Professor of Psychiatry

Director Research Global Mental Health

Division of Psychology and Mental Health

University of Manchester

Honorary Clinical Professor

University of Liverpool

Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist- EIS

Director Global Centre for Research on Mental Health Inequalities

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Husain has been widely recognised for his contributions to mental health research and cultural psychiatry. He received the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Academic Researcher of the Year Award 2016 in recognition of his excellent work in improving access for marginalised communities to mental health care. In 2024, the University of Manchester honoured him with the "Making a Difference Award" for his significant work on the ROSHNI-2 trial.
Reducing suicide is a priority for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Professor Husain collaborated with a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and Parliamentary Lead for SDGs and contributed to culturally adapted suicide prevention guidelines. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the National Centre for Research on Suicide Prevention and the government’s historic decision to decriminalize self-harm. 
Professor Husain organized the All-Parliamentary Mental Health Summit in March 2020, hosted by the then-President of Pakistan. This summit led to the drafting of Pakistan's Mental Health Policy. In Sindh province, the mental health policy was officially launched on January 26, 2024. Moreover, at the request of the interim Health Minister, Professor Husain’s team at the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL) developed a substance use policy which was launched in early 2024.
Professor Husain’s research has also been recognised in the UK. He has been a NIHR senior investigator. His research emphasises innovation and multilateral learning. The ROSHNI trial was highlighted in Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) guidelines. He organises British Ethnic Minorities engagement events, which have been attended by members of Parliament, who have endorsed the initiative for inclusive mental health research.

Professor Husain is at the forefront of applied research on culturally-adapted psychosocial therapies and innovative pharmacological treatments for mental illness. His internationally leading work is on improving access to appropriate mental health care for the diverse ethnic minority and other marginalised communities. Professor Husain's work is concerned with those aspects of cultural psychiatry which is not only contributing to address the huge Mental Health treatment Gap (MH-Gap) in the low and middle income countries (LAMIC) but have become increasingly important for the optimum development of UK and other high income countries mental health services. 

Professor Husain has successfully completed several externally funded projects which include MRC, Wellcome Trust, NIH-R, SMRI, CIDA, British Council, and has recently received funding from Grand Challenges Canada.  Professor Husain has established research units in Pakistan and Kenya and plan to soon establish such units in Bangladesh, Middle East and Brazil. Professor Husain leads the training in quantitative and qualitative research methods and since 2010 the research group has trained more than 500 clinicians in research methods. In low income and middle countries like Pakistan there is limited training in mental health nursing, as part of a British Council grant for capacity building in LAMIC Dr Husain initiated the first ever training programme for nurses in psychosocial interventions which are now incorporated into the curriculum. Professor Husain has published extensively in peer reviewed journals, more than 200 papers and 150 abstracts, contributed to book chapters, presented his work numerous at national and international conferences and is on the editorial board of prestigious journals.

2004

Specialist Register (General Adult Psychiatry)

General Medical Council, London UK.

2002

Doctorate in Medicine (M.D.)

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy, University of Manchester

1993

Diploma in Psychiatry (Dip.Psych)

School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Manchester

WHO Prize for best diplomate

1989  

Master of Public Health (M.P.H)

School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

1987

Diploma in Public Health (DPH)

Pakistan Council of Legal Education & Research.

1985

Member of College of Physicians & Surgeons, Pakistan (M.C.P.S.Psyche)

College of Physicians & Surgeons, Pakistan

1983

Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (M.B.B.S.)

Dow Medial College, University of Karachi, Pakistan