“Canada has among the highest incidence and prevalence rates for multiple sclerosis (MS) worldwide and an estimated 30,000+ people in Ontario live with MS. MS can be a highly disabling condition in it’s own right. However, most people with MS don’t just have MS; rather the majority have additional health conditions, amongst which the commonest are anxiety and depression. Having anxiety and/or depression adds significant health challenges to people with MS. Although effective treatments for anxiety and depression in people with MS exist, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI), access in Ontario is very limited. In this PSI Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship, I will implement and evaluate evidence-based tailored CBT and MBI resources for people with MS across Ontario.” – Dr. Robert Simpson
PSI Foundation is pleased to announce Dr. Robert Simpson as the recipient of the 2026 PSI Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship.
About Dr. Robert Simpson
Dr. Robert Simpson is an Associate Professor in the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is a Specialist Physician and Clinician Investigator in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R). His clinical work is based between the University Health Network (Toronto Rehabilitation Institute) and Unity Health (St. Michael’s Hospital).
Dr. Simpson’s overall research encompasses helping to improve the quality of life of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). His current research focus is on the role of psychological therapies in the care of people with MS.
About the PSI Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship
Knowledge translation research aims at transitioning research discoveries to the real world to improve health outcomes. The PSI Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship – valued at $300,000 for over two or three years – helps protect a promising new clinician investigator’s research time, allowing the Fellow to undertake high-impact translational research in Ontario.
Dr. Simpson highlights the importance of salary support for physicians at the early career level:
“The salary support award provided by PSI for this Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship is critical in enabling me to undertake the work proposed. The support will protect my time to implement and evaluate tailored CBT and MBIs for people with MS across Ontario. I will be able to dedicate my time to cementing collaborative working relationships with the specialist MS clinics across Ontario, train clinic staff to deliver these interventions, conduct rigorous analyses of effectiveness and implementation, and ensure the ultimate success of this project.”
Fellowship Funds to be Used to Improve the Psychological Care of People with MS in Ontario
People in Ontario living with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience psychological distress. MS can be stressful for many reasons, including uncertainty about the illness and complex symptoms like low mood, low energy and physical discomfort which often get worse through stress. This creates a toxic cycle where stress worsens symptoms, symptoms worsen stress, and so on. Unfortunately, therapies to address this toxic cycle are not currently available for all Ontarians living with MS. Fortunately, Dr. Simpson’s prior research demonstrated psychological therapies can help people with MS manage symptoms of psychological distress effectively. In this Fellowship, Dr. Simpson will translate these research findings into frontline clinical services for people living with MS across Ontario, delivering online guided self-management and group psychological therapy tailored to common issues people living with MS face. Dr. Simpson will train MS healthcare providers across Ontario to deliver these therapies and will support rollout throughout the network of specialist MS clinics across Ontario. The resources developed and rolled out will be tested in a rigorous clinical trial to see how well they work in the context of Ontario. Resources developed through the Fellowship will be made freely available to all people living with MS in Ontario.
