US NIH funds open for mental health research

The US’s medical research agency National Institutes of Health (NIH) is open to fund new areas of mental health research in countries like Bangladesh. Director of the Office for Research on Disparities and Global Mental Health Pamela Collins said they fund both institutions and individuals to develop their capacity for research in mental health. She said all those who email are encouraged to write a one page concept note highlighting their specific aim and area of research. NIH, a combination of 27 different institutes, is known for its path-breaking bio-medical research. At least 140 Noble laureates have had their research funded by NIH. In the current fiscal the NIH budget is more than $30 billion, of which more than 80 per cent is being used for research funding across the globe including within the US. Collins, however, stressed on integration of mental health services as well as research with other health programmes in resource constraint countries like Bangladesh for better end result. Bangladesh’s health budget, less than 1 per cent of the GDP, gives least attention to mental health research. But clinics say the number of mental health patients is growing by the day, according to bdnews24.com.