WP3. Structuring of research capacity, infrastructures, capacity building and funding strategies in mental health research

Mental health research covers a wide range of disciplines from social science, psychology and cognitive sciences to genetics and biomarker research, imaging, basic neuroscience, animal models, translational research, clinical research, cohorts and epidemiology, and public health research. Insufficient and uncoordinated communication between disciplines often results in fragmented approach to mental health, with a risk of dilution of its components in broader disciplines. As a result, the development of integrated research centres and networks in mental health is lagging behind other disciplines. Although mental disorders generate a major burden for healthcare systems and society, the funding allocated to mental health research appears to remain in most countries at a very low level.

Evidence underlines that there is major need to analyze the funding mechanisms devoted to mental health and well-being research, not only regarding the total amount of funding available, but also the precise mechanisms for funding. By way of coordination actions, therefore, we need to extend our search beyond mental disorders in a narrow sense to the examination of mental health issues in somatic diseases as well as life-style and health risk behaviours.

• To assess the current state of the art on research capacity, infrastructures, capacity building and funding strategies in mental health research
• To assess the gaps and advances in research capacity, infrastructures, capacity building and funding strategies in mental health research
• To prioritise among gaps and advances to provide solutions for gaps in research capacity, infrastructures, capacity building and funding strategies in mental health research

Prof. Marion Leboyer

Prof. Jacques Demotes

Dr. Matthias Brunn

First scientific workshop to review the state-of-art in research capacity, funding, infrastructures and capacity building across Europe

The workshop, hosted by Prof. Marion Leboyer (Fondation FondaMental), took place in Paris at the URC Eco on September 25th, 2012. Click to the following link to download the provisional agenda of the event. The list of participants can be downloaded here.

Second scientific workshop to review the state-of-art in research capacity, funding, infrastructures and capacity building across Europe

The second scientific meeting of WP3 was hosted by Professor Marion Leboyer on two consecutive days, 4-5th of February, 2013, in Paris. The workshop was organized to analyse gaps and advances needed in infrastructures, training & capacity-building and in funding of mental health research in Europe. Analysing the gaps can make it possible to develop a strategic approach for the improvement of the aforementioned areas at the pan-European level, bridging the gaps between disciplines, between countries, and between the academic and industry sector. Click to the following link to download the agenda of the event!