DMH Research

DMH Research Centers of Excellence and Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Research, a critical mission of the Department of Mental Health, advances the treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery of adults with serious mental illness and children/adolescents with serious mental illness or severe emotional disturbance. Research is also one of the Department's statutory requirements in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 19, which specifically calls for DMH to "conduct research into the causes of serious mental illness."

The vitality and strength of research into serious mental illness in Massachusetts is an important and powerful tool in the treatment of these diseases. The research community carries the message of hope - hope for more effective treatments and hope for an eventual cure for mental illness. At any given time, approximately 100 research studies are taking place at DMH sites. The Department of Mental Health is committed to this vision and to putting research results into practice. 

• Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, UMass Chan Medical School. A DMH Research Center of Excellence

• MGH Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research

Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC)

Visit the iSPARC Website  2024 DMH Centers of Excellence Annual Report - UMass Medical School  2024 UMass Medical School Annual Report Executive Summary 

MGH Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research

Visit the MGH Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research Website  2024 DMH Centers of Excellence Annual Report - Mass. General Hospital  2024 DMH Centers of Excellence Executive Summary - Mass. General Hospital 

Annual Research Centers of Excellence Conference

The goal of the Annual Research Centers of Excellence Conference is for DMH clients, their family members, DMH staff, and providers to learn more about the work these two centers are doing, and for these centers to learn how their research can best support DMH, and its mission and the people served by DMH. 

• The 2025 Annual Center of Excellence Conference was held on May 29, 2025
• Check back for information on the 2026 Conference

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DMH IRB Research Rules and Forms

DMH IRB Research Rules and Forms