McLean Hospital to establish new clinical and research center with $20 million investment

Funding from Baszucki Group enables McLean Hospital to build the Center for Metabolic Psychiatry, with McLean and MH² jointly leading medical education and training initiatives

McLean Hospital Open external link in a new window , a member of Mass General Brigham, today announced that it will establish a new clinical and research center through a $20 million grant from Baszucki Group. The Mclean Center for Metabolic Psychiatry will serve as a flagship of the newly launched Global Network for the Advancement of Metabolic Psychiatry (MetPsy Open external link in a new window ), which unites researchers and clinicians worldwide to advance evidence-based practice in metabolic psychiatry through clinical care, education, and research. The grant also supports medical education and training initiatives co-led by McLean and MH² Open external link in a new window , a clinical practice, training and education hub.

Metabolic psychiatry is the study of how metabolism influences brain function and mental health. While neurologists have used metabolic approaches to treat brain disorders like epilepsy for more than a century, the application of this approach to psychiatric illness is an emerging area of study and practice. Over the past decade, a growing body of research has demonstrated the potential of metabolic treatments such as ketogenic therapy to improve both metabolic health and psychiatric symptoms in serious mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

"Our multidisciplinary team brings together significant clinical and research expertise to expand patient care, offering the first mental healthcare service focused on ketogenic therapy within a larger, established institution," said center director Dost Öngür, MD, PhD, chief of the Psychotic Disorders Division at McLean Hospital and William P. and Henry B. Test Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "The center will demonstrate the feasibility of integrated metabolic care and provide an operational blueprint for other academic medical centers worldwide."

"Over the past five years, metabolic psychiatry has evolved from a few foundational projects into a dynamic, global movement," said Kirk Nylen, PhD, executive director of MetPsy. "Real scientific breakthroughs don't happen in isolation; they require strong points of connection. MetPsy was created to be that unifying catalyst, bridging scientific and clinical disciplines to translate research into life-changing treatments for people living with severe mental illness. We are proud to launch this global initiative to drive the future of psychiatric care."

As the field expands, demand for resources has grown among researchers and clinicians, as well as the patients they serve. MetPsy addresses this need by providing a centralized network for professional collaboration, shared resources, access to accredited courses, and tools for advancing clinical practice. Backed by foundational support from Baszucki Group, MetPsy aims to include organizations working across all areas of metabolic psychiatry, catalyzing future discoveries and better care.

"The launch of MetPsy reflects our family's commitment to continuing to advance the field of metabolic psychiatry worldwide," said Jan Ellison Baszucki, co-founder of Baszucki Group. "As this network grows, we hope fellow funders will join us in expanding access to evidence-based metabolic interventions-a clinical approach that has restored the health and future of our son Matthew, and offers that same hope to many more."

The McLean Center for Metabolic Psychiatry will advance the goals of MetPsy through its core pillars. Dr. Dost Öngür will direct the center, overseeing clinical care, a research program, and a medical education and training initiative which is co-led by MH² and Dr. Christopher Palmer. Located in Belmont, Massachusetts, McLean Hospital serves as a teaching affiliate for Harvard Medical School and is consistently ranked as the top freestanding psychiatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report.

"Advancing emerging approaches to mental health care requires an integrated model that spans research, clinical practice, and specialized medical education. Through this unique model, we are establishing the evidence base and training protocols needed to support multiple dimensions of metabolic psychiatry", said Christopher M. Palmer, MD, founder and president of MH², director of the Metabolic and Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital, and assistant professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

To learn more about the McLean Center for Metabolic Psychiatry, visit https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/services/metabolic-psychiatry Open external link in a new window . To learn more about the initiative or join the network, visit metpsy.com Open external link in a new window .