The American Psychiatric Association's Awards for Young Scientists Encourage Research Expertise in China

Washington, Dc (ots/PRNewswire) -

- International Reach of 'Young Minds in Psychiatry' Awards is
Boosted With AstraZeneca Support

For the first time, a researcher from China has received one of
the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) prestigious "Young Minds
in Psychiatry" awards, which were presented today at the APA's 161st
Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. The awards, supported by an
educational grant from AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN), are helping to address
the substantial shortage of psychiatric researchers worldwide. By
providing career development awards, talented physicians get the
chance to pursue a career in research. Beginning this year, the
number of unrestricted career development awards has been increased
from six to seven, with five awarded to international candidates -
this recognizes the unique challenges facing researchers outside
North America and Europe.

Dr. Ma Yantao from Peking University in Beijing, the first
Chinese award winner, was selected for her proposal on treating
Chinese adults for bipolar spectrum disorders - she commented:

"I am delighted to have been awarded this great honour, which
confirms international recognition of research excellence in China.
Mental health is a priority worldwide, and good healthcare is only
possible with the encouragement of careers in psychiatry and related
research. As we prepare to welcome many people to Beijing for the
Olympics, today I appreciate my welcome in Washington and this
partnership of east and west in psychiatry."

Darrel A. Regier, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the Division of
Research at the American Psychiatric Association, and Executive
Director of the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and
Education (APIRE) said: "Young Minds in Psychiatry is the APA's only
truly international awards program. We believe that the APA can be an
important influence in supporting talented psychiatric researchers
both in the United States and throughout the world. Our winners this
year, coming from such diverse countries as China, Korea, South
Africa, Germany, France and the United States, will receive funding
to help them get their careers underway and hopefully encourage them
to remain in the field for the long term."

All seven 'Young Minds in Psychiatry' awards were made to
researchers selected for the importance and value of their research
proposal in bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, both of which are
severe mental illnesses. Approximately one in 100 people develop
schizophrenia during their lifetime, and the prevalence is similar in
men and women throughout the world. Bipolar disorder has a lifetime
prevalence of between 3 and 5% worldwide. People with bipolar
disorder experience episodes of mania and depression alongside
periods of normal mood, with symptoms ranging from trouble
concentrating and sleep disturbance to high-risk behavior and
thoughts of suicide.

"AstraZeneca is proud to be associated with the 'Young Minds in
Psychiatry' awards, and we were very pleased to support greater
international reach of the Young Minds awards this year," said Dr
Hans Eriksson, Medical Science Director, AstraZeneca. "The more
researchers we can encourage to get involved in psychiatric research,
the more likely it is that we will see a breakthrough in treating
these devastating conditions. We join the APA in congratulating the
winners - wishing them good luck in their research, and success in
their pursuit of new ways to help patients."

Dr Ma Yantao added: "I thank my hospital, the Institute of Mental
Health, my mentor Professor Yu Xin for his support and instruction,
and my mentors and partners at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr
Maurizio Fava, Dr. Jonathan Alpert and Dr. Albert Yeung. I must also
acknowledge my husband, Chinese avant-garde artist Wei Shen - his
originality and creativity are my inspiration both in art and in
medicine."

The 2007 Young Minds in Psychiatry Awards winners are Yantao Ma,
M.D., China (bipolar disorder); Florian Daniel Zepf, M.D., Germany
(bipolar disorder); Brady G. Case, M.D., United States (bipolar
disorder); Alfredo Bellon, M.D., France (schizophrenia); Jung-Seok
Choi, M.D., Republic of Korea (schizophrenia); Renata Schoeman, MBChB
MMed FCPsych, South Africa (schizophrenia); Daniel H. Wolf, M.D.,
United States (schizophrenia).

Biographical details about the winners, information on their
research proposals and other background information are available at:
http://www.psych.org/MainMenu/Research/ResearchTrainingandFunding/Res
earchFel lowships/APAAstraZenecaYoungMindsinPsychiatryInternationalAw
ard/Youngminds.as px

...and:

http://www.psych.org/MainMenu/Research/ResearchTrainingandFunding
/Researc hFellowships/APAAstraZenecaYoungMindsinPsychiatryInternation
alAward.aspx

(Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and
paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field.
Remove the space if one exists.)

ABOUT YOUNG MINDS IN PSYCHIATRY INTERNATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM

Young Minds in Psychiatry is an APA career development research
initiative sponsored by AstraZeneca that has been running since 2002,
the first award recipients received their awards during the APA
annual meeting in May 2003. To date, 31 young researchers have been
awarded research grants. The following distinguished, independent
steering committee is responsible for reviewing proposals and
advising on those to be funded.

United States Review Committee
Nancy C. Andreasen, M.D. Robert N. Golden Stephen R. Marder,
University of Iowa M.D. M.D.
Hospitals & Clinics University of North UCLA Neuropsychiatric
Psychiatry Carolina at Chapel Institute
Hill
Jerrold F. Rosenbaum, M.D. Alan F. Schatzberg, Charles Schulz, M.D.
Massachusetts General M.D. University of
Hospital Stanford University Minnesota Medical
School of Medicine School

International Review Committee
Gerhard Heinze, M.D. Valery N. Krasnov, Michael Phillips, M.D.
Instituto Nacional de M.D.
Psiquiatria Ramon de la Moscow Research Beijing Hui Long Guan
Fuente Institute of Hospital
Psychiatry
Alan F. Schatzburg, M.D. Stuart Yudofsky, M.D.
Stanford University Baylor College of
School of Medicine Medicine

ABOUT THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION

The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical
specialty society whose more than 38,000 physician members specialize
in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses
including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at
http://www.psych.org and http://www.HealthyMinds.org

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged
in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription
pharmaceuticals and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is
one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare
sales of US $29.55 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal,
cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection
product sales. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability
Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit:
http://www.astrazeneca.com or http://www.astrazeneca-us.com

WASHINGTON, DC, May 6 /PRNewswire/ --

ots Originaltext: AstraZeneca
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Contact:
Media Contacts: AstraZeneca, International, James Read,
+1-302-885-9944, james.read@astrazeneca.com, American Psychiatric
Association, Office of Communications and Public Affairs,
press@psych.org