Objectives and Priorities BRAINnet’s integrative and multidisciplinary approach places it in a unique position to contribute to social and educational benefits on a global scale. The BRAINnet participants encompass international experts in a range of fields, including – physical sciences (physics, engineering, computing), psychological sciences (psychology, psychological medicine), in neurosciences (cognitive neuroscience, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry) and in genetics. They also cover expertise in the application of these fields to a range of mental health issues - child and adolescent mental health, schizophrenia and allied psychotic disorders, trauma and stress disorders, and in aging and Alzheimer’s dementia research. The Network is therefore extremely well placed to contribute to significant national and international benefits in these areas. Australian Research Capacity and Strengths in Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience The strength of brain research in Australia is highlighted in the number (over twenty) of research institutes or centres with a primary neuroscience focus. The growing demand for commercial translation of brain research is indicated by: Over 10 ASX-listed Australian companies with a core interest in the brain, and combined capitalization of over $2 billion (including the BRC linked to our Network); Significant investment in Australian neuroscience research by global pharmaceutical companies, e.g. Eli Lilly, which has a pipeline of products in depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. There are very positive links between the Australian neuroscience research sector and industry, which draw on frontier technology innovations.  Most of the Australian neuroscience companies evolved from public sector research or have drawn heavily on that sector for their core technologies. A large number of Phase III and post-marketing trials are conducted in Australia because of the high quality research personnel and competitive costs. The Brain Resource Company services have and technologies have attracted significant international-scale pharmaceutical trials, including with Eli-Lilly, Biogen and Pfizer. BRAINnet capitalises on the strong existing reputation for research excellence among its participants. These reputations will ensure BRAINnet is well supported and promoted. Its industry linkages will also ensure the commercial translation of the research outcomes, including breakthroughs in frontier technology. Significantly, BRAINnet also capitalises on an existing framework for centralised sharing of data and techniques, which is essential to the effectiveness of the cross-disciplinary and integrative focus. A centralised and standardised framework of this kind has not previously been established by Australian brain researchers. BRAINnet’s link to the Brain Resource company’s international database also provides an excellent framework for national clinical trials in the arena of neuroscience and brain-related illness, drawing on its existing cooperative links with these facilities across the country.  National benefits, and communication and outreach programs. BRAINnet addresses national research priorities and provides both social and economic benefits: Priority 1: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health BRAINnet research and services target the promotion of good mental health – including optimal performance in healthy individuals, as well as prevention and treatment for brain related illnesses.  The World Health Organization (WHO) stresses the fact that good mental health is not just the absence of a mental illness: "health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." WHO also recognises the enormous burden of mental illness on the individual, family, and broader community. BRAINnet aims to contribute to the promotion and maintenance of good mental health across the lifespan, and across different contexts (occupational, relationship and educational). BRAINnet will also target prevention and early detection of brain related mental health problems across age groups. We recognize the central importance of a good start to life, and the minimisation of early life stress and trauma, in enhancing good mental health and minimising the incidence of mental illness. The standardized approach of BRAINnet is important for providing the normative base for both diagnostic screens and treatment evaluation. A major limitation of current diagnosis in psychopathology resides in the fact that we lack of a robust understanding of what constitutes normal brain function. Neuropsychiatric disorders are defined by breakdowns in complex brain functions, involving memory, attention, emotion and executive planning - as seen in depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, split personality, neurotoxic disorders, anxiety disorder, panic disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many such disorders present without observable structural damage to the brain. For instance, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by excessive responding to fear-related events (referred to as defensive responding). