American to head schizophrenia research group

A leading American researcher into mental health has been appointed to head a new schizophrenia research team in Australia.

Dr Cyndi Shannon Weickert will take up Australia's first professorial chair in schizophrenia research, based at the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute in Sydney.

Dr Weickert specialises in molecular biology relating to schizophrenia and brain development.

New South Wales Health Minister John Hatzistergos says the group hopes to make some major breakthroughs.

"We do know that it is possible to one day anticipate that we will have a cure towards schizophrenia," he said.

"And being able to have Dr Weickert working with us towards finding a solution is a major coup for New South Wales and Australia in general."

Mr Hatzistergos says Dr Weickert has a close personal association with the disease.

"Dr Weickert is the world's leading authority on this terrible disease. She has a deep personal commitment towards finding a cure because her twin brother also suffers from schizophrenia," he said.

"Dr Weickert's has worked alongside some of the world's leading minds in the field of schizophrenia and has been selected after an extensive international search."

Dr Weickert will begin her new role on December 1.