The Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh have each been awarded a substantial grant by The Dr Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation to fund collaborative ground-breaking research into neuropsychiatric disorders.

This funding for a single Institute within the two Universities is further evidence of successful collaboration between Scotland's two largest research universities. This joint Institute will mirror similar Institutes funded by The Dr Mortimer Sackler Foundations and his family at the Universities of Columbia and Cornell in the USA.

In Glasgow, a significant amount of the award will be used to upgrade existing neuroimaging equipment and in providing state-of-the-art cognitive neuroscience and sleep laboratory facilities.

In Edinburgh, the funding will be used to extend ongoing studies of patients with schizophrenia and their relatives, using structural and functional MRI. It will, in particular, allow researchers to examine people with related conditions such as bipolar disorder and autism, to identify the critical similarities and differences in their neurobiological underpinnings.

Dr Jonathan Cavanagh (Psychological Medicine) is a principal researcher in Glasgow and Dr Stephen Lawrie (Psychiatry) is a principal researcher in Edinburgh. They explained, " Our joint aim is to determine the biological basis of complex disorders such as schizophrenia and depression using neuroimaging, neuropsychological and other behavioural measures. Such a significant amount of funding will enable us to use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques."

Other key members of the institute include Professors Colin Espie (Glasgow), Eve Johnstone (Edinburgh), Joanna Wardlaw (Edinburgh) and David Wyper (Glasgow),

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The Sackler Foundations support the advancement of education of the public in the UK and elsewhere in the fields of art, science and medical research

For further information, contact either the University of Glasgow Press Office on 0141 330 3535 or the University of Edinburgh Press Office on 0131 650 6382

First published: 11 November 2003