Flooding at Douglas Hospital Deals Major Blow to Alzheimer’s and Mental Health Research

A flood triggered by burst pipes last week at Douglas Hospital in Montreal has caused extensive damage to laboratories that are part of one of the world’s leading centres for Alzheimer’s and mental health research, researchers say. The flooding, which occurred on Jan. 26 after several pipes in the historic Lehmann Centre ruptured, inundated lab spaces and led to ceilings collapsing as water gushed into critical research areas.

Researchers and staff have long raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the building — parts of which date back to the late 1800s — saying it was overdue for replacement. Sylvain Williams, a longtime psychiatry professor at McGill University, said the structure “should have been demolished years ago,” and that repeated patch-up repairs had failed to address persistent infrastructure issues.

The flooding affected about 15 laboratories, employing roughly 100 researchers and students whose work focused on Alzheimer’s, depression and other mental health conditions. Many labs were forced to halt operations entirely, and years of research — including data, experiments and specialized equipment — were destroyed, according to associate professor Mark Brandon, who described the loss as “indescribable” given the time and care invested.

Lab relocations to other parts of the hospital have been arranged for some staff, but much of the research activity has stalled, jeopardizing grant applications, deadlines and student project timelines. Researchers warned that the setback could slow progress on vital therapies and scientific advances at a time when global demand for mental health solutions is acute.

Hospital administrators and the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal acknowledged the flooding incident and said assessments and cleanup efforts are underway. However, scientists say the disruption highlights the urgent need for a modern facility, noting that past plans to build a new research centre were shelved despite estimated costs exceeding $1 billion.

Williams and colleagues have urged government and health authorities to move beyond temporary repairs and invest in infrastructure that can support cutting-edge research without chronic risk of damage and disruption. They say the Douglas Hospital’s ageing lab spaces, which have long struggled with extreme temperatures and infestations of rodents, are not fit for world-class scientific work — a point starkly underscored by the recent flooding fiasco.