Dr. Tom Insel, director of National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is joining the team of Alphabet's Life Sciences division to focus on Mental Health research. This is primarily to expand the effort in earlier detection, better prevention, and more effective management of mental health conditions. Such decision is in response to the global burden of serious mental illnesses such as psychosis, mood disorders, and autism.
Dr. Insel said in Tech Radar that he is collaborating with Google Life Sciences (GLS) team to be able to develop a technology that can help in the resolution of mental illnesses. He added that the opportunity to create a great technology can impact a major change among millions affected such as psychosis, mood disorders, and autism.
Moreover, Dr. Insel said in Buzz Feed that, "The Google philosophy has been to seek a 10x impact on hard problems." It means that great efforts will be expected as GLS Team and Dr. Insel lead the development of mental health. Such decision by Dr. Insel in joining Google's team is a career breaking as a neuroscientist and psychiatrist in NIMH since 2002, and an author of 250 papers and four books. The report added that he is known of his research about how certain hormones play roles in how we forge social bonds.
On the other hand, Dr. Collins, NIH director, appreciated Dr. Insel's great contribution in NIMH for the nurtured culture of mental health science in their department. He also praised Dr. Insel's decision in joining Google Life Sciences team as it will give hope in exploring better ways on how to promote, prevent, manage, and rehabilitate serious mental conditions, according to Buzz Feed.
There is no decision yet on what specific mental health project will be pursued first, but report said that Dr. Insel will formally step down in his position as a director in NIMH on November 1. After which, he will join GLS team and start their project.
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