University of Cambridge
The Mental Health Platform
The Mental Health Platform is a multimillion UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded research project bringing together researchers from a range of medical and non-medical disciplines and institutions to advance understanding of severe mental illness and to develop new approaches to diagnosis, treatment and support. It’s website can be found here (please note Checkpoint is now called ImmunoMIND).
The platform is made up of the following five hubs:
Hub for Metabolic Psychiatry
This hub, led by Professor Daniel Smith at the University of Edinburgh, will investigate the relationship between metabolic disorders (such as obesity and diabetes) and severe mental illness, to develop novel treatment approaches for people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression.
Building recovery and resilience in severe mental illness: Leveraging the role of social determinants in illness trajectories and interventions
This hub, led by Professor Jennifer Lau at Queen Mary University of London, aims to generate new knowledge on the role of social determinants (the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age) in influencing the course and outcomes of SMIs and explore how we can leverage ‘protective’ social factors to build resilience and recovery in people with SMIs.
ImmunoMIND
This hub, led by Professor Daniel Smith at the University of Edinburgh, will investigate the relationship between metabolic disorders (such as obesity and diabetes) and severe mental illness, to develop novel treatment approaches for people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression.
Transforming Care and Outcomes in Borderline Personality Disorder
This hub, led by Professor Scott Weich at the SheWield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, will use quantitative, data-driven and creative qualitative approaches to better understand the complex, interacting problems experienced by people with Borderline Personality Disorder. They will work with lived experience experts to drive therapeutic innovation, improve support for professionals and reduce stigma.
The South Wales and Southwest England Mental Health Platform Hub
This hub, led by Professor James Walters at CardiW University, is looking to expand and validate the range of stratifying markers (including genetic and social factors) which can be used to improve detection, diagnosis and development of new interventions to help target precise, preventative and early care for SMI.
