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World First Schizophrenia Research Bank

To see the TV advertisement featuring the voice of Russell Crowe, click here.

Australia's largest ever "brain bank" research project, which is expected to play a crucial role in the international search for a schizophrenia cure is being launched in Sydney today.

The 'bank' - initially to hold the brain-related data of 4,000 Australian volunteers with schizophrenia and without a mental illness - will be the largest schizophrenia research facility of its type in the world.

Led by the Schizophrenia Research Institute (formerly the Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders), the $3.5 million project has brought together scientists from New South Wales, Victoria, West Australia, and Queensland.

Schizophrenia is a life-long disease and causes significant social and economic costs in addition to individual suffering - making it one of the world's top 10 causes of long-term disability.

"One of the greatest challenges we have faced in schizophrenia research has been getting access to scientific data from a large enough sample of sufferers to be able to make statistically robust and reliable conclusions," Professor Carr said.

"The new research bank will allow scientists to analyse vital genetic and brain information from schizophrenia sufferers on a scale never before possible."

The $3.5 million funding for the research project has come from the National Health and Medical Research Council, The Pratt Foundation, and the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.

"This initiative is a great example of how the Government, corporate, philanthropic, research and the general community can work together for a solution," Schizophrenia Research Institute Chair & Group Head, Macquarie Bank, Peter Maher said.

The multi-media advertising campaign to recruit the 4,000 volunteers will begin today.

John Singleton and the Singleton Ogilvy & Mather group have donated their services for the campaign and the television advertisement features the voice of actor Russell Crowe. McKesson Asia Pacific have also donated call centre facilities.

To join the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank click here.

To see the TV advertisement featuring the voice of Russell Crowe, click here.

To listen to the radio advertisement, click here

Media contact:

Stephen Richardson (02) 8281 3277 or 0438 262 869

Professor Vaughan Carr, Schizophrenia Research Institute, 0409 662 178

May 2007