NARSAD'S Research Symposium and Charity Dinner Highlight May 29-30 Boston Events...

NARSAD'S Research Symposium and Charity Dinner Highlight May 29-30 Boston
Events on State of Mental Health

Charity for Mental Health Research Partnering in International Forum on Mental
Health in the Workplace; Also Honoring State Rep Koutoujian

NARSAD, the world's leading charity dedicated to mental health research, will
host and participate in a series of events May 29-30, 2008, in Boston that
will bring together North American business leaders, government officials and
experts in the mental health field to address mental health in the workplace;
provide an update on new developments in neuroscience that are accelerating
the search for better treatments for schizophrenia, depression and bipolar
disorder; and honor Massachusetts State Representative Peter Koutoujian for
his local efforts to improve mental health care.

U.S.-Canada Forum on Mental Health in the Workplace - May 29, 2008
Beginning with the U.S.-Canada Forum on Mental Health and Productivity's third
meeting, taking place on Thursday, May 29 at Harvard Medical School, NARSAD
researchers will participate in this by-invitation-only gathering of business
leaders, government officials and mental health experts to discuss "The Mental
Health of Working Parents and Their Kids."

Hosted by Harvard's Dr. Ron Kessler, the meeting will focus on new guidelines
for working parents and children affected by a mental health disorder.
Although the forum is closed to the public, media are encouraged to attend.

Gala Event: NARSAD Honors State Representative Koutoujian - May 29, 2008
The evening of May 29 will feature a gala awards dinner and cocktail reception
hosted by NARSAD and the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation. At this event, taking
place at Boston Harbor Hotel, Massachusetts State House Representative Peter
J. Koutoujian will be recognized for his work as Chair of the Joint Committee
on Public Health and for championing better services and increased state
funding for the mentally ill. Lloyd Craig, President and CEO of Coast Capital
Savings in Vancouver, British Columbia, and his wife Heather will also be
honored for their efforts to increase awareness of depression and other mental
illnesses.

NARSAD's Third Annual Boston Mental Health Research Symposium - May 30, 2008
The signature event of the two days takes place on Friday, May 30, when NARSAD
and the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation will host the Third Annual Boston
Mental Health Research Symposium, promoting mental health education and
awareness within the local community.

The Boston symposium is one of several such programs that NARSAD hosts in
regions around the U.S. that bring residents face to face with psychiatric
experts who are seeking new understanding of and better treatments for serious
illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder and other
neuropsychiatric disorders.

At this year's free public event in Boston, four Harvard-affiliated and
NARSAD-supported scientists will provide an update on how new technology and
research in the area of genetics and the emerging field of pharmacogenomics -
which explores the role that genetics plays in an individual's anticipated
response to drug treatment - are expanding and accelerating the search for
better treatments for schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Of
special significance, Eric M. Morrow M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General
Rappaport Neuroscience Scholar, will present new findings for identifying
genes for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Other presentations will include:

-- "Diversity of Gene Expression in Schizophrenia and Bipolar
Disorder" by Deborah L. Levy, Ph.D., associate professor of
psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and
director of the Psychology Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital, who
will discuss research findings on the pathophysiology and genetic
association of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
-- "Biomarkers for Schizophrenia: Implications for Treatment" by
Joshua L. Roffman, M.D., research psychiatrist in the Massachusetts
General Hospital Schizophrenia Program and an instructor in psychiatry
at Harvard Medical School who will review use of neuroimaging
techniques
and genetics to measure brain activity in schizophrenia.
-- "Genetic Variation and Individual Response to Antidepressant
Treatment" by Roy H. Perlis, M.D., director of pharmacogenomics
research in Massachusetts General Hospital's Depression Clinical
Research Program and Bipolar Research Program, and instructor in
psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, who will speak about his research
on
genes that influence an individual's response to antidepressant
treatment. With emphasis on tolerability, safety and efficacy, the
methods will focus on genes as a cause and target for future
treatment.

Moderating the panel of speakers will be Donald C. Goff, M.D., associate
professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School, director of the
Schizophrenia Program at Massachusetts General, and medical director of the
Erich Lindemann Mental Health Center.

The May 30th symposium will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Joseph B.
Martin Conference Center, Harvard Medical School, located at 77 Avenue Louis
Pasteur, Rotunda, 3rd Floor. While the symposium is free and open to the
public, space is limited; reservations may be made by sending an e-mail to
events@narsad.org, or by calling 800-829-8289.

Media interested in attending any of these events should RSVP by contacting
Noa Rabinowitz at rabinowitzn@ruderfinn.com.

NARSAD
NARSAD is the world's leading charity dedicated to mental health research. Its
mission is to alleviate human suffering from mental illness by raising funds
for scientific research on the causes, treatment and prevention of serious
mental disorders -- all with the goal of finding cures. Since 1987, NARSAD has
distributed more than $230 million in research grants to support promising,
innovative studies by nearly 2,700 scientists at leading universities, medical
centers and research institutions around the world. For more information, call
1-800-829-8289, or visit us at www.narsad.org.

Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation
The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation, of which NARSAD is a grantee, is a private
grant-making organization working in the Boston, St. Louis and New York areas
to alleviate mental illness through support of education, research and care
services. It was established in 2000 by the late Sidney R, Baer, Jr., who
suffered from schizophrenia.

CONTACT: Noa Rabinowitz, +1-202-974-5012, rabinowitzn@ruderfinn.com, for
NARSAD; or Natalie Greaves of NARSAD, +1-516-829-0091, ngreaves@narsad.org

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- May 20/
SOURCE NARSAD