Queensland Researchers Team Up To Tackle Mental Health

4 Oct 2013

4 Oct 2013 

Queensland’s key health research institutes have joined forces to advance the understanding of mental disorders and improve outcomes for patients.

The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, and the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) have formed the Queensland Mental Health Research Alliance.

QBI Director, Professor Perry Bartlett, said the Alliance came at an exciting time in neuroscience.

“Over the last decade we have acquired a much deeper knowledge of how brain function is regulated and are now ready to apply it to developing new therapeutics to treat mental ill-health.”

Professor John McGrath, the Director of QCMHR was recently awarded a prestigious NHMRC John Cade Fellowship. The fellowship will help build research capacity in Queensland.

“This is an exciting time in Mental Health Research in Queensland – the new Alliance will allow us to showcase the links between the three institutes and form a solid foundation for future growth,” Professor McGrath said.

QIMR Berghofer Director Professor Frank Gannon said the Alliance would reinforce existing collaborations, identify which mental health disorders should be targeted, and nurture the next generation of clinical researchers.

“The Queensland Mental Health Research Alliance is a crucial pooling of knowledge, to make sure Queensland drives national and international research in this area,” Professor Gannon said.

Mental illness is a leading cause of health related disability in Queensland, as well as a global health challenge.

“This Alliance recognises our organisations’ different strengths and means we can work towards discovering the neurobiological links in mental health disorders which can help develop prevention methods and effective treatments.”

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