The Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre (MHM MTC) in Birmingham is one of the MH-TRC Mission’s two demonstrator sites, dedicated to revolutionising mental health research by bringing patients from areas of unmet need together with industry partners.
Demonstrator site Co-Directors
Professor Mathew Broome, Centre Lead
Professor of Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health, Director of the Institute for Mental Health
University of Birmingham; School of Psychology
Professor Steven Marwaha, Centre Co-Lead
Professor of Psychiatry, University of Birmingham and Specialist Mood Disorders Clinic; Birmingham and Solihull Mental Foundation Trust
Research focus
The MHM MTC, based in Birmingham, builds upon the University of Birmingham Institute for Mental Health’s established leadership in early-stage mental health research. The Centre’s work is rooted in the development of prognostic tools and clinical trials targeting emerging mental health disorders. Recent investment has significantly expanded Birmingham’s capacity for discovery science, particularly in the areas of molecular targets, depression therapeutics, and mental health in children and young people.
This initiative is designed to accelerate innovation in mental health care by integrating digital platforms, clinical research infrastructure, and trial delivery expertise. The Centre’s programme is structured around four key work packages, each contributing to a robust and scalable research ecosystem
Regional context
Birmingham is uniquely positioned to lead mental health research in the Midlands. As a city with a super-diverse and predominantly young population, it faces high levels of deprivation and mental health morbidity. The wider Midlands region, home to over ten million people, includes many NHS Trusts with limited research engagement. Birmingham’s central location and established academic infrastructure make it an ideal hub for expanding research activity across the region.
By embedding research within local services and extending support to neighbouring centres, the MHM MTC aims to address regional disparities in mental health provision. This approach ensures that scientific advancements are translated into tangible benefits for patients and communities that have historically been underserved.
Research aims
The primary objective of the MHM MTC is to enhance regional research capacity and re-engage industry partners, with an initial focus on early psychosis and treatment-resistant depression. The Centre seeks to develop and deploy digital platforms for stratified recruitment and standardised clinical endpoints, enabling more precise and inclusive trial participation.
For early psychosis, the Centre will establish a digital register to identify individuals within Early Intervention in Psychosis services, facilitating recruitment for experimental medicine studies. Similarly, for depression, a regional framework will support recruitment across primary and secondary care, informing adaptive treatment trials and attracting external funding. Additional aims include increasing access to Clinical Research Facilities, both intensive and community-based, and delivering harmonised training across the region. This includes the recruitment of research staff and the provision of centralised support for trial delivery, funding applications, and industry collaboration.
Impact
The MHM MTC is set to transform mental health research in the Midlands by creating a sustainable and inclusive research infrastructure. One of its key outcomes will be the expansion of clinical academic capacity, supported by initiatives such as the Wellcome Trust-funded Midlands Mental Health and Neuroscience PhD Programme. This programme enables healthcare professionals from diverse clinical backgrounds to pursue doctoral training, fostering a new generation of mental health researchers.
By embedding research within clinical practice and extending its reach across the region, the Centre will drive improvements in mental health outcomes, reduce inequalities, and position Birmingham as a national leader in translational mental health science.
