Dr. Bains, an internationally recognized expert in brain research, was Scientific Director of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary. He has recently been appointed University Health Network (UHN) as the new Director of the Krembil Research Institute.

For the past two decades, Dr. Bains has led a successful research team at the University of Calgary, making many important discoveries that have provided insights into how the brain adapts to stress.  These studies have shed light on links between neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity and brain network states, with important behavioural and physiological responses in different models of stress. More recently, Dr. Bains has pioneered approaches that use advanced technology platforms to measure changes in brain circuits in response to stress. His team developed a novel system for behavioural assessment and combined this with optogenetic and circuit mapping, to link activity in the brain's stress command neurons to the transmission of stress/fear from one individual to another. He has also been active in the potential for clinical application of this research through commercialization efforts.