Our History
Psychiatry is on the brink of a revolution similar to that experienced in oncology. Our history is one of acceleration towards personalized and predictive medicine.
Prof. Marion Leboyer, Chief Executive Officer
A Founding Vision (2007)
The Fondation FondaMental was established as part of the 2007 call for projects “Thematic Research and Care Networks”, launched by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, of which it was a selected laureate.
Under the impetus of the Ministry, it defined a clear mission: to accelerate research on severe mental disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, treatment-resistant depression, autism spectrum disorders without intellectual disability) by structuring an unprecedented collaboration between hospitals and research laboratories.
Building a National Network (2010–2015)
One of the Fondation’s first major achievements was the deployment of the FondaMental Expert Centres.
- Objective: to provide patients with access to cutting-edge diagnostic platforms across the country.
- Results: since their creation, the Expert Centres have welcomed more than 20,000 patients, nearly 10,000 of whom are included in research cohorts.
Today, more than 50 Expert Centres are established throughout France.
Major Scientific Advances
Over the years, the Fondation FondaMental has supported breakthrough projects that have transformed the understanding of psychiatric disorders. Among them:
- Immuno-psychiatry: highlighting the link between the immune system, inflammation, and mental disorders.
- Genetics: participation in large-scale international studies identifying vulnerability genes for bipolar disorders and schizophrenia.
- Digital innovation for patients: development of e-health tools to prevent relapses and support patients in their daily lives.
The Fondation FondaMental in 5 Key Milestones
2007 | Official decree establishing the Fondation FondaMental as a scientific cooperation foundation. |
2011 | Launch of the first Expert Centres for bipolar disorders and schizophrenia. |
2014 | First international conference on immuno-psychiatry, positioning France as a leader in this field. |
2017 | Launch of major research projects on the impact of environmental factors (pollution, stress) on mental health. |
2021 | National advocacy to recognize mental health as a “Great National Cause” and acceleration of investments. |
