MQ has long been committed to growing the mental health research workforce. For the last 10 years we have invested in our flagship Fellowships programme. However, the percentage of researchers leaving academia straight after completing their PhD may be as high as 70%. In response, we launched the MQ Scholarships Programme to help support the next generation of ground-breaking mental health researchers.
82 scientists applied to be part of this year’s first cohort and our expert international funding committee chose six projects to support. Of these, one is based in Australia, one in Colombia, one in India, one in Uganda, and two in the UK.
Over the next two years, each researcher will get the support they need to deliver their projects. Not just in terms of the necessary financial backing, but also through critical capacity and career development.
These are the six early career researchers we are pleased to be supporting with this new programme:
Investigating the role of inflammation in Psychiatric conditions
Dr S N M, Ashitha, India
This project has the potential to could enable clinicians to better identify the risks carried by individual patients, providing knowledge on alternate drug targets and treatments that could be individualised to the patient.
How does physical health influence depression risk in older adults?
Dr Emily Ball, UK
This project will investigate the link(s) between physical health (e.g., heart problems) and mental health (e.g., depression/low mood) in older people.
How can we improve mental health treatments for displaced refugees?
Dr Philippa Specker, Australia
This study will help to pinpoint how we can improve existing mental health interventions for displaced refugees including increasing the effectiveness and affordability of scalable interventions.
What are peoples experiences of care during their first episode of psychosis?
Dr Emmanuel Mwesiga, Uganda
This study will help understand what drives engagement with mental health care services during the first episode of psychosis, with a strong focus on lived experience and individual perspectives.
Positive and adverse childhood experiences and their effects on children’s and young people’s mental health
Dr Liliana Arias-Urueña, Colombia
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful and potentially traumatic experiences occurring during childhood that can affect children’s and adults’ mental and physical health. There are also positive childhood experiences (PCEs), such as good parenting practices, friendships, community support.
Understanding the early life risk factors of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Dr Zeynep Nas, UK
ARFID is an eating/feeding disorder mainly affecting children, characterised by fear and anxiety about eating or food, without any concerns about body size/shape.
The objective of this research is to examine the extent to which mental health difficulties and neurodevelopmental conditions co-occur with ARFID.
The MQ Scholarships programme is supported by Rosetrees, The Waterloo Foundation, The Vogelgezang Foundation and the So-Ma Trust and generous donors just like you. You can support studies like these right here.
