Welcome

Diseases of the brain and mind, including substance abuse, clinical depression and dementia now account for more than 40 percent of all illness.

These diseases are devastating for those affected, their families, and for society; costing the Australian economy an estimated $30 billion each year.

Up to 1.6 million Australians, 8 per cent of the population, are either permanently or transiently affected by depression or other mental illnesses during the course of a year, and about 60 percent are not receiving standard treatments.

The challenge remains to tackle and lower the incidence of mental illness in all its forms, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease. We need new insights and treatments that arise from active research and clinical collaboration.

The Brain & Mind Research Institute has a fundamental commitment to the long-neglected areas of brain and mind disorders, pursuing genuine partnerships with the wider community as a vital part of our research and activities.

The power of the BMRI concept is demonstrated by the interest of private community sources and the level of funding for capital works from the Federal and NSW State Governments ($15 million and $45 million respectively). This includes $15million for refurbishment of Basic Neurosciences at 100 Mallett St and the Ken Parker Brain Research Laboratories (Australian Government); $22million for a new Youth Mental Health Building and Clinical & Translational research at 94 Mallett St (NSW Government). The NSW State Government has recently announced a further $25million for the construction of a Brain & Mind Research Hospital.

The synergies that arise from the sharing of unique facilities and the active intermixing of senior researchers from the basic and clinical neurosciences promotes new research discoveries into disorders of the brain and mind, providing hope for those individuals and families whose lives are devastated by these conditions.

Professor Ian Hickie Executive Director		Professor Max Bennett Scientific Director