University of Sydney opens Brain and Mind Centre

The centre will bring together leading scientists, both nationally and internationally, to address disorders of the brain and mind.

It combines all of the University's various disciplines in health and medical research, science, psychology, engineering, and information technology, but also its expertise in ethics, law, philosophy, economics, education, workplace structure and social organisation.

According to Mr Baird, through partnership with the Brain and Mind Centre, the NSW Government is embarking on a once-in-a-generation series of health and welfare system reforms, aimed to reduce over-reliance on crisis care and other hospital-based services.

This new approach will strengthen community-based support for people who experience conditions that include clinical depression, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, autism, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and drug addiction.

“The Brain and Mind Centre will ensure that we have access to the best quality research available to help us meet this challenge,” Mr Baird says.
Disorders of the brain and mind now account for more than 40 per cent of all health-related disability. Together they cost the Australian economy an estimated $30 billion each year.

“The Brain and Mind Centre represents a completely new way of conducting research. The breadth and depth of multidisciplinary research to be conducted by the centre will be unparalleled both in Australia and internationally,” says Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney.

The initial five-year work of the Centre will focus on three key themes: building and maintaining a healthy brain and mind across the life cycle; being in control of one's own actions; and maximising the social and economic participation of those living with disorders of the brain and mind.

This Centre's work is underpinned by expertise in the four key domains of neuroscience, clinical medicine, population health and public policy. It brings together researchers, clinicians, practitioners, students and patients and their families across an extensive network of shared facilities and health precincts.

Current research involving the Brain and Mind Centre includes a collaboration to encourage people with MS to pledge their brain tissue allowing researchers and specialists to study the brain in closer detail than ever before.

The centre is also involved in a review of how technology can be integrated into local NSW communities to treat youth mental health.

Co-director for Discovery and Translation, Professor Matthew Kiernan says “With a truly interdisciplinary approach, the Brain and Mind Centre will transform our ground-breaking research into innovative treatments for conditions that will impact most Australians at some time in their life”.

The new Brain and Mind Centre will be working with partners across New South Wales, including urban and regional health districts, as well as community-based organisations that deliver key health and welfare services.