April 03, 2025
Thursday, April 24, 2025 | 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. ET
This presentation provides an in-depth overview of the Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Schizophrenia (AMP SCZ) initiative, a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing our understanding of the critical period before the first onset of psychosis in those who go on to develop schizophrenia. Participants will explore the initiative’s primary goals, including the development of tools to improve the success of pharmacologic treatments for individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis. The session will highlight the integration of lived experience into research and governance structures, demonstrating how this approach enriches scientific endeavors and ethical practices. Additionally, attendees will learn about the initiative’s scientific progress, such as the development and validation of biomarkers and outcome measures, and the co-design of digital tools with individuals with lived experience.
Our Guest Experts
Carlos A. Larrauri, JD, MPA, MSNCarlos A. Larrauri is the Co-chair of the AMP® Schizophrenia Steering Committee and Faculty in Mental Health Leadership: Transformation Through Innovation at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Carlos integrates his lived experience with psychosis into his advocacy, research, and leadership roles, contributing to initiatives that advance early intervention and precision psychiatry. His dedication to combining scientific inquiry with personal insight has helped shape mental health practices and policies. Holding degrees in law, public administration, and nursing, Carlos applies a multidisciplinary perspective to his work. He previously served on the NAMI National Board of Directors (2017–2023), underscoring his sustained dedication to mental health advocacy.
Michael Sand, PhD Dr. Michael Sand has 35 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, focused on developing novel compounds for serious mental illness. He currently serves as an Independent Consultant to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and previously worked as a Senior Clinical Program Leader at Boehringer-Ingelheim, leading the development of compounds aimed at cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. He brings extensive expertise in clinical trial methodologies, having pioneered the clinical development and regulatory approval of treatments in psychiatry and women’s health. His contributions to schizophrenia cognition trials are internationally recognized, and his scholarly work includes over 100 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Sand’s approach is characterized by thoughtful and honest leadership, deeply informed by his broad experience in CNS clinical trials.