Janssen Funds New Global Leadership Initiative on Brain Health

TITUSVILLE, N.J., July 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Janssen Research & Development, LLC ("Janssen"), one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, announced today new funding for a global initiative to activate leaders from diverse backgrounds to transform society's approach to mental health. As the founding sponsor of The One Mind Initiative, Janssen has provided $1.1 million in funding with a goal of delivering better health and economic outcomes in brain health. Support for The One Mind Initiative is part of Janssen's global Healthy Minds program which encourages collaboration to accelerate new solutions for neurologic and brain diseases.

With this funding, The One Mind Initiative has been started by The Kennedy Forum and the One Mind Institute, doing business as IMHRO (International Mental Health Research Organization). The One Mind Initiative is designed to address mental health disparities, promote brain health, and achieve a society and health care system in which mental health is treated the same as physical health.

A series of projects under the Initiative will tackle barriers around mental healthcare like stigma, armed forces and veterans' issues, the criminal justice system and funding for "open science" brain research. The first of these projects will be "One Mind Initiative: At Work," a coalition of leaders from major employers committed to creating the gold standard for workplace well-being and brain health.

The One Mind Initiative will include leaders and representatives from medicine, research, education, the first-responder community, advocacy, the private sector, the military, youth, families and society.  

"We are grateful for the opportunity to be the founding sponsor of this much needed and ambitious initiative," said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson. "We are passionate about addressing unmet needs in healthcare, not just in the lab but by engaging in collaborations like this that advocate for those living with mental illness and other brain disorders."

The long-term mission of The One Mind Initiative is to spark changes in society and ultimately yield an understanding and acceptance that mental illnesses are common, and mental and physical health hold equal value. The One Mind Initiative will champion proven, scalable approaches to raising awareness, eliminating stigma, providing solutions to delivering affordable access to quality care, and fostering a culture of well-being.

"People living with mental illness face many obstacles when it comes to accessing care in today's society," said Husseini Manji, M.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head for Neuroscience, Janssen. "We hope that the One Mind Initiative will effect real change in areas that are most challenging to navigate for individuals and families affected by mental illness, as well as help a neglected group of the world's population gain better access to effective treatments, enabling them to reclaim their health and dignity and live their life's journey."

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies

At the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, we are working to create a world without disease. We transform lives by finding new and better ways to prevent, intercept, treat and cure disease. To do this, we bring together the best minds and pursue the most promising science. We are Janssen. We collaborate with the world for the health of everyone in it. Learn more at www.janssen.com.

About Janssen's Healthy Minds Program

Janssen's interests in integrated care for brain diseases have a direct connection to the Janssen Healthy Minds program, launched in 2011 to encourage collaboration among biotechnology, pharmaceutical and public-sector organizations to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic solutions for neurologic and brain diseases. Healthy Minds builds on Janssen's longstanding legacy of achievement in advancing neuroscience research. The company's work in this area dates back to the 1950s, when Dr. Paul Janssen's discovery and development work led to one of the first breakthrough treatments for schizophrenia. Janssen takes its name from "Dr. Paul," who is known as one of the 20th century's most gifted and passionate physicians and pharmaceutical researchers.

Over the last half century, Janssen has discovered, developed and launched many innovative treatments for brain and central nervous system conditions and remains firmly committed to neuroscience. Janssen supports public and professional education about mental illness and brain disorders, and funds sponsorships and philanthropy in the field of neuroscience and mental health.

Contact: 
Greg Panico  
Janssen Research & Development, LLC 
(609) 730-3061 
[email protected]

SOURCE Janssen Research & Development, LLC

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