Public-academic partnerships: integrating state psychiatric hospital treatment and clinical research

Collaboration between state clinical treatment services and academic research is fertile ground for clinical research opportunities. Such joint initiatives require careful planning, including provisions for joint training, integration of research staff into clinical activities, and integration of clinical treatment staff into research activities. The authors describe the planning and development of a 24-bed research unit at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, colocated on the same campus as Rockland Psychiatric Center, each of which is an independent facility operated by the New York State Office of Mental Health.