Schizophrenia Awareness Day
25th June 2025

MHRUK and the Schizophrenia Research Fund launch a major new initiative on schizophrenia research

Schizophrenia has been an important focus for MHRUK since we joined forces with the Schizophrenia Research Fund in 2014, allowing us to award the annual John Grace QC scholarship, which focuses specifically on schizophrenia and related conditions. On top of this, through the generosity of our supporters and generous donors, we have been able to increase the number of scholarships on schizophrenia we have funded in recent years.

To coincide with Schizophrenia Awareness Day, we are proud to share the news that we have recently received a generous legacy gift from Karen Menzies. This donation will allow us to fund four additional scholarships dedicated to schizophrenia research over the next two years.

Karen passed away on June 9th 2023, at the age of 53. Born with cystic fibrosis, she was no stranger to chronic illness, and was profoundly affected by her brother Adam's schizophrenia, which was diagnosed during his teenage years. Despite her own health challenges, Karen moved from Sydney to London, where she built a vibrant life as a well-known interior designer in Chelsea. Throughout it all, her brother Adam remained close to her heart. Karen was fortunate to experience the life-changing benefits of gene therapy in her own treatment, and she often wished her brother could have had access to similarly effective care. She understood that groundbreaking advances begin with basic science and believed that research at this fundamental level could one day transform the lives of those affected by schizophrenia.

In honour of Karen’s generous legacy, we are committed to expanding our impact. Our goal is to fund at least three scholarships each year for the next five years, to support early-career researchers working in schizophrenia. To achieve this, we are seeking donors and philanthropic partners who share our vision. With your support, we can empower more early-career researchers and accelerate discoveries that have the potential to improve lives across the UK.

Schizophrenia is one of the most severe and complex psychiatric conditions, profoundly affecting individuals, families, and society as a whole. Many people diagnosed with schizophrenia do not fully recover. The condition is associated with social isolation, stigma, high rates of unemployment, reduced life expectancy - and tragically, at least 5% of those diagnosed will lose their lives to suicide.

These difficult outcomes highlight the limitations of current pharmacological and psychological therapies. This, in turn, reflects our incomplete understanding of the underlying causes and mechanisms of the illness. There is a clear and urgent need for more research into schizophrenia to uncover its root causes and to develop safer, more effective, and more acceptable treatments. Sustaining this vital research effort over the long term means investing in the future. That’s why we must inspire and support more young scientists to enter the field and help build the research capacity needed to drive meaningful change.

Professor Sir Mike Owen, Chair of Trustees

How you can help

We are seeking support to fund three additional PhD schizophrenia scholarships each year. These scholarships will be open to all UK universities and will be awarded through our established, inclusive process.

Your support will:

The need for more research into schizophrenia has never been more urgent, and with recent scientific advances the opportunities have never been greater.

Together we can make a difference

Our Impact

Meet the students we have funded,
and learn more about their research.

We currently fund 2 PhDs every year. Our vision is be able to fund 5 PhDs every year. You can help us achieve that goal! We fund a range of topics, but we do have a particular interest in psychosis and schizophrenia because of our John Grace QC Scholarship and the Schizophrenia Research Fund.

For more detailed descriptions of scholarships awarded, please see our research page.