Health significance of TNP research

The need for translational neuroscience research is urgent given the significant public health crises that derive from neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Based on recent estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) Burden of Disease project, neuropsychiatric conditions are among leading causes of disability in the United States, exceeding even cardiovascular diseases and malignant neoplasms. Depression, substance abuse, stroke and dementias are among the leading nervous system disorders causing disability, with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and migraine also ranking high in disability-adjusted life years.

Untreated substance abuse costs the State of Michigan over $2 billion annually, is viewed as a "common denominator for most of our negative social conditions," and has become a priority for developing prevention and treatment programs.

These disorders are projected to increase in prevalence over the next several decades as lifespan increases and demographics change. Therefore, the need for translational neuroscience research, and well-trained graduates in this broad field who can address "real-life" clinical issues, is expected only to increase nationally and at the state level.