Our Director, Professor John Geddes (pictured), as well as other researchers from the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, are some of the key speakers in a continuing professional development meeting on how to manage mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorders.

Mood disorders that do not respond to standard treatments have a significant cost to the patient, the NHS and wider society, but many current and future studies (including at Oxford Health and its partners) are exploring potential treatments.

In a busy day of talks by leading researchers from across the UK, the event on Monday 17^th September in London will explore state of the art evidence for biological treatment options for patients with mood disorders. Clinicians will also be introduced to research studies that are, or will shortly be recruiting patients, including the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)-funded PAX-BD study, which will run at virtually all secondary mental health care NHS trusts across the UK.

There is a fee of £90 to attend the event: email PAX.BC@ncl.ac.uk to register for the meeting, or see the meeting programme for more information.

Now open for applications – 6 to 8 January 2019, University of Oxford

The NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre are delighted to be launching the first Oxford Short Course in Experimental Medicine for Mental Health (OxCEMM), designed for those with a basic understanding of experimental medicine who would like to develop a more comprehensive and practical grounding in research in this area.

Aimed at a range of interested parties, the course is unique in offering multi-disciplinary training in experimental medicine research, and will appeal to pharmacists, basic scientists, allied health professionals and others looking to develop research. Medical doctors at any career stage – from trainees, senior medical students to consultants – are welcome. The course is particularly aimed at psychiatrists, but will also be of interest to neurologists, GPs and other specialists.

Covering what you need to know to develop and conduct experimental medicine studies in mental health, the programme addresses study design, regulation, conduct and analysis, experimental medicine approaches, industrial considerations, emerging themes and personal skills development.

With involvement from NIHR Oxford Health BRC researchers, and with input from the Patients and Research Group, the programme will be taught through a mixture of presentations, discussions, group exercises and research facility tours.

To apply for your place please visit this link  and complete your details. Application deadline 5 October 2018.

Places on the course are limited. Bursaries and accommodation available.

For more information, please view the course brochure or contact oxcemm@psych.ox.ac.uk .

The Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is launching a new Brain Health Centre to offer patients access to better quality diagnosis and treatment after they have been referred by their doctor for concerns about their memory.

The centre will provide a link between leading University research into diagnosis and treatment of memory problems and other difficulties with thinking, and the introduction of this research in the NHS. Patients will also be given improved opportunities to take part in research and trials.

We have two involvement opportunities for people with experience of mental health and/or memory problems – as a patient or a carer – to work with us as we set up the centre.

Patient / Carer Representative on Working Group

The Working Group has the oversight of the setting up of the Brain Health Centre. It will bring together key staff at Oxford University and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, and patient / carer representatives. It will meet on a bi-monthly basis, and report to the BRC Steering Committee.

The Patient / Carer Representative will play an important role in making sure the patient and carer experience is central to the development of the centre. Representatives will be asked to attend 6 meetings, plus attend a focus group, centre launch and review meeting.

We are looking for people with experience of mental health and/or memory problems as a patient or a carer, who live in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire, and who can contribute to the strategic direction of the centre. Reimbursement for expenses and time will be offered.

Full details of the role, and background information, can be found in the Patient Carer Representative document. This also contains details of how to send us your expression of interest.

Members of Feedback Group

The Brain Health Centre Feedback Group will focus on the information and communication processes and requirements for the centre, and mapping the patient and carer journey through the centre.

Members of the group will input into how the Brain Health Centre is set up, and feedback into the processes, documentation and information that are to be provided for patients and carers.

The group will have an initial meeting, and will then be asked to review documents and information remotely. We would anticipate the Feedback Group will be made up of 8 people.

Full details of the group, role and how to send us your expression of interest can be found in the Feedback Group document. Reimbursement for expenses and time will be offered.

We encourage people who are interested in either of these roles to contact us as soon as possible. The deadline for expressions of interest is 17 July 2017.

• Patient Carer Representative Brain Health Centre
• Feedback Group Brain Health Centre