Research needs
 To
make further progress, the research approach needs to be optimized.
In our opinion, chances are good that an approach as described
below could lead to a breakthrough within a limited number of years.
The research would then provide the means for creating effective,
etiologically oriented treatments for schizophrenia and other mental
disorders. The pharmaceutical industry based in Sweden is respected
and well known worldwide. A parallel aim for the HUBIN project is
to cooperate with the pharmaceutical industry to attain a competitive
advantage in creating effective treatment for mental disorders.
Criteria for optimized research
- Patient samples
Large, preferably unique, patient samples should be used.
Different types of patients and individuals at risk for schizophrenia
should be included together with healthy controls. All subjects
should be prospectively investigated and followed longitudinally.
- Many dimensions
Several empirically based etiological and pathophysio-logical
dimensions should be examined in the very same study. Dimensions
should be selected on the basis of current and new hypotheses.
- Systematically applied methods
State of the art methods should be applied systematically to the
investigated samples
- Data management and storage
High quality data management and storage offers a possibility
to conduct a variety of analyses and tests of a variety of hypotheses.
- Staff
The staff should include both internationally recognized researchers
and professionals in the beginning stages of their research career.
Such a mix provides continuity and future development of the research
field.
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