Overview
NIHR Translational Research Collaborations (TRCs) are collaborative groups of experts, acting as hubs, rallying research communities across the UK.
The NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) was established in 2017, when the two mental health focused NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) – BRC: Maudsley and BRC: Oxford Health agreed to lead a TRC based around mental health.
The MH-TRC brings together leading investigators in experimental medicine and early-stage translational mental health research from across the UK to accelerate discoveries into clinical practice. It connects centres of excellence across the UK, bringing together world-leading research expertise with infrastructure funded by the NIHR located in major universities and NHS Trusts.
The MH-TRC has shown the strength of its collaborative approach and is now leading the MH-TRC Mission funded for 2023-2028 with work focused on five of our workstreams, including an Early Psychosis Cohort and Registries, networked Mood Disorder clinics, Children and Young People’s platform trials infrastructure, focused research investment in previously underserved areas such as Liverpool and Birmingham, in addition to tackling industry engagement, trial set ups and regulatory hurdles with a focus on mental health.
People with lived experience of mental health conditions are at the heart of everything that we do. Our Patient and Public Involvement Engagement and Participation (PPIEP) work includes lived experience researcher partnerships across our workstreams, in keeping with our principles that research involving all relevant stakeholders improves the relevance and quality of health research.
The MH-TRC Mission is making a significant and positive impact on research focused on improving mental health. Particularly in areas of unmet need. We are working in partnership with patients and public, industry and the leading academic centres to make sure the full strength of our collaboration is realised.
Who we are
The MH-TRC Mission is led by Chair Professor Rachel Upthegrove from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Oxford Health, Emeritus Chair Professor John Geddes also from the BRC: Oxford Health and Deputy Chair Professor Jeremy Hall from Cardiff University.
The breadth of mental health expertise in the UK
This map shows mental health centres based across the UK (listed below) which are part of the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration.
Map updated April 2025
This map can also be viewed and downloaded as a PDF here
NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs), Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) and leads of Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRCs)
- BRC: Oxford Health – Professor Rachel Upthegrove
- BRC: Bristol – Professor Golam Khandaker
- BRC: Maudsley –Professor Grainne McAlonan
- BRC: Nottingham and NIHR MindTech – Professor Chris Hollis
- BRC: Cambridge – Professor Graham Murray
- BRC: Newcastle – Professor Hamish McAllister-Williams
- BRC: University College London Hospitals – Professor Anthony David
- BRC: Imperial – Dr Martina Di Simplicio
- BRC: Exeter – Professor Edward Watkins
- BRC: Manchester in association with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust – Dr Shruti Garg
Other centres and clinical academic leads
- University of Birmingham–Professor Matthew Broome
- Cardiff University, National Centre for Mental Health– Professor Jeremy Hall
- University of Edinburgh – Dr Donald MacIntyre / NHS Mental Health Research Scotland
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust – Professor David Baldwin
- Queen’s University Belfast – Professor Cherie Armour
- University of Liverpool/ Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust– Professor Iain Buchan, Professor Dan Joyce
- The University of Glasgow – Professor Andrew Gumley
- Swansea University – Professor Ann John
- MQ Mental Health Research – Chris Jarrett
- Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust – Professor Scott Weich
- University of Durham – Brian Castellani
Our expertise and capabilities
The MH-TRC brings together:
- People with lived experience of mental health conditions and researchers as part of our PPIEP work
- World-class mental health clinical research facilities across the NIHR’s BRCs and Clinical Research Facilities
- The NIHR Mental Health MedTech Co-operative
- Additional centres of excellence across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The main focus areas of our MH-TRC include:
MH-TRC Workstreams and Leads
*Workstreams which are also part of the MH-TRC Mission
- Capacity Development* – Dr Shruti Garg and Dr Kate Saunders
- Children and Young People’s Mental Health* – Professor Helen Minnis
- Data and Digital* – Professor Ann John and Professor John Ainsworth
- Early Psychosis* – Professor Graham Murray
- Mood Disorders* – Professor Mike Browning and Professor Hamish McAllister-Williams (Emeritus)
- ‘Omics, Biobanking and the NIHR Bioresource – Professor Gerome Breen
- Substance Use and Addictions – Professor Sir John Strang
Demonstrator sites
What is the MH-TRC Mission?
The MH-TRC Mission was one of the healthcare research priorities announced as part of the ‘Life Sciences Vision’.
The MH-TRC Mission will increase capacity in mental health research through the provision of relevant training and creation of better systems to support industry led research and investment across the UK. Specific focus will be paid to addressing both areas of unmet need and high burden of mental illness.
