It is a great pleasure to announce details of the Australasian Schizophrenia Conference 2010. The conference theme will be ‘Molecules to Mind’, which reflects the broad perspective required to achieve a greater scientific understanding of schizophrenia, understanding that will make a tangible difference in the lives of people with this illness.

While there has been an explosive increase in knowledge about schizophrenia and its treatment, growth in genuine understanding of the disorder has proceeded by small increments at a painfully slow pace. I guess that this is precisely why this conference is so important. Not discouraged by the complexities involved in schizophrenia, we are all excited by the broad range of scientific enquiry being brought to bear on this illness, stimulated by the task of integrating the diverse range of information to form a coherent understanding of the nature of the illness and how it develops, and challenged by the search for better means of treatment and prevention. Excited, stimulated, challenged – but not daunted.

We are expecting over 300 psychiatrists, medical practitioners, psychologists, research scientists, clinical educators, nurses and other mental health workers to attend. I hope that you can join me in a spirit of optimism and open-minded curiosity, to engage together at Australasian Schizophrenia Conference 2010 in the search for understanding of schizophrenia and how better to relieve the suffering it causes.

Professor Vaughan Carr
Conference Chair

Host Organisation

The Schizophrenia Research Institute is the only national medical research institute solely dedicated to discovering the ways to prevent and cure schizophrenia. Established in 1996 as Australia’s first virtual medical research institute, the organisation conducts and supports schizophrenia research in hospitals, universities and research institutes across the country and internationally.

Further information at
www.schizophreniaresearch.org.au