The Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (CCBS) was established in 2004. It is a multidisciplinary translational "centre without walls" combining basic and applied research to study the causes, consequences and treatment of major brain disorders. Our major disease targets, that straddle the disciplines of Neurology and Psychiatry, include: bipolar disorders, brain cancer, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, prion disease, schizophrenia and stroke.
Stephen Lawrie and PsySTAR featured in The Lancet
Prof Stephen Lawrie, Head of Psychiatry and Director of the Scottish Mental Health Research Network, and the PsySTAR programme have been featured in The Lancet.
The article describes Stephen's own modest take on his career and considerable achievements, and highlights a new postgraduate training programme for psychiatrists called PsySTAR.
PsySTAR is a new initiative funded by the Medical Research Foundation (MRF) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) to dramatically transform and improve mental health clinical research training in the UK. It comprises combined clinical and research training, which will give the trainees a taste of all the cutting-edge developments in neuroscience and health services research, and help them to select the right PhD for them based on their interests, abilities, and experience.
There is also an emphasis on active media management and public education, to enable the next generation of psychiatrists to talk enthusiastically about their research and its potential, as well as correcting myths and conveying more realistic messages about psychiatric disorders.
Follow this link for the full Lancet article: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)61679-6/fulltext
Click here for more information about PsySTAR:
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/psychiatry/psystar
Prof Martin Dennis wins 2012 Bhowmick Medal
Many congratulations to Prof Martin Dennis, Professor of Stroke Medicine, who has been awarded the Bhowmick Medal for the year 2012 from the Welsh Association of Stroke Physicians. This has been awarded in recognition of Prof Dennis' tremendous contribution to Stroke Medicine.
Motor Neurones and Diseases of Motor Neurones: International Symposium, July 2012
The Anatomical Society and the Sociedad Anatómica Española will be holding a joint international symposium, "Motor Neurones and Diseases of Motor Neurones" in Edinburgh next year.
The meeting will be held at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, from 10–12th July 2012.
Email as.meetings@ed.ac.uk for more information.
Registration opens 27th Feb 2012 at www.anatsocmeeting.co.uk
VIP visits
There have been two high profile visits in the last two weeks: Alex Salmond, the First Minister, has visited the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, and JK Rowling has buried a time capsule to mark the start of building work on the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic.
Read the full story on the First Minister's tour of the EMC and JK Rowling at the Ground-Breaking Ceremony.
Cathie Sudlow appointed Chief Scientist and Senior Epidemiologist for UK Biobank
Cathie Sudlow, Clinical Reader and Honorary Consultant Neurologist, will take on this role from October 2011 as a 2 to 3-year secondment. A reduced clinical commitment will enable Cathie to continue with her stroke epidemiology, genetics and trials research work.
Please contact Cathie if you would like information on the UK Biobank, which will be open for applications for use later this year.
