Bipolar disorder is a severe mental disorder with major impact on life quality and the ability to work and function, especially in the younger population. What causes the disease is still not well understood, and identifying factors contributing to its onset and development can lead to major health and societal benefits. This project focuses on education of our future scientists within mental health. It is based on the Centre of Excellence NORMENT (Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo) and its clinical research groups, and on collaborative research projects with INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) in Paris, France. The main purpose is to combine bipolar disorder research in Norway (NORMENT) with complementary research in France (INSERM). The proposal builds on an already existing and fruitful collaboration between NORMENT and INSERM, and aims to strengthen the integration of clinical services and research in mental health. A further aim is to contribute to a better integration of research and education in order to train the next generation of mental health researchers in conducting research within clinical services. Cross-disciplinary perspectives, early clinical invervention and using novel digital tools in disease monitoring will be in focus. The project will expand the research program of the two partners, and exchange their different areas of expertise. The education and methodological training involved will naturally build on the expertise of both partners, combining research on basic biological disease mechanisms with important clinical aspects. This approach fits well with the overall strategy of NORMENT. The project also aims to provide a framework for long-term collaboration at the institutional level.
Bipolar disorders are ranked among the leading causes of the burden of disease worldwide, especially in the younger population. Thus, identifying the underlying pathophysiology of the illness is imperative and can lead to major health and societal benefits. The project focuses on education of our future scientists within mental health. It is based on the CoE NORMENT (Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo) and its clinical research groups, and frontline collaborative research projects with INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) UMR-S1144, Paris, France. The main purpose is to combine bipolar disorder research in Norway (NORMENT) with complementary research in France (INSERM). The proposal builds on an already existing and fruitful collaboration between NORMENT and INSERM, and will extend into a general model for integration of clinical services and research in mental health, with benefit from the use of new digital technology.
The project proposes to more fully integrate research and education to train the next generation of mental health researchers in conducting research within clinical services, using novel digital tools in disease monitoring, while also strenghtening translational perspectives. The project will expand the research approaches of the two partners, and a strong synergy will be developed between the different areas of expertise. We will use state-of-the-art clinical characterization of bipolar disorder while exploring significant underlying illness mechanisms in order to form a strong framework for excellent research. The education and methodological training proposed in this grant naturally build on the infrastructure and expertise from INSERM, combining research on biological mechanisms with crucial clinical aspects, an approach that fits well with the overall strategy of NORMENT. The project also provides a framework for long-term collaboration at the institutional level.
