The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, formerly known as NARSAD, is a private, not-for-profit public charity. It is the largest donor-supported organization that supports research on brain and behavior disorders. It raises funds for scientific research into the causes, cures, treatments and prevention of severe psychiatric brain and behavior disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, and other related disorders. As of 2009, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) had awarded over $256 million through 3,775 research grants to more than 2,900 scientists at more than 440 institutions in the U.S. and 28 other countries.[1]
The organization’s stated mission is to raise and distribute funding for the most promising psychiatric disease research in order to develop new preventative measures, better diagnoses and improved treatments for these conditions. BBRF still awards 'NARSAD grants', primarily focused on neurobiological research, including drug studies.
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Originally a part of the American Schizophrenia Foundation, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) was formed by three leading national mental health organizations: The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, The National Mental Health Association and The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association (now the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance).
The president of NARSAD for 18 years was Constance Lieber, whose daughter Janice had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in the early 1980s. Janice was given medication but said they made her sicker than she was without them, and she was subsequently trialled on many different drug regimes. After a NARSAD board member expressed confidence in a drug, called Clozaril, into which he had conducted preliminary research, Janice was tried on that antipsychotic, and as of 2002 she was reportedly "relatively stable" and Constance Lieber reported that "Clozaril has made a great deal of difference in her life and in mine".[2]
The organization was led by Stephen A. Lieber, chairman of the Board, and Joel Gurin, acting president.[3] In 2009, Benita Shobe took over as CEO, with an annual salary of $300,000.[4]
In 2011 NARSAD changed its name to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, but still provides grants under the NARSAD name.
The BBRF is registered as a 501(c)(3) public charity. It receives no government support and operates solely through the contributions of individuals, foundations and corporations.[5]
The BBRF has received contributions from a number of pharmaceutical companies. The organization stated on its website that such contributions are not used to fund research grants in order to avoid undue influence or conflict of interest. Instead, support from pharmaceutical companies is used to fund educational activities including symposia.[6] In some instances, pharmaceutical companies have also helped to support fundraising activities.[7] Pharmaceutical companies that have provided their support include: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Pharmaceutica, AstraZeneca, and Wyeth.
The BBRF was subject to senate investigations conducted by Chuck Grassley into conflict of interest regarding undisclosed pharmaceutical company funding.[8]
The BBRF co-funds the Schizophrenia Research Forum. The organization also recruits support from a wide range of sources and media partners.[9] Partners include: Schizophrenia.com,[10] Anchor Magazine,[11] Health Central Network, and Schizophrenia Digest.