Have you seen our 'What is M-RIC' animation? 👀 We created the short animation below so service users and carers, local communities, partner organisations and beyond can learn more about our groundbreaking work: https://ow.ly/Jn4F50WFlYj

The M-RIC patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) team were thrilled to be a part of the recent LCR Civic Data Cooperative’s Festival of Data, where they set up the impressive Big Brain installation to spark conversations about research as a public engagement tool.

Last week, we celebrated #TimeToTalk day alongside Sefton CVS and local community organisations. The event marked a year since the start of the M-RIC seed funding project, in which nine community organisations secured funding to deliver research activities. Read more: https://ow.ly/jJT250Yf2ef

Did you know that we have a public newsletter? Sign up now to get all the latest information and updates about the exciting work M-RIC is doing to improve mental health care services and treatments. Visit mric.uk to sign up.

For #ChildrensMentalHeathWeek, we're spotlighting our new mental health app directory which helps children and young people to find safe and trusted mental health apps covering topics from anxiety and low mood to challenges with sleep problems and eating. Visit it at: https://ow.ly/U0Gc50Y66Ip

We've launched Count Me In to give Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust patients and service users the chance to hear about and take part in research that matters to them. Watch the animation below to learn more: https://ow.ly/wqqW50XeO83

Today, the M-RIC team is proud to be at the Netherton Feelgood Factory for our #TimeToTalk mental health research event, in partnership with Sefton CVS.

The M-RIC Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) team is excited to be at the Festival of Data tomorrow! We’ll be setting up our Big Brain installation which is designed to help start conversations about research as a public engagement tool. Book now: http://www.festivalofdata.co.uk/

Last month, the Count Me In team were pleased to attend Liverpool City Council's community champion development day. Michelle Harvey, Programme Manager for Informatics Merseyside, gave a presentation to spread the word about Count Me In to local community organisations.

We have launched a mental health app directory to offer online support for children and young people in Cheshire and Merseyside. Featuring apps covering topics from anxiety and low mood to challenges with sleep problems and eating plus much more. Visit the directory at: https://ow.ly/AwHk50XZAIC

We're proud to say that the BMJ has published a paper written by Dr Oladayo Bifarin, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Research Effectiveness Lead, and the Count Me In team outlining their work to make mental health research more accessible through Count Me In. Read it at: https://ow.ly/7pHw50Y4bzG

Congratulations to Dr Ashish Kumar, Clinical Director of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services, who recently won the prestigious Royal College of Psychiatrists North West Educator of the Year Award 2025.

“It’s not easy to share your lived experiences of mental health, however our public members have come forward because they believe that being involved in mental health research is for the public good.” In our 2025 Review, Dr Gail Faragher reflects on M-RIC’s involvement of public members.

An exciting new paper, co-authored by Professor Dan Joyce, Co-Director of M-RIC, has been published. It explores using AI to assist in triaging patients in mental health care services to tackle the complexities of the referral process which often lead to delays. Read it at: https://ow.ly/PCyU50Y1FyO

Our MH-TRC researchers are looking into a trial design which explore immune problems in people with schizophrenia. The study examines the problem that current drug treatments for psychosis are 30% ineffective, which may be associated with inflammation. tinyurl.com/y8x7knmy

We have launched a mental health app directory to offer online support for children and young people in Cheshire and Merseyside. Featuring apps covering topics from anxiety and low mood to challenges with sleep problems and eating plus much more. Visit the directory at: https://ow.ly/AwHk50XZAIC

“One of the most impressive things about M-RIC is that meaningful engagement with the public (patient and public involvement and engagement or PPIE) was built in from the get-go.” In the M-RIC 2025 Review, hear from Co-Lead Service User and Carer Representatives, Terry Bryant and Hilary Tetlow.

In 2025, the M-RIC Population Mental Health research team research team was proud to help set up the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Research Alliance to research the prevention of ACEs.

In the last year the M-RIC Neuroimmune Therapeutics for Psychosis research team has moved closer towards putting clinical trials and biomedical science at the centre of Mersey Care’s early intervention for psychosis services. Read more updates in the M-RIC Review of 2025: https://ow.ly/WUlt50XVEoR

One of the M-RIC highlights of 2025 is our work to develop a mental health app library. This will support children, young people and families with low mood, stress and anxiety and has been developed by M-RIC with the clinical input from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

In 2026, we are proud to continue supporting patients through the M-RIC Mood Clinic which offers personalised treatments, hope and support to adults who are struggling with long-term or complex mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

We have launched the Neuroimmune Profiling for Psychosis study. This is an important step towards future medication studies which will examine whether anti-inflammatory drugs can, in some patients with psychosis, improve their symptoms. Read more about the study: https://ow.ly/uxpQ50XVszX

We’re sharing the M-RIC research leads updates from the M-RIC Review of 2025. Our Access to Data research team reached a significant milestone last year, as mental health data from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust was securely linked with GP records from across Cheshire and Merseyside.

Did you know that in 2026, M-RIC will be expanding our portfolio of research themes? We plan to add more programmes of research in priority areas including patient safety, evaluation of innovation and using data to improve clinical service delivery and care.

