The Awards Programme consists of two research categories – schizophrenia and bipolar disorder – and a winner from North America and the rest of the world will receive an unrestricted career development award of $45,000 in each category. The 2003 Young Minds in Psychiatry Awards were won by Dr Aysegul Yildiz, from Dokuz Eylul Medical School, Izmir, Turkey (bipolar disorder); Dr Cathryn Galanter from Columbia University, New York, USA (bipolar disorder); Dr Michael Breakspear from the University of Sydney, Australia (schizophrenia); and Dr Michael Compton from the Grady Memorial Hospital, USA (schizophrenia).
An independent panel of acclaimed psychiatry experts reviewed a total of 24 submissions from around the world. "Deciding on the winners was a difficult task considering the outstanding quality of the applications received," commented Professor Gary Sachs, Harvard Medical School, USA and a member of the independent judging panel. "Each year we are astounded with the diversity of research proposals received and are reassured to see the desire to achieve greater understanding of the psychiatry field."
Dr Yildiz will use her award to investigate neurochemical alterations in acute mania and the effects of the protein kinase C inhibiting drug, tamoxifen, on them. "Receiving this award will enable me to continue my collaborations with research institutions and allow me to attend key Neuroscience meetings," comments Dr Yildiz. "I hope to use my expertise in psychiatry to benefit the education of both my peers and patients in Turkey."
Dr Galanter received an award for her exceptional proposal outlining her research of investigating and characterising how psychiatrists diagnose bipolar disorder in children, through the use of evidence-based basic behavioural cognitive science literature.
The panel felt that Dr Breakspear deserved the award for his original research proposal to use novel analytic methods to investigate functional brain disturbances in patients with schizophrenia. Dr Breakspear explained how the award will help further his career, "Winning this award will enable me to complete my clinical psychiatry training in Australia and my post-doctoral research in the UK and Australia, and strengthen existing collaborations with experts in my research field."
Dr Compton won his prize for his novel research plan to investigate the correlations among three potential markers of abnormal neurodevelopment in patients with schizophrenia.
The 2004 'Young Minds in Psychiatry Awards Programme' is also being launched to coincide with the APA meeting. Researchers within 5 years of completing a psychiatric residency can now apply for this award by submitting a proposal of scientific merit that demonstrates academic promise while explaining how winning an award will further their career. Proposals can cover a range of activities including: research, educational efforts, travel, salary support and materials. "We are extremely proud to be associated with this prestigious awards programme," comments Nick Dunscombe, Seroquel Global Brand Director, AstraZeneca. "It is really important that we encourage and support rising stars who demonstrate early excellence in the field of psychiatry, as they will help to ensure continued progress and scientific advance in this important medical field."
Notes to Editors:
Further information can be found at http://www.psych.org/research/apire/res_careerdev/youngminds_announce.cfm or www.astrazeneca.com/youngminds. All applicants must have completed their psychiatric residency within the last five years.
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with healthcare sales of over $18.8 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, cardiovascular, neuroscience and respiratory products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global and European) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
In Neuroscience, AstraZeneca is dedicated to providing medicines that have the potential to change patients' lives. The company already markets several products including SEROQUEL, one of the fastest growing global antipsychotics with proven efficacy and a very favourable side effect profile; and ZOMIG®, a reliable migraine therapy and a leader within the triptan market. The Neuroscience pipeline includes leading approaches for the treatment of depression and anxiety, overactive bladder, dementia and stroke, pain control and anaesthesia.
APA
The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society, founded in 1844, whose 38,000 physician members specialise in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses including substance use disorders.
For further information, please contact:
Carla Burigatto, AstraZeneca
Tel: 302-886-5953
Mobile: 610-247-9683
Email: carla.burigatto@astrazeneca.com
Rebecca Moan, Shire Health International
Tel. 212-329-6270
Email: rebecca.moan@shirehealthinternational.com