UC Irvine launches nation's first multischool depression research institute

UC Irvine marked a major milestone in mental health research on June 9 with the launch of the Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries, which university leaders describe as the first institute in the nation to formally unite multiple academic schools in a coordinated effort to address depression.

The launch event, held at the Beckman Center in Irvine, convened researchers, clinicians, university leaders and community partners for a day of scientific exchange focused on advancing the understanding, treatment and prevention of depression.

The program featured a keynote address by Conor Liston, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neuroscience and psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, as well as presentations by leading UC Irvine researchers on topics ranging from early-life adversity and adolescent mental health to neurobiology, emerging technologies and the social determinants of health.

Founding director Diego Pizzagalli, Ph.D., welcomed guests alongside university leaders, including Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Hal Stern, School of Medicine Dean Michael Stamos and Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences Dean Frank LaFerla. Drury - a distinguished psychiatrist and the institute's namesake - also attended and was given special recognition.

Collaboration leading to cures

The institute stands out because it leverages UC Irvine's extensive expertise across its diverse academic and research domains. It brings together researchers and clinicians from medicine, engineering, biological sciences, public health and social ecology to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerate the translation of research findings into real-world solutions.

"Through the institute, we have an unprecedented opportunity to join forces to make fundamental discoveries to advance treatments to help those with depression live healthier lives," Pizzagalli said. "UC Irvine is set to be at the forefront of this research because of our distinctive collaborative nature."

The institute was established through a transformative $55 million gift from the estate of philanthropist Audrey Steele Burnand and is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research into the causes, treatment and prevention of depression. Its mission includes developing personalized interventions, training future scientists and clinicians, and improving outcomes for individuals affected by one of the world's most prevalent mental health conditions.

"Depression is not only a scientific challenge but also a clinical reality encountered every day by physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and care teams across every healthcare setting," Stamos said. "By integrating cutting-edge neuroscience, psychiatry and behavioral research with compassionate individualized treatment, the institute will create a dynamic bridge between laboratory breakthroughs and meaningful patient outcomes."

More than a ceremonial launch, the event was designed to spark new collaborations and position UC Irvine at the forefront of depression research and innovation. "Because of extraordinary philanthropic investment, Diego's leadership and the commitment of colleagues across UC Irvine, we now have an extraordinary opportunity to build an institute that will advance science, transform care, train the next generation of researchers and clinicians, and improve the lives of people affected by depression," LaFerla said.