Our singular focus on cutting the global burden of depression in half is what makes our work different from traditional university research. Our core values serve as a guiding light for our thinking, approach and actions.
Advancing the UCLA mission
UCLA’s primary purpose is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We best advance this mission through a focus on knowledge discovery and societal impact.
Commitment to justice, equity and inclusion
We are mindful of biases toward race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, identity, age, disability, religion and national origin that have caused vulnerabilities and marginalization among communities we endeavor to serve. We recognize and serve the diversity and unique needs of all people and communities through a lens of awareness with a commitment to recognize and address longstanding biases in societal systems, especially in health research and care.
Partnering for success
Solving depression is a grand challenge requiring many minds and hands working in collaboration to meet our ambitious goal. Our work depends upon and is enriched and advanced through proactive partnership and collaboration across UCLA and with government funders, companies, foundations and scientists from institutions across the U.S. and internationally.
Continuous evaluation and course correction
A grand challenge, by definition, requires the incorporation of high-risk, high-reward novel projects. We embody a start-up, entrepreneurial spirit that embraces rapid implementation with continuous evaluation, failing forward, iteration and course correction.
Taking action
People and communities need solutions now. As we discover and create, we are committed to find a foothold for our work that addresses gaps in the understanding of depression causes, trajectories and treatments. We act as researchers, conveners, advocates and in some cases, implementers of new approaches. Cutting the global burden of depression requires that we be bold and transparent in our actions.
