China and UK join forces to develop research into mental health
The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) Nottingham at The University of Nottingham has agreed a formal agreement with Shanghai Mental Health Centre to enable academic exchanges of up to three months.
The aim of this reciprocal fellowship scheme is to develop and sustain joint research between Chinese mental health researchers and Nottingham IMH — which is a partnership between Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and the University.
Gerry Carton, IMH Associate Director, said: “We see joint meetings and study exchanges as a means to build the foundations for future projects. Individuals can use these opportunities to undertake research on their own using the Institute’s networks, or to work with UK colleagues. The ultimate aim is to generate joint publications and to win joint research grants.”One in four people will develop a mental health problem at some point during their lives. Mental distress can range from mild depression or anxiety to conditions such as bipolar disorder (manic depression) or schizophrenia where individuals may experience psychosis.
The Institute of Mental Health is a partnership between Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and The University of Nottingham and was launched in 2006 in Nottingham to help transform our understanding and treatment of mental illness.
The first exchange fellows from China are expected to arrive on 1 July. A call for UK academics to visit Shanghai will go out soon.
The idea for the exchange programme originated in 2008 when representatives of the IMH visited Shanghai Mental Health Centre (SMHC), the city’s leading service, for a joint seminar. Two of SMHC’s leading researchers, Dr Chunbo Li and Jijun Wang visited IMH for a month following the seminar. Jijun Wang works with Professor Peter Liddle in the analysis of neuro-imaging data. Chunbo Li works closely with Professor Clive Adams, reviewing Chinese research on schizophrenia. He has set up a satellite of the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group (CSG) in Shanghai and been appointed an Editor of the CSG.
In collaboration with SMHC, the CSG has been running a training course in Shanghai for the past three years, providing training to local and national researchers on Cochrane systematic review.
As a result of the exchange visit and collaboration, Professor Justine Schneider, IMH, has submitted a joint grant application with Professor Shifu Xiao from SMHC to BUPA on dementia research.
IMH has arranged another visit with SMHC and the School of Public Health, Fudan University in October 2010 to further explore collaborative opportunities. Representatives from the IMH are also planning a symposium on the Shanghai Expo to promote the Institute and attract potential partnership opportunities.
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