Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Symposium "New Directions in Schizophrenia Research", New York, October 19th and 20th.

Revolutionary new methods of understanding the human brain, involving sophisticated imaging and genetic technologies, are giving rise to important new discoveries that promise better treatments for serious psychiatric illnesses. Some of the most important new insights will be shared by scientists working at the leading edge of psychiatric research who will share their findings in a free, public symposium presented by NARSAD, the world's leading charity dedicated to mental health research.

NARSAD's 19th annual New York Mental Health Symposium will take place on Friday and Saturday, October 19th and 20th, at The Times Center at 242 West 41st Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan. Those interested in attending are advised to reserve a place in advance by contacting NARSAD at 800-829-8289 or events@narsad.org .

The symposium's first day -- Friday the 19th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- is devoted to a subject of great concern to the public, childhood mental health. Entitled "Healing Children's Minds," the program features presentations by five NARSAD researchers, each one a leader in his or her field. The presentations (detailed below) will be moderated by Robert M. A. Hirschfeld, M.D., of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

The symposium session on Saturday the 20th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will highlight "New Directions in Research," with presentations on depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The Saturday session, to be moderated by Herbert Pardes, M.D., president and CEO of New York-Presbyterian Hospital and president of NARSAD's Scientific Council, will also feature commentary on each presentation by Jack Barchas, M.D., chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College and psychiatrist-in-chief, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic. (For more details on the symposium sessions)

NARSAD, since its inception in 1987, has awarded over 3,200 research grants totaling more than $219 million to scientists working in the United States and 26 other countries. Their research has focused on depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and childhood mental disorders.

With free symposia in New York and other cities around the country, including Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Sarasota and Palm Beach, NARSAD is creating important opportunities for the public to learn about the mechanisms behind mental illnesses and about researchers' cutting- edge thinking on causes, treatments and preventions.