Forums to highlight breakthroughs in mental research
April 8, 2010
MUSC partners with brain & behavior research fund to bring science to families
CHARLESTON, SC – April 8, 2010 – Families throughout the Charleston community will have a rare opportunity to learn about new breakthroughs and emerging treatments in mental health from some of the nation’s best and brightest researchers.
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) will join more than 40 other institutions nationwide to partner with NARSAD in presenting its “Healthy Minds Across America” series of public talks. Each event brings information to families seeking hope for better treatments of a broad range of mental illnesses.
“We created Healthy Minds as a unique and open forum for scientists and families to share new discoveries that have the potential to improve the quality of life for people with mental illness,” said Benita Shobe, NARSAD’s president and CEO. “NARSAD believes passionately in the value of offering patients and families — and the medical professionals who care for them — direct access to the researchers who are shaping the future of mental health science and getting us closer to cures.”
NARSAD has provided the MUSC’s Psychiatry department more than $1.3 million via 20 grants to support 19 scientists. These studies help to further MUSC’s goal of seeking new breakthroughs related to serious mental disorders that affect nearly 60 million Americans each year. These psychiatric illnesses include schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, childhood mental disorders that include autism and ADHD, and anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
The public forum will take place Saturday, April 17 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Institute of Psychiatry Auditorium at MUSC, 67 President St. For a full list of venues, speakers and topics, or to register, visit the NARSAD Web site http://www.narsad.org/hmaa/MUSC.
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 11,000 employees, including 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.7 billion. MUSC operates a 709-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children’s Hospital and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit www.musc.edu or www.muschealth.com.
About NARSAD
NARSAD’s primary mission is to alleviate suffering from mental illness. Toward this goal, the organization raises funds to advance research on the causes, treatment and prevention of psychiatric disorders. Since 1987, NARSAD has distributed more than $256 million in grants to over 2,900 scientists at over 440 universities, medical centers and research institutes in the United States and 28 other countries. NARSAD is a 501(c)(3) registered public charity, supported by individuals, foundations and corporations for the purpose of funding scientific research. All contributions are tax-deductible.For additional information on NARSAD, visit www.narsad.org, or call (800) 829-8289.
