Funders share mental health research insights at Festival of Neuroscience

The International Alliance of Mental Health Research Funders (IAMHRF) brought vital energy and insight to the International BNA 2025 Festival of Neuroscience, with a packed session that explored the future of UK mental health research and the growing role of funders in shaping its direction.

Chaired by our Director of Programmes and Partnerships, Anna Zecharia, the session highlighted how neuroscience and mental health research can evolve to meet urgent needs — both scientifically and socially.  

Expert panellists included Penny Morton (MRC*), Niall Boyce (Wellcome*), Emily Wheeler (MQ*) as well as Xi Ye (NIHR**). They shared funder strategies from their respective organisations and emphasized the importance of neuroscience in mental health and the need for cross-sector collaboration. 

For early-career neuroscientists, the session showcased a field brimming with opportunity but also one that demands patient-centric thinking and working beyond academic silos.  

The discussion addressed challenges and opportunities in developing valid animal models, involving people with lived experience in the development of interventions, and balancing strategy-led with community-led approaches in research.

Questions raised at the end of the session reflected what IAMHRF seeks to hear from the mental health research community: 

• If you developed a new treatment tomorrow, would you feel supported to move it forward? 
• How is the translation environment working — and what’s missing? 
• Do you feel confident and equipped to engage in public and patient involvement (PPI)? 
• What’s needed in lower resource research environments? 
• Do you understand what patients, families and healthcare practicioners need from your research— and what would help support this?

*IAMHRF Member

**IAMHRF Partner