University of Manchester awarded 826k for brain science and mental healt...( The University of Manchester's Faculty ...),Health

Of 326 applications received nationally, four of the 28 projects funded are based at the University - beating Oxford with three and Cambridge with two. Professor Matt Lambon-Ralph, Director of Clinical Neuroscience, said:

"As with the first round of this scheme last year, competition for these grants was extremely high. Our success in the second round is a continuation of our excellent achievements in the first phase of this competition.

"These awards recognize that the University of Manchester is in the very top echelons of neuroscience and mental health research in the country. Importantly, all of our projects fuse basic sciences with clinical application and will make a significant difference to our understanding and treatment of stroke, dementia and mental illness."

The call for research proposals followed two themes: 'Pathfinders', to develop novel and exciting research ideas for laboratory and population-based studies, and 'Trial Platforms' to build capacity for large scale clinical trials. The projects awarded funding at The University of Manchester are:

• Dr Shaheen Hamdy's study into the ability of the brain to adapt to and compensate for conditions such as stroke
• Dr Nusrat Hussain's study of pre- and post-natal depression and infant growth in Manchester residents of Pakistani origin
• Dr Karina Lovell's trial of guided self-help for mild to moderate depression in primary care
• Dr Jennifer Shaw's trial of management for released prisoners with severe and enduring mental illness

Seven projects were also funded last year during the first round of the competition, totallin
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Contact: Jo Nightingale
joanne.nightingale@manchester.ac.uk
0161-275-8156
University of Manchester
7-Mar-2005