The North-West University (NWU) is proud to announce that Prof. Brian H. Harvey, from the subject group Pharmacology and the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC’s) Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, has received an esteemed honour as the year draws to a close.

Prof. Harvey has been invited by the Council of the University of Cape Town (UCT) to accept the title of honorary professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences. This prestigious five-year appointment will run from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.

According to UCT, honorary titles are awarded to individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the university’s academic mission, particularly in teaching and research.

The appointment also recognises the long-standing and highly productive collaboration between Prof. Harvey and members of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UCT. This is notably through his involvement with the SAMRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, based in the Department of Psychiatry and the Neuroscience Institute at UCT.

In his role as honorary professor, Prof. Harvey will continue to contribute to UCT’s academic endeavours, including participating in teaching activities and co-supervising postgraduate students. He will also enjoy a range of academic privileges such as access to library resources at UCT and invitations to official university functions.

UCT expressed appreciation for his extensive contributions to the field and noted that including his honorary affiliation in future collaborative publications would be especially valued as part of the ongoing efforts of the institution to strengthen its research profile.

This latest recognition comes in addition to another prestigious appointment Prof. Harvey received two years ago. In 2023, he was appointed as an honorary professor in the Faculty of Health at Deakin University, Australia, for an initial period of three years. The appointment, which will be up for review in 2026, followed his participation in a Thinker in Residence Programme at Deakin University, as well as many years of sustained research collaboration. His honorary role is situated in the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) at the Deakin University School of Medicine.

Prof. Harvey was also recently appointed as extraordinary professor at the University of Stellenbosch’s Department of Psychiatry, from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028.

Reflecting on the new appointment at UCT, Prof. Harvey expressed his enthusiasm and gratitude:

“This is a very exciting development, one that I believe will have important implications for my research activities and my career at the NWU. My long-standing collaboration with the SAMRC Unit at UCT has been incredibly rewarding, and this appointment will allow me to engage even more closely with their academic programmes and research initiatives,” said Prof. Harvey.

The NWU warmly congratulates Prof. Harvey on this remarkable achievement. His appointments at UCT, the University of Stellenbosch and Deakin University stand as a testament to his distinguished career and influential contributions to mental health research, both locally and internationally.

They also present valuable opportunities to strengthen collaborative ties between the NWU and its global partners, advancing shared research goals and enhancing the collective impact of their work in the field of mental health.

Prof. Brian H. Harvey