A transdiagnostic, translational approach to the understanding, prevention and treatment of mood, anxiety and stress disorders across the lifespan

Half of patients who seek help for anxiety, depression, or stress disorders remain distressed even after the best available treatments. These conditions affect more than half of us at some point in life, typically starting in childhood or adolescence, and are a leading global cause of disability and economic cost. Current treatments fail roughly half of patients, and relapses are common. The programme aims to close this gap by first understanding the fundamental nature of these disorders—using brain imaging and psychological experiments—then translating those insights into improved psychological treatments for children, adolescents, and adults. Each new or refined treatment is tested in a randomised controlled trial against an existing effective therapy to see if it works as well or better. If successful, this work could shift mental health care from a one-size-fits-all model toward more targeted, effective interventions. That would mean fewer people living with disabling distress, reduced strain on health services, and lower economic costs from lost productivity and long-term care. The research is translational: it starts with fundamental science about how mood and anxiety disorders work, and ends with practical tools that clinicians can use.