Rebecca Robillard

Dr. Rebecca Robillard is an Associate Professor at the School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, and a leading researcher in clinical sleep science. She directs clinical sleep research at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR) at The Royal and co-directs the Sleep Laboratory of the School of Psychology. Her work bridges research and clinical care through collaborations with the Sleep Disorders Clinic, Operational Stress Injury Clinic, and Youth Program at The Royal.

• PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology, Université de Montréal (2011)
• Bachelor’s in Psychology (Honor), Université de Montréal (2004)

Dr. Robillard’s research centers on understanding sleep disturbances in mental disorders, particularly major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Her work explores the interactions between mental illness, the sleeping brain, and the sleeping heart using a translational framework that integrates chronobiology, neuroimaging, and cortisol analysis. She aims to optimize sleep and circadian interventions to improve quality of life and accelerate recovery in patients.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized with several early-career awards. She is also co-chair of the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium, highlighting her national leadership in sleep science.

• Young Investigator Award – Canadian Sleep Society
• New Investigator Award – Australasian Sleep Association
• Young Investigator Inspiration Award – Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
• Emerging Research Innovators in Mental Health (e-RIHM) Award – IMHR

Dr. Robillard leads a multidisciplinary research group comprising psychiatrists, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees. Her work is supported by institutional affiliations and clinical partnerships that enable direct translation of research findings into patient care. She is actively involved in mentoring and training the next generation of researchers in sleep and mental health sciences.

She co-directs the Sleep Laboratory at the University of Ottawa, which serves as a hub for experimental and clinical research on sleep, arousal, and chronobiological modulation in psychiatric populations.