You may have seen our exciting announcement about Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and M-RIC working with DATAMIND to further establish a Secure Data Environment for NIHR’s UK Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration. Learn more about our plans for 2026: https://ow.ly/FO9K50XLwMW

Happy New Year! We want to start the year by shining a spotlight on some of our plans for 2026. From leading on rethinking treatments for psychosis to researching social prescribing, our year is filled with exciting plans. Read more: https://ow.ly/tXuh50XLwCj

One of our proudest milestones of 2025 was the work we did with Sefton CVS to award seed funding grants to five inspiring community organisations to help them progress mental health research activities. See more of our highlights in the M-RIC Review of 2025: https://ow.ly/Ekrt50XLuLK

For the last week of the year, we're looking back at some of our milestones from 2025. We’re incredibly proud of all we have achieved, including launching the M-RIC Mood Clinic in April within Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust to support patients who have experienced problems with their mood.

From the M-RIC team, we wish you a merry Christmas filled with joy, rest and precious time with loved ones. Here’s to a happy, healthy start to the year ahead.

In M-RIC's 2025 review Hannah Davies, Chief Executive Officer for The NHSA reflects on our work: “M-RIC has been an invaluable partner to the Northern Health Science Alliance in driving forward the North’s shared ambition to deliver world-leading health research that truly benefits our communities"

“Their research projects are grounded in real-world understanding.” We’re thrilled by Dr Lesley Booth’s thoughts on M-RIC. Dr Booth is the Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation Lead Coordinator for the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mission.

“As we approach the end of M-RIC’s third year of delivery, I am delighted to see the Centre going from strength to strength.” In the M-RIC Review of 2025, Dr Noir Thomas, Chief Medical Officer at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, reflects on M-RIC's impact. Read more: https://ow.ly/iHrn50XKZim

This year, M-RIC awarded £28,5K to community organisations in order to support grassroots mental health research projects. Find out more about this work, as well as our other stand out statistics from 2025, in the M-RIC Review of 2025.

In 2025, M-RIC was proud to collaborate with 10 industry partners. Our aim is to work with a diverse range of industry partners across digital health innovation, clinical research & technology-enabled care, reflecting our broad commitment to working with industry to improve mental health outcomes.

Prof Dan Joyce, M-RIC Co-Director and Dr Oladayo Bifarin, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Research Effectiveness Lead, have co-authored a piece exploring the dialogue around ‘overdiagnosis’ of conditions such as depression, anxiety, autism and ADHD. Read more: https://ow.ly/Y6E650XJLaJ

Last week we published the M-RIC Review of 2025. For a quick overview of our year, why not have a look at our year in numbers section. This includes a set of interactive graphics showcasing our key statistics and achievements from 2025. Read more: https://ow.ly/L7AN50XHwiq

The M-RIC Review of 2025 opens with an update from our Co-Directors, Prof Dan Joyce and Prof Iain Buchan. In which they reflect on the all the innovative work the M-RIC team has done this year. Read more: https://ow.ly/rhWe50XHhPF

The M-RIC Review of 2025 is here! Featuring videos, interactive graphics and more, the review is a chance to learn about some highlights of our progress and even get a glimpse into our exciting plans for 2026. Visit the M-RIC website to explore the review.

Aged 11-25? Curious about mental health research? Join our online information session this Thursday to get a feel for what it's like to be part of our young people's research advisory group. Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Did you see our recent exciting news? Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded funding by the NIHR to establish a groundbreaking Secure Data Environment for NIHR’s Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC). Read more: https://ow.ly/Nclq50XpelN

Aged 11-25? Curious about mental health research? Join our online information session on 11 December to get a feel for what it's like to be part of our young people's research advisory group.

Today, the Count Me In team was thrilled to visit Al-Rahma Mosque. We had a great time speaking to the local community about Count Me In, which is Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's new way of making it easier for service users and patients to hear about and take part in research activities.

Have you seen our 'What is M-RIC' animation? 👀 We created the short animation below so service users and carers, local communities, partner organisations and beyond can learn more about our groundbreaking work: https://ow.ly/Jn4F50WFlYj

Last week, Prof Rhiannon Corcoran, co-lead Investigator on our Population Mental Health research work package, presented evidence at the House of Lords Built Environment Select Committee on the issue of social infrastructure in new town developments. Fantastic work Rhiannon!

M-RIC’s co-lead Service User and Carer Representative Hilary Tetlow believes passionately in the importance of patient and public involvement and engagement in improving mental health treatment and care. Read about how she got involved in mental health research in her new blog: ow.ly/4mUc50WFkY2

In his recent blog, Co-lead Service User and Carer Representative (SUCR) for M-RIC, Terry Bryant explains how he got involved with mental health research and how his background in business helps inform his approach to his role. You can read his blog here: ow.ly/Wk3m50WI461

We were proud to see Dr Oladayo Bifarin, our Research Effectiveness Lead and Michelle Harvey, Programme Manager for NHS Informatics Merseyside, present at last weeks #NursingLive where they spoke about building research capacity in underrepresented disciplines. Thank you everyone who attended!

Our November #newsletter is out now! Features include: 🧠 #antidepressant – and how they affect the body 🎨 Whatwecarry – a collaborative art-science project around #chronicpain ♿ #DisabilityHistoryMonth Catch up on all the latest from our BRC and partners: tinyurl.com/NovOHBRCnews...

Do you want to make a difference in health care? Alongside Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, we launched Count Me In because we want all patients, service users and carers to have the chance to take part in research. Watch the animation below to learn more: https://ow.ly/wqqW50XeO83

Are you aged 11 to 24 and curious about mental health research? Join our online taster session tomorrow to get a feel for what it’s like to be part of our upcoming young people's researcher group. Scan the QR code to learn more and sign up.