New Director for the Institute of Mental Health

Close collaboration

Professor Martin Orrell will replace Professor Nick Manning who retired as Director of the IMH earlier this year.

Professor Orrell currently holds five major dementia grants totalling £11m on psychosocial interventions for dementia care and is co-applicant on a further £9m. He has published over 200 academic papers. He is a board member of both INTERDEM and the International Psychogeriatric Association. He is Editor of the journal Ageing & Mental Health.

He is Chair of the Memory Services National Accreditation Panel (MSNAP) and a member of the Prime Ministers Challenge on Dementia Research Group.

Ground-breaking research

Professor Orrell said on his appointment: “The Institute of Mental Health is one of the most important and exciting developments in mental health research of the last 20 years. This remarkable achievement, which is based on a close collaboration between The University of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Healthcare, shows what can be done when the NHS and academia work well together. The aim of the Institute is to carry out ground-breaking applied research which is useful in mental health practice to make a difference to millions of people across the UK and abroad.

“I did my medical degree at Nottingham and I admit that I am still rather grateful that they took me on! I am humbled and honoured to become Director of this superb Institute with its hugely talented and dedicated team, and I am determined to build on its excellent work.”

Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor at the University, said: “The work carried out at the IMH is constantly helping to improve the lives of people who have experienced mental health problems through new research and by creating awareness of the challenges they face in everyday life by better educating the public. The Institute is the Country’s main location for research in the mental health field and that is why we are pleased to welcome Professor Orrell to this important post. I am confident that with his skills and experience he will continue to break new ground when it comes to new research.”

Transforming mental health services

Ruth Hawkins, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare, said: “I am delighted at the appointment of Professor Orrell to the post of Director at the Institute of Mental Health. The Institute has gone from strength to strength over the last few years and as we enter this new phase I look forward to seeing more success and better outcomes for our patients, service users and carers.

“Research evidence transforms services — by making sure that what works is what we do clinically. I’m sure Martin can help us to engage more staff, services users and carers in research to further improve what we do and to further enhance the reputation of the Institute moving forward. I look forward to working closely with Martin to make this ambition a reality.”

Professor Orrell will take up his post in March 2015.