Professor Katherine Berry announced as new Mental Health Co-Theme Lead at NIHR Manchester BRC
A Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) research lead has recently been appointed as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) new Mental Health Co-Theme Lead.
Professor Katherine Berry, Co-Director of the Complex Trauma and Resilience Research Unit (C-TRU) at GMMH and Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Manchester, has taken over the role from Professor Gillian Haddock.
With more than 30 years’ experience in clinical research, Prof Berry is the Lead for the Centre for New Treatments and Understanding in Mental Health at the University of Manchester, one of the largest mental health groups in the UK and has been a pioneer in highlighting the psychological and social causes of psychosis.
She said: “I am delighted to have been appointed Co-Theme Lead and to be taking on this role alongside my colleague Professor Roger Webb. Mental health problems affect millions of people across the globe and have huge personal, social and financial impacts.
“Fellow mental health researchers at Manchester and I are committed to ensuring that mental health conditions and research are given parity of esteem with physical health conditions and the BRC’s Mental Health Theme is an important part of that endeavour.”
GMMH, in collaboration with other NHS Trusts in the North West, is a partner in the NIHR Manchester BRC, which is hosted by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester.
Its goals are to translate scientific discoveries into new treatments, diagnostic tests and medical technologies to improve people's lives and reduce health inequalities in the region.
The Mental Health Theme falls within the High-burden Under-researched Conditions Cluster along with Hearing Health and Rare Conditions. Research & Innovation at GMMH works closely with BRC collaborators under the Mental Health Theme to address the urgent need to identify new treatments and better ways of delivery.
Natalie Garratt, Head of Research & Innovation at GMMH, commented: “Congratulations to Professor Berry on her appointment to Mental Health Co-Theme Lead at the Manchester BRC! We are delighted that on top of her important research at GMMH and the University of Manchester, she will also be championing mental health research at a regional level.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Katherine and the Manchester BRC.”
You can find out more about Katherine’s work on the University of Manchester’s research portal, and the Complex Trauma and Resilience Research Unit (C-TRU) here.
More information about the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre can be found here.
