Strengthening the scientific backbone of the WPA

As per WPA by‐laws, the overarching aims of the Scientific Sections comprise the “collection, analysis, presentation, and dissemination of information concerning services, research, and training in the various fields of psychiatry and mental health and the advancement of scientific knowledge in these fields”.

This is a lot, and may be considered quite ambitions by some. But, on the other hand, the Sections have become known as the “scientific backbone” of the WPA and, as such, they are meant to carry a lot of weight and provide a framework for our field, that is so diverse and deals with disorders that present with a combined lifetime prevalence of up to 40 percent. This diversity certainly is one of the reasons why the number of Sections has now grown to 72.

Given this importance for WPA, the post of Secretary for Scientific Sections comes with a great deal of responsibility and calls for a continuous thought process on how to further develop the Sections and keep them engaged.

In close collaboration with the President and the other members of WPA's Executive Committee, I will dedicate the next six years to the implementation of the following goals:

• Improve and streamline communication between the Sections and facilitate research and publication projects. With the Sections being the backbone for scientific advances within the WPA, the Association will develop an infrastructure that allows for brainstorming on research ideas, swift exchange of research proposals, comments, joint publications, etc.. Coordinated by the Secretariat1, 2, this will be achieved by acquiring novel and flexible information technology (IT) tools, such as web‐based conferencing or sharepoints, and social media outlets. Such infrastructure will also be used to build a database on funding opportunities, with the idea to list country by country names and contact details of funding bodies/agencies and current requests for applications (RFAs) relevant to WPA's work. The emphasis should lie on RFAs aimed at international collaborations. The Sections should furthermore be encouraged to take up research projects that are in line with WPA's Action Plan3 and/or the citiesRISE4 initiative that WPA has partnered with. Ideally, this could be incentivized through a WPA program to offer seed funding based on a matched funding scheme.

• Continue and expand the intersectional activities of WPA. Over the past decade, the WPA has stepped up its efforts to foster intersectional activities at various levels5, 6. This has ranged from arranging intersectional symposia or workshops at WPA meetings to major conferences like the joint meeting of the Section on Epidemiology and Public Health and the Section on Genetics in Psychiatry in Munich in 2016. Ideally, intersectional activities apply a cross‐regional approach.

• Leverage the Sections' experiences and resources to further WPA's activities for early career psychiatrists. Investing into early career individuals is an investment into the future of WPA and psychiatry in general. This is why the WPA established an Early Career Psychiatrists (ECP) Section, following the successful example of the WPA Early Career Psychiatrists Council7. I will closely work with this Section to make sure that early career clinicians and researchers are sufficiently represented in the leadership and activities of all Sections. Leveraging the IT framework currently being built, the creation of a mentoring data base will be explored. Within the ECP program at WPA meetings, I consider implementing “science slams” where ECP individuals would present in a very brief form (5 min or less) current research projects/ideas/grant proposals to the audience. Senior representatives from the WPA Executive Committee, Board, Council, and Sections should be present and comment and give advice.

• Promote gender equity at all levels of Sections and their activities. Together with the Executive Committee and the Secretariat, I will implement measures to promote gender equity across all Sections, in particular as regards committee members and office bearers.

• Establish cross‐country peer networks of researchers to facilitate and share access to knowledge, resources, and strategies to publish successfully. Building on the aforementioned resources and strategies, the Sections should be encouraged to establish efficient and long‐lasting research networks spanning the globe. These could give rise to powerful consortia tackling important research questions and serve as catalysts for early career clinicians and scientists.

• Establish truly authentic and compassionate relationships with organizations representing patients and caregivers. In order to truly bring about change and to improve the lives of millions, WPA needs to bring together researchers/clinicians, patients, and family members/caregivers8. Sections are ideally suited to initiate such “trialogue”9, focusing on specific topics of practical relevance to patients while at the same time establishing links to the research world.

These proposals will be tightly coordinated with the plans and work programs of the new Secretaries for Education and Scientific Publications, as well as the newly established Science Committee. Their implementation and integration in WPA's Action plan is currently discussed at the level of the WPA Executive Committee and Board.

The Secretary for Scientific Sections welcomes any further suggestions as to the future work and visibility of the Sections, WPA's scientific backbone.