The NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mission Mood Disorder workstream has launched a new Affiliate Membership status to their network of Higher Education Institutions and NHS Trusts, enabling formal research engagement opportunities between clinical and academic experts across the UK.
This network aims to advance research into and improve care for people affected by mood disorders, including difficult-to-treat depression and bipolar disorder.
The network also supports collaborative research activity, shared learning, and the development of evidence to improve access to innovative interventions and inform clinical practice.
Mood Disorder Network Affiliate Membership recognises healthcare organisations that are aligned with the strategic aims of the Mood Disorder workstream and committed to supporting high-quality, collaborative mood disorder research and clinical development.
The introduction of the Affiliate Membership provides a formal mechanism for engagement with the workstream’s national programme of research, learning and collaboration.
Membership supports the development of research capability across a range of services and settings, helping to build momentum, sustainability and readiness for future academic and industry-linked research activity.
Affiliate Membership sits alongside the Mood Disorder workstream’s funded core sites and is intended to provide a proportionate, non-contractual route for organisations to engage with the workstream’s work, aligned to local capacity and strategic priorities.
Professor Hamish McAllister-Williams, MH-TRC Mood Disorders workstream Co-Lead said: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome the first two Affiliate sites to join our Network: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Dundee.
“The sites join the 15 existing Network members and help to further spread coverage across the UK. This is excellent news for the UK’s ability to successfully deliver mood disorders research, especially trials of novel therapeutic options. It is also excellent for patients by increasing access to innovative treatments.
“All the sites in the Network benefit from the combined clinical and research experience across member sites, with Cornwall and Dundee now adding their own specific areas of interest and expertise to the mix.
“We look forward to both sites taking advantage of the opportunities to further develop their own research portfolios and collaborative links with other sites in the Network. We continue to welcome applications from other sites for Affiliate Status.”
For more information about the Mood Disorder workstream or affiliate membership opportunities, contact: mary.wilson@psych.ox.ac.uk
