Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre

The Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre (MHMTC) will accelerate mental health research capacity by developing digital registries, building on regional leadership and facilities, and supporting the development of new industrial partnerships.

The MHMTC forms part of to the national NIHR funded Mental Health Mission, which aims to make the UK a sustainable and research-ready environment that is able to support the pace and scale of mental health research needed to address current needs. The MHMTC will have an initial clinical focus on new precision interventions for early psychosis (EP) and treatment resistant depression (TRD).

"We’re delighted that the Government is making such a significant investment in mental health research.

"Over the next five years, the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Research Centre of Excellence will accelerate and grow effective, regional mental health research capacity.

"Focusing on young, superdiverse, and deprived populations, we will engage with funders and industry partners to develop and deliver precision interventions for mental health disorders including psychosis and depression."

Professor Rachel Upthegrove

Professor of Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health at the University of Birmingham and Mental Health Research and Development Lead at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Workstreams

Digital platforms for stratified recruitment and standardised clinical endpoints

The Midlands Mental Health Mission Translational Centre (MHMTC) is developing co designed, digital registries to support the delivery of equitable, evidence-based interventions, transform patient outcomes and reduce population-level disparities. Digital registries for early psychosis (EP) and treatment resistant depression (TRD) will be developed and rolled out across our NHS network to gain new insights emerging from real world data to inform further targeted treatment trials and evaluation in diverse population settings.

Increasing access to Clinical Research Facilities (CRF)

The programme will support the development of Clinical Research Facilities (CRF) capacity to allow streamlined access to intensive and lower risk facilities and aims to partner with industry to accelerate the development of new interventions to diagnose, monitor and treat mental ill-health.

The Midlands Mental Health Mission Translational Centre (MHMTC) will address barriers that currently slow and disincentivise industry research such as issues with research capability, patient recruitment and contracting.

If you would like to discuss your research idea with us please get in touch.

Regional Trial Delivery, Training and Expertise

The Midlands Mental Health Mission Translational Centre (MHMTC) will establish a robust regional network of trained, and research active NHS Trusts across the Midlands. The programme will engage with and train new Principal Investigators (PI) to in the first instance conduct early psychosis (EP) and treatment resistant depression (TRD) trials. The MHMTC also aims to investigate and address resource requirements that at present restrict mental health research activity in NHS Trusts. 

PI Training - 18 January 2024

Our team

 

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