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is defined by a failure to shift attention to relevant events, referred to as orienting. Similarly, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by impairments in memory, particularly recent memories. While we have a reasonably good understanding of fundamental functions involving our motor actions and senses, there are virtually no robust biological markers of normal variation in complex brain functions. A healthy start to life: mental health promotion for children and adolescents BRAINnet will integrate its social, computational and neuroscientific disciplines to focus on a healthy start to life in regard to: The role of trauma: Brain development of babies and infants is critical to their future health, and the impact of trauma and stress is a critical factor in poor development, and later problems. BRAINnet’s scientists have specific expertise in development early intervention and remediation programs, based on objective, evidence-based brain and psychological research. Skills enhancement: Core skills, such as psychosocial competency, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, interpersonal skills, empathy, and methods to cope with emotions are essential to the development of sound and positive mental health in children and adolescents. These skills may be reliably assessed – and enhanced with appropriate training. BRAINnet’s pioneering and standardised methodology will be used to develop personalized assessment and training profiles to optimise skills that promote good mental health. Mental illnesses of younger age:  Brain related illnesses which affect young Australians, include atttentional disorders (affecting at least one child in every classroom), psychotic disorders (affecting 25,000 young Australians every year, and the largest single contributor to youth suicide), and the contribution of early trauma (a major factor in youth illness). The lack of currently available biological markers (biomarkers) means that reliable diagnosis and treatment is not possible. BRAINnet is using its uniquely standardized psychological, brain imaging and genetic measures to develop sensitive biomarkers of these illnesses, so that early detection, and eventually prevention, may be possible. These biomarkers will also provide the basis for: -  identifying predisposing factors for disease -  capturing early signs of illness for early intervention and treatment -  monitoring disease progression -  sound and objective treatment evaluations The working life: mental health promotion in employment and industry contexts BRAINnet gives s pecial emphasis to the importance of promoting and monitoring good mental health in the work place. BRAINnet’s psychological, brain imaging and genetic profile provides the first standardised platform for health monitoring in both the work and industry context, including the early detection of mental health problems. Importantly, this approach may be personalized and does not depend upon self-report (thereby eliminating potential ‘faking’). Research in these contexts will be translated into tools, products and services for standardised screening and assessment. BRAINnet will support these developments with its frontier technologies, such that it will ensure optimum efficiency and computerised automation of these screening tools. Aging well: Mental health promotion and the ageing population As with the younger age period, older age is marked by extremely rapid brain changes, due to maturational and degenerative factors. BRAINnet focuses on: Aging Well and Productively: Ageing of the population is a highly desirable and natural aim of any society. By 2025 there will be 1.2 billion older people in the world, close to three-quarters of them in the developing world. But if ageing is to be a positive experience it must be accompanied by improvements in the quality of life of those who have reached - or are reaching - old age. BRAINnet’s methodology will provide the framework for developing cognitive enhancement strategies, with a particular focus on memory enhancement. Mental illnesses of older age: BRAINnet is also targeting early screening and treatment for brain related illlnesses of the older age groups. The major risk factor for disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease is older age. Costs due to Alzheimer’s were 2.5% of the total Commonwealth health and age care budget in 2001/2 (total of $0.8bill.).With the sharp escalation in aging Australians this will reach 6.4% of the total budget by 2041/2 ($10.7bill.) - Commonwealth National Strategy for an Ageing Australia. For this reason, improvements in early screening and treatment are critical to our ability to provide for healthy aging. Prevention strategies BRAINnet has a particular focus on the important role of stress and trauma in triggering brain related mental health problems, and methods for early screening and prevention of trauma. One of the key factors in addressing brain related illnesses is prevention, particularly given their chronic nature. BRAINnet research will prioritise the development of preventative approaches to brain disorders, as well as cost-effective treatments that allow patients to resume a productive life.  The key first step in developing preventative strategies is the development of an objective, biological test for brain related illnesses. Such tests are currently lacking. The primary hurdle to developing such tests is that each group of researchers typically uses a different set of screening and assessment methods. Through the Network, BRAINnet researchers will have access to standardised diagnostic and assessment instruments– an important pre-requisite to national consistency in brain research, and the development of prevention strategies. Priority 2: Frontier Technologies – and integration with Brain Services Brain research increasingly relies on frontier technology development. BRAINnet is distinguished by leading experts in the development of sophisticated new techniques for managing, model and fusing brain data. These developments will also make a key contribution to the translation of BRAINnet research into brain-related services, tools and products. BRAINnet targets the following products, services and technology development Biomarkers for brain functions , integrating brain technology and genomics Diagnostic and assessment tools , for brain conditions in disorders affecting youth and aging and quality of life (including trauma, sleep, addiction) Decision support : in industry, clinical and performance markets Personalised medicine , supported by smart information integration Frontier technologies for data acquisition, management and fusion Neuroinformatics Frontier technologies for delivery of products and services Database informatics for smart information use and analysis New  human-computer interface tools for monitoring improving performance Commercial translation To date, key