A new collaboration has emerged over the past year. Efforts spearheaded by Melvin McInnis, M.D., FRCPsych, from University of Michigan, Andrew Nierenberg, M.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard and Kate Burdick, Ph.D., from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard — in partnership with the Milken Institute — have the potential for expanding bipolar research beyond borders, bringing together the world’s top researchers in bipolar disorder.
Following the 2019 inaugural international bipolar disorder research meeting in Ann Arbor, Drs. McInnis, Nierenberg, and Burdick continued meeting with the leadership of the CSP team. The CSP has facilitated several brainstorming workshops, bringing the voices of a wide range of perspectives to the table. An emphasis on inclusion of ideas and cultures along with a collaborative spirit has led to a strong partnership focused on defining a strategy for researching this chronic illness and setting goals for improving outcomes. In this past year, the team has had several milestones:
- An Executive Advisory Board was formed to determine the scientific goals and objectives in current bipolar research. A major focus has emerged: an integrated model that embraces a combined learning health system for bipolar alongside a longitudinal study.
- A team of dedicated program managers came together to work alongside Drs. McInnis, Nierenberg, and Burdick and the CSP’s team.
- The CSP has brought together potential funders that are dedicated to bipolar research and share the vision of a game- changing approach to research and care of those living with bipolar.
A dynamic group of multidisciplinary researchers has been assembled to serve on the Scientific Planning Committee (SPC) that will review and develop materials to guide the study. The success of this venture is underwritten by the collaborative experience of the leadership team (Drs. McInnis, Nierenberg, and Burdick have collaborated internationally for over a decade), the institutional expertise of the Milken Inst.CSP (they have been the catalyst for several successful ventures, including bringing the Michael J. Fox Foundation together with dedicated supporters in the field of Parkinson’s research), and the determination of philanthropic minded individuals supporting bipolar research.