Pitt Hosts Public Forum Highlighting Latest Research on Brain Function And the Cause of Mental Disorders

PITTSBURGH-Because keeping up on the latest mental health research can be difficult, the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Neuroscience will host a free forum Sept. 14 where the public can discuss the most recent findings on the causes and progression of psychiatric disorders with the experts studying them. The event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in the auditorium of the Frick Fine Arts Building at 650 Schenley Dr. in Oakland.

The event is part of Healthy Minds Across America, a day of free forums at 50 universities in the United States and Canada organized by NARSAD, the world's leading charity dedicated to mental health research. Topics at the Pitt forum include the neurological cause of schizophrenia and mood disorders, the genetics of psychiatric disorders, and neuroimaging.

Presenting at the forum are noted expert on schizophrenia Anthony Grace, professor of neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology in Pitt's Department of Neuroscience in the School of Arts and Sciences; Vishwajit L. Nimgaonkar, professor of psychiatry and human genetics and director of the Program for Genetics and Psychoses in Pitt's School of Medicine; and Mary L. Phillips, psychiatry professor in the School of Medicine and director of Functional Neuroimaging in Emotional Disorders at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Pitt neuroscience and psychiatry professor Bita Moghaddam will moderate.

The event is open to the public, but reservations are recommended. To RSVP, e-mail healthyminds@narsad.org, call 800-829-8289 or 516-829-0091, or visit www.narsad.org.

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