Professor Samuele Cortese, is based at the University of Southampton. His research topic with ARC Wessex is looking at personalising treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.
Professor Cortese has just been awarded a prestigious Professorship from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) - one of only six awarded each year.
Each five-year award is of up to £2 million. NIHR Professors' also get three support researchers and access to a leadership and development programme.
Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have problems with attention and need to move more than most children. About 5% of school-aged children and 2% of pre-schoolers have ADHD, respectively. That's almost 10,000 pre-schoolers with ADHD in the South West of England.
Professor Cortese says: "When not treated, ADHD adds a significant burden to society, estimated at around £20,000 per year. It is important to detect and treat ADHD in the early years to prevent the negative consequences later in life.
Our research at University of Southampton will collaborate with international researchers, including a statistician with renowned expertise in this type of analysis into available treatments for ADHD."
Professor Cortese is working with the ARC Wessex Mental Health Hub which was established to expand research into mental health across Wessex.
if only CAMHS waiting times for assessment and diagnosis of ADHD were reduced, so many wasted school years could be saved and the resultant school based trauma and family breakdown could be prevented.