MRC Centre contributes to REF success

Cardiff University's research in the area of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience is ranked second in the UK following the results of REF 2014.

Ninety percent of Cardiff University's portfolio of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience research, which includes the work of flagship MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, has been deemed 'outstanding' for its impact in terms of its reach and significance in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment.

Cardiff University's research into these areas is now ranked as second only to Oxford in the UK.

REF examines the research output of UK universities, and is the successor to the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) that was last carried out in 2008. The assessment looks at research outputs from 2008-2014, and takes into account the significance, rigour and originality of the work, and it's impact both nationally and internationally.

Combining the strength of MRC Centre with other key research centres including the National Centre for Mental Health, Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) and the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, as well as the University's highly respected School of Psychology, has led to vital new scientific insights.

"We have gained fundamental insights into many aspects of behaviour and made important discoveries about the causes of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and ADHD; and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease" said MRC CNGG director Professor Sir Michael Owen.

"These results confirm our place as one of the UK and the world's leading centres for psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience."