venkat Bhat and Dr. Tom Schweizer, focuses on developing and evaluating a new brain stimulation technique called temporal interference stimulation, which enables non-invasive modulation of deep brain regions typically only accessible through surgical interventions such as deep brain stimulation. His current projects investigate the feasibility, behavioural effects, and neural mechanisms of targeting the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, a region central to mood regulation and depression. Ilya is passionate about integrating neuroscience, psychiatry, and neurotechnology to advance mental health treatment.