NARSAD
Encyclopedia
NARSAD, or National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, is a private, not-for-profit public charity. It is the largest donor-supported organization that supports research on brain and behavior disorders. It raises funds for scientific research into the causes
, cures, treatments and prevention of severe psychiatric brain and behavior disorders, including schizophrenia
, depression
, and other related disorders. As of 2009, NARSAD had awarded over $256 million through 3,775 research grants to more than 2,900 scientists at more than 440 institutions in the U.S. and 28 other countries.
The organization’s stated mission is to raise and distribute funding for the most promising psychiatric disease research in order to develop new preventative measures, better diagnoses and improved treatments for these conditions. NARSAD only gives out funds for neurobiological research, including drug studies.
).
The president of NARSAD for 18 years was Constance Lieber, whose daughter Janice had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in the early 1980s. Janice was given medication but said they made her sicker than she was without them, and she was subsequently trialled on many different drug regimes. After a NARSAD board member expressed confidence in a drug, called Clozaril, into which he had conducted preliminary research, Janice was tried on that antipsychotic
, and as of 2002 she was reportedly "relatively stable" and Constance Lieber reported that "Clozaril has made a great deal of difference in her life and in mine".
The organization is currently led by Stephen A. Lieber, chairman of the Board, and Joel Gurin, acting president.
NARSAD receives contributions from a number of pharmaceutical companies. The organization states on its website that such contributions are not used to fund research grants in order to avoid undue influence or conflict of interest. Instead, support from pharmaceutical companies is used to fund educational activities including symposia. In some instances, pharmaceutical companies have also helped to support fundraising activities. Pharmaceutical companies that have provided their support include: Bristol-Myers Squibb
, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Company
, Janssen Pharmaceutica
, AstraZeneca
, and Wyeth
.
NARSAD co-funds the Schizophrenia Research Forum
. The organization also recruits support from a wide range of sources and media partners. Partners include: Schizophrenia.com, Anchor Magazine, Health Central Network, and Schizophrenia Digest.
Causes of schizophrenia
The causes of schizophrenia have been the subject of much debate, with various factors proposed and discounted or modified. The language of schizophrenia research under the medical model is scientific...
, cures, treatments and prevention of severe psychiatric brain and behavior disorders, including schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
, depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, and other related disorders. As of 2009, NARSAD had awarded over $256 million through 3,775 research grants to more than 2,900 scientists at more than 440 institutions in the U.S. and 28 other countries.
The organization’s stated mission is to raise and distribute funding for the most promising psychiatric disease research in order to develop new preventative measures, better diagnoses and improved treatments for these conditions. NARSAD only gives out funds for neurobiological research, including drug studies.
History
Originally a part of the American Schizophrenia Foundation, NARSAD was formed by three leading national mental health organizations: The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, The National Mental Health Association and The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association (now the Depression and Bipolar Support AllianceDepression and Bipolar Support Alliance
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is a non-profit organization providing support groups for people with depression or bipolar disorder as well as their friends and family. DBSA's scope, also includes outreach, education and advocacy regarding depression and bipolar disorder...
).
The president of NARSAD for 18 years was Constance Lieber, whose daughter Janice had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in the early 1980s. Janice was given medication but said they made her sicker than she was without them, and she was subsequently trialled on many different drug regimes. After a NARSAD board member expressed confidence in a drug, called Clozaril, into which he had conducted preliminary research, Janice was tried on that antipsychotic
Antipsychotic
An antipsychotic is a tranquilizing psychiatric medication primarily used to manage psychosis , particularly in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A first generation of antipsychotics, known as typical antipsychotics, was discovered in the 1950s...
, and as of 2002 she was reportedly "relatively stable" and Constance Lieber reported that "Clozaril has made a great deal of difference in her life and in mine".
The organization is currently led by Stephen A. Lieber, chairman of the Board, and Joel Gurin, acting president.
Funding
NARSAD is registered as a 501(c)(3) public charity. It receives no government support and operates solely through the contributions of individuals, foundations and corporations.NARSAD receives contributions from a number of pharmaceutical companies. The organization states on its website that such contributions are not used to fund research grants in order to avoid undue influence or conflict of interest. Instead, support from pharmaceutical companies is used to fund educational activities including symposia. In some instances, pharmaceutical companies have also helped to support fundraising activities. Pharmaceutical companies that have provided their support include: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb , often referred to as BMS, is a pharmaceutical company, headquartered in New York City. The company was formed in 1989, following the merger of its predecessors Bristol-Myers and the Squibb Corporation...
, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...
, Janssen Pharmaceutica
Janssen Pharmaceutica
Janssen Pharmaceutica is pharmaceutical company, established in Belgium in 1953 by Paul Janssen. Its headquarters are located in Beerse, in the Campine region of the province of Antwerp, Belgium. It was created not as a subsidiary of a chemical factory but solely with the aim of conducting...
, AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
, and Wyeth
Wyeth
Wyeth, formerly one of the companies owned by American Home Products Corporation , was a pharmaceutical company. The company was based in Madison, New Jersey, USA...
.
NARSAD co-funds the Schizophrenia Research Forum
Schizophrenia Research Forum
Schizophrenia Research Forum is a website dedicated to convey information about schizophrenia.It hosts the SzGene Database, which provides a comprehensive, unbiased and regularly updated field synopsis of genetic association studies performed in schizophrenia with hundreds of up-to-date...
. The organization also recruits support from a wide range of sources and media partners. Partners include: Schizophrenia.com, Anchor Magazine, Health Central Network, and Schizophrenia Digest.