The Mental Health Research Centre at Durham University was formed in 2008 as a collaboration with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. We focus on applied clinical research which matters to service users and carers. The strong research infrastructure within the Trust and the research-led environment of the university have enabled the Centre to make rapid progress, including gaining funding from the National Institute of Health Research. There are strong links with the North East Mental Health Research Network. We believe that the future of mental health care depends on an appreciation of the early origins of difficulty, and a greater focus on prevention and early intervention in adolescent and young adult mental health, as well as cure. The University has established a major new collaboration in young people's mental health research, Mental Health Research for the Young) (MeHRY) with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, creating five new academic posts.