About the Initiative
The Deeda Blair Research Initiative for Disorders of the Brain was created to improve the diagnosis and treatment of severe mental illness, including mood disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders. The intention is to accelerate basic and translational research to discover new targets and approaches for therapy with unrestricted and flexible funding. The program is administered by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH).
Unlike a typical grant program, these awards are peer reviewed by the National Institute of Mental Health and then determined by a Scientific Award Selection Committee of independent scientists and thinkers. Awardees are encouraged to develop novel ways of thinking about the brain. In addition to transforming what we already know, these individuals or groups will seek new approaches to change our basic understanding of mental illness. Though the focus of the program is mental illness, it may help in an understanding of the brain and of its other diseases.
Donation Instructions
Thank you for supporting the Deeda Blair Research Initiative for Disorders of the Brain through the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). The tax identification number is:
52-1986675. There are many ways to support the Research Initiative:
- To Send a Check: Write check to “Foundation for the NIH” and
please note that the gift is designated for “The Deeda Blair Research Initiative”.
Mailing instructions are below:
The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
Attention: Susan Shillinglaw
11400 Rockville Pike, Suite 600
North Bethesda, MD 20852 - To Make a Wire Bank Transfer (ACH or Wire)
OR - To Donate Stock or Securities: Please contact Susan Shillinglaw at (301) 402-6027 or [email protected].
- To leave a gift in your Will/Trust: Please contact Susan Shillinglaw at (301) 402-6027 or [email protected].
In 2021, there were an estimated 57.8 million adults in the United States with a mental illness. The number represented 22.8% of all U.S. adults. Serious mental illness, defined as mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, resulting in serious functional impairment, affects an estimated 14.1 million adults. The prevalence of SMI was higher among females than males and more common among young adults aged 18-25 years compared to older adults (NIMH). These numbers underscore the urgent need for breakthrough discoveries and new treatment paradigms which utilize the best translational neuroscience to bridge basic and clinical research.