OCHNCTU, the Oxford Cognitive Health and Neuroscience Clinical Trials Unit, conducts clinical trials and methodological research in psychopharmacology, psychology and neuroscience.

In 2008 the Oxford Clinical Trials Unit for Mental Illness (OCTUMI) became the first UKCRC registered Clinical Trials Unit  to specialise exclusively in research related to mental illness. The registration process provided recognition of the past achievements in research conducted by members of the Department of Psychiatry and Centre for Statistics in Medicine and the combined expertise in the areas of design and conduct of clinical trials and the development of trial methodology.

The scope of OCTUMI clinical trials has extended to include trials conducted in cognitive health and neuroscience and across the Department of Psychiatry, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and  Department of Experimental Psychology. In recognition of this broader scope, OCTUMI has now become Oxford Cognitive Health and Neuroscience Clinical Trials Unit (OCHNCTU).

The main focus of OCHNCTU is the design and conduct of clinical trials addressing questions that arise from the work of academic staff and clinicians.

Core Activities include:

1. Translational research - the development and evaluation of promising new treatments.
2. Definitive large scale efficacy trials evaluating existing treatments.
3. Health services research into the quality, effectiveness and accessibility of healthcare.
4. The development of methodology to facilitate research into the causes and treatment of cognitive health, mental health and neurological disorder.
   

OCHNCTU Director, Professor John Geddes has been appointed an NIHR Senior Investigator by a panel of international experts. (NIHR)