Event marks contributions of world-renowned neuropsychiatric genetics researchers
25 March 2026
An event has taken place in honour of Professor Sir Michael Owen and Professor Michael O’Donovan to mark their world-renowned contributions to the field of neuropsychiatric genetics and wider mental health research.
The professors welcomed dear colleagues from across the globe to reflect on and celebrate a combined 60 years of work in Cardiff University’s Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences (DPMCN) before their retirements this year.
Professor Sir Michael Owen joined Cardiff University as a Senior Lecturer in the early 1990s. Throughout his career, he has worked to increase our understanding of the genetics underlying schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD and depression. The impact of his work has been recognised by international awards including a knighthood for services to neuroscience and mental health.
Professor Michael O’Donovan joined in the early 1990s as a clinical lecturer and has gone on to identify genetic risk factors of schizophrenia, bipolar, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s, exploring methods of highlighting the biological underpinnings of the conditions.
Together, their work to establish and grow the Department and Centre for Psychiatric Genetics has put Cardiff University on the map as a world-leader in the field of neuropsychiatric genomics and mental health research.
A showcase of neuropsychiatric genetics research
The event began with a lunch, and a welcome from the Vice Chancellor Professor Wendy Larner who thanked both of Professors Owen and O’Donovan for underpinning neuropsychiatric research at Cardiff University.
Their partnership has driven scientific progress, inspired colleagues and students, and strengthened our understanding of mental illness in ways that will influence work and clinical practice for years to come.
Professor Walters spoke about his experience working with both professors as an early researcher through to his current role as DPMCN Director. He summarised these into a series of tips for academic researchers, learnt through his involvement with them. Tips such as, ‘competition can be your friend,’ demonstrated how their intersecting interests became the foundation for a highly productive collaboration.
They created a department underpinned by partnership working and mutual support, that led to the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics being recognised as a global centre of excellence and established cadres of researchers whose influence has extended internationally across neuropsychiatry and beyond.
This was followed by a series of short talks by divisional academics exploring genetic risks of schizophrenia, the genetics of ADHD and bipolar disorder, functional genomics and genetic counselling. These talks celebrated the interests of Professor Sir Michael Owen and Professor Michael O’Donovan and proved the legacy of their work will continue to thrive within the department and beyond.
From labs to lecture theatres Professor Sir Michael Owen and Professor Michael O’Donovan’s careers have been spent in close collaboration and friendship. Their closing talks highlighted this while also thanking all those who have supported them throughout their careers.
Professor Sir Michael Owen and Professor Michael O’Donovan were presented with books containing pictures, messages, memories and stories of the two shared by colleagues and friends.
Professor Sir Michael Owen and Professor Michael O’Donovan will be missed hugely at Cardiff University, but all colleagues in DPMCN wish them all the luck and happiness with their retirements.