translations which have relied on frontier technologies, include: ASX float of Brain Resource Company ( www.brainresource.com) 15 patents (of cutting-edge neurogenetics technologies) industry-linked development of novel sleep research methodologies A number of industry-linked pharmaceutical trials From BRAINnet research it is also expected that a framework for innovative integration and rapid growth of such technologies to achieve commercial outcomes will be obtained. The National and International Economic Benefit Brain related illnesses and poor mental health have an enormous economic impact, globally. Unlike physical illnesses, the stigma of mental problems means that this devastating impact is often hidden, and funding is not directed to their solution. Mental health problems cost Australia over $3.7billion annually in health care support. With the global aging of the population, this cost is set to increase exponentially. Costs due to mental illnesses of older age (primarily Alzheimer’s disease) were 2.5% of the total Commonwealth health and age care budget in 2001/2 (total of $0.8bill.).With the sharp escalation in aging Australians this will reach 6.4% of the total budget by 2041/2 ($10.7bill.) – as reported by the Commonwealth National Strategy for an Ageing Australia. The integrative research approach of BRAINnet is targeted at developments that will alleviate this economic burden. The Network will support a key scientific contribution to ensuring that the government achieves optimal value for the health care dollar. Key exemplars of where significant economic benefits are obtainable include: Reducing mental illness in the young would provide a 10% reduction in Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme ( PBS) and Disability Pension Scheme (DPS) costs. In turn, these would provide direct Government savings of $0.2 billion, and an increase in productivity to the Nation of at least several billion dollars annually. A 25% reduction in the incidence of just one uncommon disease, schizophrenia, would save the Australian Government about $0.5 billion a year. Trauma and stress disorders affect well over 10% of the population, and are rapidly increasing with fears about both national and personal security. Identifying prevention strategies – for use following a traumatic event – would reduce health care costs by over $1 billion per year. Curing Alzheimer’s disease would save the Government about $1 billion a year, and the nation over $6 billion - and 6% of the healthcare budget over the next 40 years. The National and International Social Benefit Prevention The identification of effective prevention strategies for mental illness will have an enormous social impact. For example, psychotic disorders of youth are the largest single contributor to youth suicide – and prevention and early detection of these disorders is essential to addressing this alarming statistic (see Impact on our youth). Alleviating Stigma Support for brain and mental health research is an extremely important factor in developing a well-informed and supportive public. Public awareness is in turn, essential to overcoming social stigma attached to mental disorders and ensure acceptance of effective care and treatment practices. The education regarding the possible impact on neuroscience on brain and mind disorders provided by BRAINnet participants will improve public awareness, and contribute to the reduction of the stigma surrounding these disorders. The flow on effect will be an improvement in the likelihood of individuals and families seeking help and access to treatment, prevention and support programs. Community, government and peak body support Explicit support for a network such as BRAINnet is critical to enhance community support for neuroscience, and educating the broader public about the value of brain research. It will capitalize on the 21 st century revolution in brain research. BRAINnet provides a means to achieve this by bringing together all relevant stakeholders into a cooperative effort that integrates neuroscience research across the full spectrum from benchtop discovery to clinical application. Public support for brain research leads to an exponential expansion in other forms of support, including the encouragement of private, philanthropic, corporate and public funding for research, as well as improving individual and family participation in research projects. At the level of government and other peak body stakeholders, the standardised approach of BRAINnet, with its ‘hub and spoke’ model to ensure cohesion via centralised data sharing, will assist in setting up robust processes for outcome evaluation. Mechanisms can be set in place, which will ensure effective evidence-based evaluation of prevention and treatment strategies that have the greatest benefits for Australians and international counterparts. The high-technology database and infrastructure consolidation within BRAINnet is also important in contributing knowledge, expertise and impetus for broader infrastructure developments, including tissue banks, volunteer networks, twin/family registers, and registers for specific illnesses (including genetic linkages). The National and International Industry Linkage Benefit BRAINnet will provide a framework for innovative integration and rapid growth of frontier technologies for commercial translation, exemplified by the float of BRC BRC exemplifies a successful Australian Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), of the kind that will be further facilitated by BRAINnet. It leads the field in the development of functional brain analysis in the clinical trial process for pharmaceuticals and has franchised clinics around the world. The BRAINnet framework will play an important role in both national and international initiatives to establish other new large-scale technologies and facilities. For instance, it would facilitate the coordination of Australian bids for large, possibly commercializable, brain-related facilities, such as magnetoencephalogaphy. See National Benefits section.