July 10, 2024
Osmind Welcomes Dr. Husseini K. Manji, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., as a Strategic Advisor
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65c1358b4dec382d8356a68d/668decb099da6ca993cc46a7_Blog%20header-1%20(2).webp)
Written by
Osmind
Osmind is excited to welcome Dr. Husseini K. Manji, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., as a Strategic Advisor.
With a distinguished career spanning academia, government, and the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Manji brings extensive expertise and a deep commitment to advancing mental health care.
As former Global Head of Neuroscience at Janssen Research & Development, Dr. Manji led groundbreaking initiatives, launching novel medications for serious mental health conditions, including the first new antidepressant mechanism in over 30 years. His work earned him induction into the National Academy of Medicine and recognition as one of Oprah Magazine's inaugural "Health Heroes."
Currently, Dr. Manji chairs the UK Government Mental Health Mission, dubbed the "Manhattan Project for the Mind." This initiative unites NHS heads, academics, and industry leaders to overcome barriers in mental health care. Alongside his professorships at Oxford and Duke Universities, Dr. Manji's research has reconceptualized severe neuropsychiatric disorders as genetically influenced disorders of synaptic and neural plasticity, paving the way for novel therapeutic approaches.
Dr. Manji's Vision for Transformative Mental Health Care
Dr. Manji's career focuses on translating cutting-edge research into real-world treatments, bridging the gap between academic discoveries and therapeutic applications.
"I thought I'd be at NIH forever until Johnson & Johnson’s leadership contacted me and convinced me that, with the scientific advances taking place, I could help millions of people by focusing my work on translational medicine and development of new treatments. Research is important, of course, but actually innovating new treatments leveraging that research is something else. I realized that a lot of my findings were probably going to just sit there unless there was a concerted effort to take it forward where industry could use them to develop new treatments. So I was delighted to join J&J and work on the development and launch of SPRAVATO, which is the first novel antidepressant mechanism in about six decades." - Dr. Manji ("Advancing the Science for Minds," 2023).
Dr. Manji's extensive background will guide Osmind's research initiatives, ensuring we remain at the forefront of developing breakthrough treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.
"I am excited to be a Strategic Advisor at Osmind, which is doing important, much-needed work. I truly believe that we are at an inflection point in our ability to markedly improve outcomes for our patients – both from an improved understanding of novel therapeutics, and our ability to move towards precision medicine." - Dr. Manji
Looking Ahead
Osmind supports sponsors from major pharmaceutical companies to clinical-stage biotechs, offering services spanning real-world evidence to commercial launch. By leveraging high-quality clinical data at scale, we're uniquely positioned to accelerate the development and access of breakthrough mental health treatments.
Stay tuned for more exciting announcements about our team and research initiatives.
For more information, visit Osmind.org/life-sciences.
Discover what’s next in mental health care. Join the Psychiatry Tomorrow newsletter.