MQ

MQ: Transforming Mental Health
Formation	2013
Type	Medical Research
Purpose	Mental Health Research
Location	London, England;
Chair	Sir Philip Campbell
Website	www.mqmentalhealth.org

MQ: Transforming Mental Health is a London-based charity founded in 2013, with initial funding from the Wellcome Trust, to raise funds from the general public for research. ^[1] The charity is based in the UK, but it has an international focus and funds research globally.

The label "MQ" riffs on the concepts of Intelligence quotient (IQ) and Emotional quotient (EQ)^[2] – compare MHQ (Mental Health Quotient).^[3]

Purpose

The charity's goal is to create a world where mental illnesses are understood, effectively treated and made preventable. It funds multi-disciplinary research into mental health relating to biological, psychological, and social sciences.

Research

MQ's research programme focuses on four specific areas: supporting future generations, improving current treatments, promoting research leadership and utilising mental health data.

The MQ fellows award^[4] provides successful applicants with up to £225,000 over three years to support research that explores new ways to understand, treat or prevent mental illness. 20 people have so far been selected for 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.

A large international scientific meeting that is dedicated to mental health science is organised through the charity.^[5] It has been running annually every February since 2014.

Executives

The CEO of MQ is Lea Milligan, formerly the executive director of Mercy Ships UK.^[6] He took up the post in June 2020.^[7]

MQ's chair is Shahzad Malik, general partner of Advent Life Sciences.^[8] He took over from Sir Philip Campbell, the editor-in-chief of Nature.

References

↑ "Transforming Mental Health | MQ Mental Health Research" (in en-GB). https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/who-we-are/.
↑ As the charity's own website (retrieved on 11 March 2026) states: "We already know a lot about IQ. We are learning ever more about the value of emotional intelligence or EQ. But our knowledge of Mental Health is way behind where it needs to be, and without research its[sic] just guesswork. We desperately need to improve our MQ!"
↑ Dharmendra; Kritika Garg (2025). "Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) is as Crucial as Intelligence Quotient (IQ): A Holistic Approach to Human Potential". Research Reinforcement 12 (2): 2 - 3. ISSN 2348-3857. https://researchreinforcement.com/document/E-122-129.pdf. Retrieved 11 March 2026. "The Mental Health Quotient [...] assesses 47 distinct parameters meticulously organised across six fundamental domains: Mood and Outlook (encompassing emotional regulation, positivity, and future perspective), Social Self (covering self-perception in social contexts, interpersonal skills, and relationship quality), Drive and Motivation (reflecting goal-orientation, initiative and perseverance), Cognition (including core functions like memory and attention, as well as complex abilities like planning and problem-solving), Adaptability & Resilience (measuring the capacity to cope with change, stress, and setbacks), and Mind-Body Connection (acknowledging the interplay between mental state and physical health),".
↑ Lock, Helen. "Mental health research: underfunded and failing to attract young academics". https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/feb/18/mental-health-research-underfunded-and-failing-to-attract-young-academics. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
↑ "Live blogging (and more) for a scientific meeting" (in en-GB). https://richardberks.co.uk/testimonial/mq-transforming-mental-health/.
↑ "Mercy Ships UK appoints new Director" (in en-GB). 2020-05-22. https://www.mercyships.org.uk/mercy-ships-uk-appoints-new-director/.
↑ "Mental health research charity announces new CEO" (in en-GB). 2020-05-25. https://www.charitytoday.co.uk/mental-health-research-charity-announces-new-ceo/.
↑ "UK government must reinforce its commitment to science". Financial Times. 2015-09-07. https://www.ft.com/content/83938318-5557-11e5-8642-453585f2cfcd.

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[1] "Transforming Mental Health | MQ Mental Health Research" (in en-GB). https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/who-we-are/.

[2] As the charity's own website (retrieved on 11 March 2026) states: "We already know a lot about IQ. We are learning ever more about the value of emotional intelligence or EQ. But our knowledge of Mental Health is way behind where it needs to be, and without research its[sic] just guesswork. We desperately need to improve our MQ!"

[3] Dharmendra; Kritika Garg (2025). "Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) is as Crucial as Intelligence Quotient (IQ): A Holistic Approach to Human Potential". Research Reinforcement 12 (2): 2 - 3. ISSN 2348-3857. https://researchreinforcement.com/document/E-122-129.pdf. Retrieved 11 March 2026. "The Mental Health Quotient [...] assesses 47 distinct parameters meticulously organised across six fundamental domains: Mood and Outlook (encompassing emotional regulation, positivity, and future perspective), Social Self (covering self-perception in social contexts, interpersonal skills, and relationship quality), Drive and Motivation (reflecting goal-orientation, initiative and perseverance), Cognition (including core functions like memory and attention, as well as complex abilities like planning and problem-solving), Adaptability & Resilience (measuring the capacity to cope with change, stress, and setbacks), and Mind-Body Connection (acknowledging the interplay between mental state and physical health),".

[4] Lock, Helen. "Mental health research: underfunded and failing to attract young academics". https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/feb/18/mental-health-research-underfunded-and-failing-to-attract-young-academics. Retrieved 2015-09-16.

[5] "Live blogging (and more) for a scientific meeting" (in en-GB). https://richardberks.co.uk/testimonial/mq-transforming-mental-health/.

[6] "Mercy Ships UK appoints new Director" (in en-GB). 2020-05-22. https://www.mercyships.org.uk/mercy-ships-uk-appoints-new-director/.

[7] "Mental health research charity announces new CEO" (in en-GB). 2020-05-25. https://www.charitytoday.co.uk/mental-health-research-charity-announces-new-ceo/.

[8] "UK government must reinforce its commitment to science". Financial Times. 2015-09-07. https://www.ft.com/content/83938318-5557-11e5-8642-453585f2cfcd.

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MQ

Topic: Organization

Contents

Purpose

Research

Executives

References