Advances in the Neurobiology of Mental Illness Symposium

NEW YORK, September 26, 2018 – According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 50 percent of adults in the United States will suffer from at least one form of mental illness, in varying degrees of severity, during their lifetime. This includes depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, personality disorders, trauma, dementia and eating disorders, among other illnesses.

On Tuesday, October 9th, neuroscientist experts will address a range of mental illnesses and their neurobiological underpinnings during a daylong symposium titled “Advances in Neurobiology of Mental Illness” at the New York Academy of Sciences in downtown Manhattan. This event will also be simultaneously broadcast to a larger audience via webinar. The symposium will bring scientists, clinicians and healthcare professionals together with policymakers and stakeholders from around the globe to discuss the latest advances in the underlying neurobiology of mental illness ­— including epigenetic, molecular and neuroimmunological mechanisms.

Mental illness presents major health, social and economic burdens on not just affected individuals, but for all of society. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year, and adults in the U.S. living with serious mental illness have a shorter lifespan of about 25 years due to non-treatment of medical conditions. Globally, the disease burden for mental illness is estimated to account for 32.4% of years lived with disability.

“Janssen is honored to sponsor this important symposium about advances in the neurobiology of mental illnesses,” said Husseini K. Manji, MD, global head, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. “Collaboration is vital in realizing the future advances we can bring to patients across the world. The first step is to share information to enhance our collective understanding. Working together benefits humanity.”

Specific topics will include the molecular overlap in brain disorders, the stigma of mental illness, neuroimmunology of mood disorders, PTSD, suicidal behavior and bipolar disorder. The basic science underlying mental illness will be explored by experts from various disciplines as well as the translation of these findings into improved pharmacological, psychotherapeutic and other mental health interventions.

A full agenda for the event is available at: www.nyas.org/Mentalillness2018.

About the New York Academy of Sciences

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. With more than 20,000 members in 100 countries around the world, the Academy is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. The Academy's core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org.

About Janssen Research & Development, LLC

We share an overarching mission: to discover and develop innovative medicines and solutions that transform individuals’ lives and solve the most important unmet medical needs of our time. As Janssen R&D, we work together to harness our combined knowledge and resources, leverage the power and promise of outstanding science and enhance the length and quality of life for people throughout the world. Learn more at https://www.janssen.com/neuroscience. Follow us at www.twitter.com/JanssenUS and www.twitter.com/JanssenGlobal.