Open Data
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel talks about the value of data sharing and collaboration to promote innovation and scientific discovery.
Posts about Basic Research
New Views into the Brain
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel talks about how a powerful new brain imaging technique will make it possible for scientists to investigate the brain in in an entirely new way, offering a preview of what scientists hope to achieve with tools developed as a result of the new BRAIN initiative.
Making the Connection
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel’s blog makes the link between neuroscience and the national conversation on mental illness and gun violence; neuroscience research is the key to our being able to identify psychosis risk early and preempt the development of serious mental illness.
Brain Awareness
By Thomas Insel on
In a blog about Brain Awareness Month, NIMH Director Thomas Insel talks about the mysteries that remain to be solved about how the brain works.
Roads Not Taken
By Thomas Insel on
NIMH’s director talks about the need for research that explores the frontiers of science and funding efforts to encourage innovative research.
A Decade of Perspective
By Thomas Insel on
In looking back at ten years as NIMH director, Dr. Insel talks about the importance of rigorous science as the source of new, sometimes surprising, knowledge and ultimately, more effective means of prevention and treatment for mental illness.
Summer Science
By Thomas Insel on
Numerous provocative advances in neuroscience were reported during the summer of 2012.
Time Matters – Why We Care So Much About Data Sharing
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel discusses the dynamics of data sharing in research.
Research Domain Criteria -- RDoC
By Thomas Insel on
The RDoC project is an experimental approach to classification of mental disorders that will serve as a framework for ongoing research.
An Emerging Era of Big Data
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel discusses the emergence of “big data” and how open sharing of data could impact mental health research.
The Long Paths to Breakthroughs
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel talks about how basic research can lead to potential treatments.
Balancing Immediate Needs with Future Innovation
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel responds to discussion from the National Advisory Mental Health Council concerning the need to balance research funding for basic science and mental health services.
NIMH’s Top 10 Research Advances of 2011
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel shares NIMH’s Top 10 Research Advances for 2011.
Treatment Development: The Past 50 Years
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel discusses the state of psychiatric research and development (R&D) in the public and private sectors
Neuroscience Advances Showcased in Washington
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel reflects on an exciting neuroscience conference where an increasing interest in neuropsychiatric disorders was evident.
Travels Abroad Reveal Impressive Investment in Science
By Thomas Insel on
Dr. Insel’s tour to Australia, Singapore, China and Japan reveal heavy investments in science and science education, indicating the time is ripe for collaboration.
Mental Illness Defined as Disruption in Neural Circuits
By Thomas Insel on
Research on neural circuits is changing how mental illnesses are understood and may ultimately lead to new ways to treat brain disorders early enough to prevent symptoms.
Skin cells to neurons: Disease-in-a-dish promises shortcut to discovery
By Thomas Insel on
An emerging research technology using Induced pluripotent stem cells holds promise as a window into the developing brain in mental illness.
New Findings Reveal New Worlds In Neuroscience
By Thomas Insel on
Windows to completely new areas of research have been opened recently by research efforts in basic science. These reports force us to consider factors that have not previously been thought to have any role in mental health or illness.
NIMH’s Top 10 Research Events and Advances of 2010
By Thomas Insel on
10 breakthroughs and events of 2010 which are changing the way we approach mental disorders.
From Cognition to Genomics: Progress in Schizophrenia Research
By Thomas Insel on
This blog outlines recent progress in schizophrenia research, citing a special issue of the journal Nature focusing on schizophrenia.
Microbes and Mental Illness
By Thomas Insel on
Increasing evidence linking strep infection to OCD in children suggests that microbiomics may prove an important research area for understanding and treating mental disorders.
NIMH’s BRAINS Awards—In Support of Creativity
By Thomas Insel on
NIMH recognizes the first seven recipients of its BRAINS awards.
NIMH Basic Science Support: Busting Myths
By Thomas Insel on
NIMH has always and will continue to support cutting edge basic science research. Understanding normal functioning of brain-behavior relationships is critical to providing insight into abnormal brain-behavior relationships. To build a translational bridge we will need a very strong foundation in basic science. This foundation will need to be multidisciplinary and cut across species and levels of analysis.