These studies seek to generate scientifically relevant research that will contribute meaningfully to understanding behaviour and neurobiological processes that inform the understanding of mental disorder, treatment response and recovery. The main strategic initiatives include:

Psychiatric Genomics
The genetic factors underlying the etiology and manifestation of psychiatric disorders, as well as pharmacogenetics are in the forefront of psychiatric research globally and is one of our key areas of research. Singapore has the opportunity to be a world leader in this domain because of the unique characteristics of our population, the consolidated organisation of psychiatric services, the sophisticated technology that is available in the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), and the infrastructure available from the Singapore Tissue Network (STN).

Cognitive Imaging
The etiology of many psychiatric illnesses can be elucidated through identification of the structural, functional and neurochemical aberrations that occur in the human brain. Neuroimaging studies include structural (structural MRI) studies, functional (functional MRI, PET or SPECT) studies, neurochemical (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and connectivity (diffusion tensor imaging) studies. Working with various collaborators, these neuroimaging technologies serve as essential complements to genetic and neurocognitive studies in elucidating the neurobiological basis of psychiatric illnesses and treatment studies in determining the impact of pharmacologic treatments on brain function.