A full professor in the School of Music, Faculty of Arts, Professor Comeau, an expert in the field of music pedagogy, will lead the development of a joint music and mental health research program.
The partnership program between the MHRI and The Royal will study how the brain responds to music as well as the impact of music interventions at the individual level, using multiple musical techniques and leading research tools, including brain imaging and electroencephalography (EEG).
Professor Comeau brings to this collaboration a $1 million research project funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, which is designed to explore community-based music interventions as a means to enhance the health and well-being of people living with dementia and bring support to their families and caregivers.