# Messages about Treatments

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From Breakthroughs to Best Practices: How NIMH Transforms Research Into Real-World Care
*Patricia Arean, Susan Azrin, Michael Freed, Adam Haim, Jennifer Humensky, Stephen O’Connor, Jane Pearson, Mary Rooney, Matthew Rudorfer, Joel Sherrill, and Belinda Sims, on behalf of the Division of Services and Intervention Research.* on              February 26, 2024                                      • 75th Anniversary

In this guest-written Director’s message, the Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR) describes notable successes in bridging the gap between basic and clinical science and impacting real-world public health practices and policies.    

Supporting HIV Research From Cell to Society
*Michael Stirratt, Jeymohan Joseph, Christopher Gordon, and Dianne Rausch on behalf of the NIMH Division of AIDS Research* on              December 1, 2023                                      • 75th Anniversary

Did you know that NIMH’s 75 years of mental health research includes over 40 years of HIV research? Learn about NIMH's investments in HIV research in this guest-written Director's message from NIMH's Division of AIDS Research.

From Lab to Clinic: The Power of Translational Research for Mental Health
*By Craig Fisher, Mi Hillefors, Erin King, Sarah Morris, Jenni Pacheco, Chris Sarampote, and Julia Zehr on behalf of the Division of Translational Research* on              September 18, 2023                                      • 75th Anniversary

Translational research bridges the gap between basic science and impactful mental health solutions. In this guest-written Director’s Message, the NIMH Division of Translational Research discusses past successes, current projects, and future directions of this critical area of work.

Mental Health Equity
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                June 19, 2023

This Juneteenth, Dr. Gordon reflects on the persistent mental health disparities experienced by Black Americans and what NIMH is doing to try to reach the goal of true mental health equity.

Making an IMPACT on Precision Medicine in Psychiatry
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                May 9, 2023

In this Director’s message, Dr. Gordon introduces the Individually Measured Phenotypes to Advance Computational Translation in Mental Health (IMPACT-MH) initiative. This new groundbreaking NIMH initiative aims to change the game for precision medicine in psychiatry. 

Heart, Brain, and Body
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                February 14, 2023

In honor of American Heart Month (and Valentine’s Day), Dr. Gordon discusses NIMH’s research activity at the intersection of the heart and the brain.

Bringing Innovation to the Search for Biomarkers
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                June 29, 2022

In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon highlights research supported by the NIMH Small Business Innovation Research program that could advance the development of clinically relevant biomarkers.

COVID-19 Risks for People with Serious Mental Illness
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                May 19, 2022

In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon highlights the increased health risks associated with COVID-19 for people with serious mental illness.

Reflection on 40 Years of HIV/AIDS Research
                                                                      By Guest Author on                June 7, 2021

In this jointly written Director’s Message, NIMH director Dr. Joshua Gordon and Dr. Maureen Goodenow, associate director for AIDS Research and director of the Office of AIDS Research at the National Institutes of Health, discuss 40 years of NIMH and NIH support for HIV/AIDS research.

Addressing the Needs of the Autism Community During COVID-19
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                April 27, 2021

In this message for Autism Awareness Month, Dr. Gordon highlights the specific impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.

One Year of Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics, and Anticipating New Challenges
                                                                      By Guest Author on                March 31, 2021

In this jointly written Director’s Message, leadership from across NIH describes one year of progress made through the RADx initiative and anticipates new challenges in the fight against COVID-19.

From Brain Mechanisms to Novel Therapies: Understanding and Treating Eating Disorders
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                February 23, 2021

In this message for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Dr. Gordon highlights NIMH-funded research aimed at reducing the impact of eating disorders.

Showing Support for Basic Researchers
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                January 11, 2021

In Dr. Gordon’s latest Director’s Message, he expresses support for the critical work of NIMH’s Dr. Elisabeth Murray and others who are advancing brain science through basic research.

A Plan for Mental Health Research
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                May 22, 2020

This week, the National Institute of Mental Health unveiled its new NIMH Strategic Plan for Research. In this Director’s message, Dr. Gordon discusses the advances in knowledge and treatment that got us to where we are today and points to where we want our research to go in the future.

Addressing  Disparities: Advancing Mental Health Care for All Americans
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                January 29, 2020

Mental health disparities are significant and easily documented. In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon discusses NIMH-funded research that aims to close the gap, ensuring that improved mental health care meets the needs of all Americans.

Suicide Deaths Are a Major Component of the Opioid Crisis that Must Be Addressed
                                                                                                                                      By Joshua Gordon, Nora Volkow on                September 19, 2019

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In observance, Dr. Gordon has partnered with Dr. Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), to highlight a dimension of the opioid crisis that receives too little attention—the links between opioid use, opioid use disorder, and suicide.

New Hope for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Guessing Right on Ketamine
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                August 13, 2019

In his latest message, Dr. Gordon discusses the role of NIMH and other researchers in the development of esketamine, an FDA-approved, rapid-acting medication that targets treatment-resistant depression.

I’m Optimistic about Depression
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                May 13, 2019

In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon discusses research-based advances in the understanding and treatment of depression.

A Bench-to-Bedside Story: The Development of a Treatment for Postpartum Depression
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                March 20, 2019

In this message, Dr. Gordon discusses the role of NIMH and others in the bench-to-bedside story of brexanolone, which has just been approved by the FDA as the first treatment specifically for postpartum depression.

NIMH and the NIH HEAL Initiative: Collaborating to address the opioid epidemic
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                February 4, 2019

Dr. Gordon discusses NIMH’s role in the HEAL (Helping End Addiction Long-term SM) Initiative -- the National Institutes of Health(NIH)’s all-in, coordinated response to the opioid epidemic.

Translational Research: From Research Findings to Transformative Treatments
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                December 20, 2018

The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) focuses on research which translates basic neuroscience findings into novel treatments. In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon discusses some of the exciting work presented at this year’s ACNP meeting.

On Being Ill
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                December 14, 2017

After an emergency room visit on Thanksgiving, Dr. Gordon reflects on treatments for injury vs. psychiatric conditions.

An Experimental Therapeutic Approach to Psychosocial Interventions
                                                                      By Joshua Gordon on                March 20, 2017

Dr. Gordon talks about NIMH’s commitment to support the development and testing of psychosocial interventions in the greater context of the experimental therapeutics approach to treatment research.