Sheppard Pratt Health System and Lieber Institute for Brain Development Bring Shared Vision to New Joint Venture Research Entity

    BALTIMORE, MD, November 06, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With a shared vision of increasing the possibilities for those with mental illness to live full, productive and joyful lives, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Inc. and the Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) announce a new joint venture to translate scientific advances in genetics and brain research into clinical practice. The new Sheppard Pratt- Lieber Research Institute, Inc. (SPL), will begin operation in January, 2015.

This unprecedented partnership between an internationally renowned care facility for mental illness and a state-of-the art brain research institute creates a new model for speeding the process "from bench to bedside," or uniting research efforts with clinical care. Infused with an initial $2 million capitalization from the founding partners, SPL seeks to develop game-changing new treatments and therapies through research efforts with human patients, including the study of genetics, the creation of a patient registry with digital records, an extensive biobank, the use of advanced brain imaging technology, and clinical trials for both new and repurposed medications.

Sheppard Pratt is an internationally renowned behavioral health system, headquartered in Baltimore, with a more than 100-year history of excellence in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. LIBD, founded in 2010, is the only institution in the world focused on identifying the neurodevelopmental origins of schizophrenia and related developmental brain disorders and translating these findings into new and improved treatment strategies.

"Sheppard Pratt and its affiliate agencies serve more than 70,000 individuals annually throughout the state of Maryland. We are very excited about the opportunity to bring the cutting-edge research expertise of LIBD to the bedside of the patients we treat and to allow our clinical staff to introduce new advances and approaches to treatment influenced by that expertise," explains Dr. Sharfstein, President and CEO of Sheppard Pratt.

"As a research institute, the opportunity to translate our findings about brain development to patient care is our primary goal. We are excited that this partnership provides an unprecedented platform to bring research activities and knowledge directly to the patient care setting, and allows patient care to inform our research efforts," continues Dr. Weinberger, Director and CEO of the Lieber Institute.

The Institute will be located in newly renovated space on the campus of Sheppard Pratt Health System in Towson, MD.

About Sheppard Pratt
Founded in 1853 by Quaker philanthropist Moses Sheppard, Sheppard Pratt Health System has grown into Maryland's largest behavioral health system with more than 30 program locations throughout the state. Recognized by US News & World Report as one of the leading mental health facilities in the nation, Sheppard Pratt's services include hospitals and related programs, residential care, outpatient care, therapeutic education and vocational support for children and adolescents, adults and older adults.

About Lieber Institute
The Lieber Institute for Brain Development is the only institution in the world focused on understanding the neurodevelopmental origins of schizophrenia and related brain disorders and translating this under-standing into improved treatments for individuals suffering from severe mental disorders. Located in the Johns Hopkins Science and Technology Park in East Baltimore, the Lieber Institute is a private medical research institution dedicated to developing novel treatments, diagnostic tests and new insights into behavioral disorders stemming from abnormalities in human brain development.

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