Rachel Tyndale, PhD

Sustained Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentorship

Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology

Dr. Rachel Tyndale is Senior Scientist and Head of Pharmacogenetics in the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She is a Canada Research Chair in Pharmacogenomics, and Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry, Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Tyndale is investigating genetic risk factors for drug dependence to better understand the mechanisms involved with drug abuse and to optimize treatment approaches. Drugs under study include ethanol, opiates, cannabis and amphetamines with a focus on nicotine and smoking. She is tackling the serious public health issue of smoking, trying to find answers to why some people smoke more than others, and why some find it easier to quit. Dr. Tyndale’s goal is to use genetic information to personalize treatment for people who want to quit smoking. She also examines the impact of variation in drug metabolism on drug response and neuroplasticity, using preclinical and imaging approaches.