At the same time as more and more young people are affected by mental illness, the need for research in psychology and psychiatry aimed at children, young people and young adults is becoming ever greater. Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation have now decided to award grants to ten research projects in the area. Seven of these are run by researchers at KI.
"Mental illness among young people primarily impacts the young people who are affected and those close to them, but it is also a major societal challenge and an area that is urgent to strengthen in terms of research. After discussions with experts where it emerged that the need for further research in the area is great, the boards of the two foundations decided to make a joint targeted call," says Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Executive Director of Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation.
The seven KI projects that have now been awarded funding from the call are about better understanding how autism and ADHD arise and develop, exploring personalized treatment strategies, the possibility of preventing self-harm and suicide attempts, ADHD in teenage girls, preventing relapse in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, investigating the connection between social media and mental illness, strategies for helping children with serious behavioral problems, and the possibility of early diagnosis of psychotic illnesses and improved treatment using studies of the olfactory system. All projects focus on children and young people.
Four grants from Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation
Dr Fahimeh Darki , Department of Clinical Neuroscience , is awarded SEK 9.6 million for the project: "Olfactory Neural Signatures and Their Genetic Foundations in Early-Onset Psychosis: Enhancing Risk Prediction for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder"
Professor David Mataix-Cols , Department of Clinical Neuroscience , is awarded SEK 10 million for the project: "Just-in-time relapse prevention in obsessive-compulsive disorder"
Dr Lu Yi , Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics , is awarded SEK 10 million for the project: "Evaluating the Causal Link, mechanisms, and Impact of Problematic digital media use on youth mental health and SuicidE (ECLIPSE)"
Professor Lisa Thorell , Department of Clinical Neuroscience , is awarded SEK 9 million for the project: "A Transdisciplinary Research Program on Female ADHD in Adolescence"
Three grants from Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation
Associate Professor Pia Enebrink, Department of Clinical Neuroscience , is awarded SEK 8.6 million for the project: "Improved treatment for children and youth at risk of severe antisocial and violent behaviour: A translational research program"
Associate Professor Johan Bjureberg , Department of Clinical Neuroscience , is awarded SEK 5 million for the project: "Mapping and preventing self-harm and suicide attempts through digital phenotyping in high-risk youth"
Associate Professor Janina Neufeld , Department of Women's and Children's Health , is awarded SEK 5 million for the project: "A Multifaceted Twin Study on Autism: How Clusters of Behavioural Features Shape Functioning and the Brain"
