10 years of the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics
The MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics is a global centre of excellence for research into the genetic basis of mental health and neurodegenerative disorders.
Established in 2009, the Centre grew out of 10 successful years as an MRC Co-operative Group, bringing together programmes of research in areas including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Over the past ten years the Centre has been at the forefront of psychiatric genetics, not only making significant advances in identifying specific risk alleles and illuminating the genetic architecture of psychiatric disorders but also translating research findings for widespread public benefits.
This has ranged from spearheading contemporary debate about psychiatric classification and diagnosis to developing psychoeducation programmes for bipolar disorder and pioneering the use of systemic health checks for people with learning disabilities.
Training the next generation
A core part of the Centre’s mission has been to develop the next generation of researchers capable of pushing the boundaries in genomics and neuroscience.
Over 80 students have come through the Centre’s PhD scheme, having conducted projects ranging from investigating the relationship between sleep disruption and manic episodes in bipolar disorder to creating polygenic cell-based models for Alzheimer’s disease.
The Centre also runs a clinical academic mentorship scheme, giving clinicians the opportunity to kick-start their academic career through mentorship and financial support. Many of those who’ve benefited from the scheme have gone on to obtain fellowships from the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust.
Engaging communities
Public engagement has been a core feature of the Centre’s work over the past decade, helping to tackle the unfair stigma surrounding mental health problems and inspiring children and young people to learn more about genetics, the brain and neuroscience.
Researchers have hosted school visits and open days, collaborated with Einstein’s Garden to create a ‘library of imagined genes’ at Greenman Festival, taken part in the Cardiff University Brain Games and run a variety of activities as part of the annual MRC Festival of Medical Research. These have included film screenings, public talks and a genetics-themed fun fair event.
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