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 Press Release 
For immediate release NARSAD’s 21st Annual New York Gala, Friday, Oct. 17 Broadcast Journalist Donna Hanover Will Emcee; Prizes for Outstanding Career Achievements in Neuropsychiatric Research to Be Awarded This year’s gala honors Herbert Pardes, M.D, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, for his career dedication to advancing psychiatric research and care. Dr. Pardes, who trained in psychiatry, headed the National Institute of Mental Health from 1978 to 1984, and later served as chair of psychiatry at Columbia University and director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He went on to become vice president for health sciences and dean of Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons before taking the helm at NewYork-Presbyterian. Through these posts, and as president of NARSAD’s Scientific Council since its formation in 1986, Dr. Pardes has played an instrumental role in the expansion and acceleration of psychiatric and neuroscience research over the last four decades. “Herb Pardes has been a crusader for the patients, families and medical professionals who experience the dire effects of mental illness on a day-to-day basis,” said Constance Lieber, president emerita of NARSAD, who is one of the chairs of the event. “It’s through his keen vision and his dedication to providing the best care to those suffering from serious mental disorders that NARSAD has become the largest source of competitive funding for mental health research outside the U.S. federal government. On behalf of the many thousands of families who have been empowered with the knowledge and hope that come with each new discovery, we are grateful to Dr. Pardes for his leadership and support.” The October 17th tribute to Dr. Pardes will be emceed by broadcast journalist Donna Hanover. Hosting the evening will be the event chairs, Ms. Lieber and her husband, Stephen Lieber, chairman of NARSAD’s board, and Sheila and Thomas Rabaut, former board members. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is honorary chair of the event, and a list of the honorary committee members follows below. The gala evening will also feature the presentation of NARSAD’s annual prizes for outstanding career achievements in research. As the most renowned and coveted prizes in psychiatric and neuroscience research, they recognize leaders in the field for their contributions to the search for the causes, mechanisms, improved treatments and prevention of major mental illnesses. The six recipients of this year’s prizes will be announced on Monday, Oct. 13. NARSAD, which began in the mid-1980s as the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, was established through a partnership of families, mental health organizations and professionals interested in accelerating the pace of research on mental illnesses. Dr. Pardes played a key role in NARSAD’s formation. As president of its Scientific Council, he has been invaluable in guiding the organization’s research grant programs and in attracting new and established investigators to pursue innovative and promising new directions in research. Under Dr. Pardes’ leadership, NARSAD’s grantmaking activity has grown from the initial awarding of five research grants in 1987 to nearly 300 in 2008. The Scientific Council has also grown, to include 110 leading experts in the key areas of psychiatric and neuroscience research who, as volunteers, are responsible for the review of research projects supported by NARSAD funding. Since 1987, NARSAD has distributed more than $238 million in grants to over 2,700 scientists at 431 universities, medical centers and research institutes in the United States and 27 other countries. In 2008 alone, NARSAD administered a record level of grants, supporting 799 scientists who are conducting clinical and basic research relating to depression, anxiety disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, childhood mental disorders, including autism and ADHD, and many other conditions. Individual tickets to the gala are $600, and can be purchased by contacting NARSAD at (800) 829-8289 or events@narsad.org. Prior to the gala, NARSAD will host a free, public symposium on Friday, Oct. 17, which will be held at the Times Center, 242 West 41st Street in Manhattan, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Moderated by Robert M. A. Hirschfeld, M.D., Titus H. Harris Chair and Harry K. Davis Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, attendees will hear from leading-edge NARSAD researchers about the latest findings related to topics that include understanding compulsive behaviors, genetic risk factors for mental illness, and basic research and clinical findings related to the causes, diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia and depression. For additional information, visit www.narsad.org, or call (800) 829-8289. NARSAD’s 2008 New York Gala Honorary Committee: Honorary Chairman – Mayor Michael Bloomberg
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