New research clinic open to help people with mood disorders
A research team at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) has opened a new clinic to help local people with mood disorders with specialist assessments and access to research to improve care and treatments.
CPFT's Mood Disorders Research Clinic (MDRC) is a team of different health professionals specialising in mood disorders like depression and bipolar affective disorder, especially treatment-resistant depression, which can affect thirty percent of people with depression who don’t recover with standard therapies.
The clinic supports people aged 18 and above across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough by providing comprehensive, evidence-based psychiatric assessments and guidance on future treatment. They also offer opportunities to take part in a range of research projects to improve care for mood disorders, including pioneering innovative treatments and new therapies. The clinic connects local NHS patients to the latest breakthroughs and scientific discoveries in mental health research.
The MDRC is hosted by CPFT working in partnership with the University of Cambridge and is part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mood Disorders Network. It is one of seven new specialist clinics across the UK led by world-renowned experts in depression to widen access to clinical assessments and new treatments, sharing £18 million funding from the NIHR and Office for Life Sciences (OLS).
Dr Emanuele Osimo, CPFT honorary consultant psychiatrist and co-lead for the MDRC said: “Our clinic offers a chance for people with hard-to-treat depression to help advance research by taking part in clinical trials for new treatments. Our research team is bringing some exciting studies to the Trust, including trials of innovative and completely new medicines. We look forward to working with people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to learn more about mood disorders and find new routes to recovery."
The clinic offers two locations for people to visit at the Herchel Smith Building in Cambridge and the Cavell Centre in Peterborough. CPFT was awarded funding to run the clinic as a centre of excellence for mental health research in the east of England, and people around the region can benefit from this new specialist hub coordinating with the wider UK network on national mental health research programmes to tackle depression.
Emanuele added: “We welcome referrals from other CPFT services, and also self-referrals on our website with an NHS number. The clinic is most suitable for anyone over 18 living with depression, or a condition where depression is the main problem, who has not benefited from at least two treatments including medication, talking or physical therapies and may be interested in research. After receiving a referral, we will send some questionnaires and contact you to discuss whether our service is suitable or help you find the best mental health service for your needs, providing specialist advice to your GP or clinical care team. There is no obligation to take part in research, we will give you some options to consider and it is always your choice – you can leave a study at any time and continue with ongoing care from other services.”
The MDRC can provide specialist advice, assessment and research opportunities but is not an acute mental health care service for ongoing support, or urgent and emergency care. People referred to the clinic will remain under the care of their current clinician or GP. Anyone experiencing urgent mental health symptoms is advised to call 111 and follow the directions for urgent mental health support or call 999 if symptoms are life threatening.
Visit the Mood Disorders Research Clinic webpage to find out more and make a self-referral. Health professionals and anyone who would like to work with the team on research studies can contact them at: MoodDisorderResearchClinic@cpft.nhs.uk.
Professor Rachel Upthegrove, Chair of the NIHR MH-TRC, said: “The expansion of existing centres of excellence in treating people with mood disorders, and the establishment of the new centres in areas where there has previously been little support, will mean there are more opportunities for people to access detailed assessments and potentially new treatments through participation in research. This improves the research, makes results more representative, and can improve treatment options by uncovering new ways of managing serious illnesses. This is a fantastic investment in research and capacity that will really impact people's lives.”
CPFT provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long-term conditions, mental health services, children’s community services in Peterborough, and learning disability services. The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work and, in 2025, was awarded Teaching Partner status by the University of Cambridge and became a proud member of the prestigious University Hospital Association.
Photo: The Mood Disorders Research Clinic Team (L-R) Aaron Bamford, Senior Administrator, Amy Chapman, Research Nurse, Dr Catherine Hatfield, Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinic Co-Lead with Dr Emanuele Osimo, Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinic Co-Lead.