Cardiff University is to develop a new centre and innovative treatments for schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and depression after being awarded £5 million by the The Hodge Foundation for Translational Neuroscience.
The Hodge Centre for Translational Neuroscience will look to understand how the brain responds to mental illnesses as well as conducting research and developing projects to impact patients.
It is to “forge close links with partners in industry, the NHS and other organisations to improve collaboration” along with accelerating the pace at which research can impact upon treatments, with plans to take the latest research findings from the University’s neuroscience research team and use them to develop new drugs and therapies for severe mental health conditions.
As well as enabling patient benefits through enhanced treatments and therapies, the centre will produce 18 fully funded PhD scholarships, to train individuals with skills needed to address brain disorders.
Jeremy Hall, director of new centre, said: “The Hodge Centre for Translational Neuroscience will allow us to further our understanding of severe mental health conditions, building on the world-class research that’s already taking place in Cardiff.
“The Centre will also prioritise the development of key external partnerships to translate our findings into real world impact. This gift will help unlock the potential of our recent discoveries and give us the tools, and exceptional minds needed, to help the patients who need it, as soon as possible.”
Karen Hodge, Trustee of the Hodge Foundation, explained: “We know the impact of previous grants to the University and the discoveries that have come out of this relationship, so we are very much looking forward to seeing the Hodge Centre for Translational Neuroscience come to life. The Foundation is committed to improving the treatment available to those affected by mental illness and we recognise that this will only become possible by supporting world-leading research.”
