Scientific Council

The BBRF Scientific Council guides the Foundation to fund creative and impactful research relevant to the whole spectrum of mental illness.

Led by Dr. Herbert Pardes, the founding President of our Scientific Council, the all-volunteer group of 193 pre-eminent mental health researchers rigorously evaluates every grant application, identifying the most promising, high-quality science. Research proposals are submitted from around the world. The BBRF Scientific Council reviews hundreds of grant applications submitted from around the world and selects the most promising research ideas with the greatest potential to lead to breakthroughs.

Scientific Council Listing


Search By Last Name:
Last Name: A
Ted Abel, Ph.D.
Carver College of Medicine University of Iowa
Abel
Anissa Abi-Dargham, M.D.
Stony Brook University School of Medicine
Abi-Dargham
Nii Addy, Ph.D.
Yale School of Medicine
Addy
Susanne E. Ahmari, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh
Ahmari
Olu Ajilore, M.D., Ph.D.
Ajilore
Schahram Akbarian, M.D., Ph.D.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Akbarian
Susan G. Amara, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine / University of Pittsburgh
Amara
Stewart A. Anderson, M.D.
Anderson
Nancy C. Andreasen, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Andreasen
Carmen Andreescu, M.D.
Andreescu
Victoria Arango, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health
Arango
Amy F.T. Arnsten, Ph.D.
Yale School of Medicine
Arnsten
Gary S. Aston-Jones, Ph.D.
Rutgers University
Aston-Jones
Randy P. Auerbach, Ph.D.
Auerbach
Last Name: B
Tracy L. Bale, Ph.D.
University of Colorado
Bale
Debra Bangasser, Ph.D.
Bangasser
Jay M. Baraban, M.D., Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baraban
Tallie Z. Baram, M.D., Ph.D.
Baram
Deanna M. Barch, Ph.D.
Barch
Samuel H. Barondes, M.D.
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Barondes
Carrie E. Bearden, Ph.D.
University of California, Los Angeles
Bearden
Francine M. Benes, M.D., Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School / McLean Hospital
Benes
Karen F. Berman, M.D.
National Institutes of Health / NIMH Intramural Research Program
Berman
Wade H. Berrettini, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Berrettini
Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D.
Florida Atlantic University
Blakely
Julie A. Blendy, Ph.D.
Blendy
Pierre Blier, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research
Blier
Hilary P. Blumberg, M.D.
Yale University School of Medicine
Blumberg
Vadim Bolshakov, Ph.D.
Bolshakov
Antonello Bonci, M.D.
Global Institutes on Addiction
Bonci
Kathleen T. Brady, M.D., Ph.D.
Brady
Kristen J. Brennand, Ph.D.
Brennand
Robert W. Buchanan, M.D.
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Buchanan
Peter F. Buckley, M.D.
Buckley
William E. Bunney, Jr., M.D.
University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Bunney
Joseph D. Buxbaum, Ph.D.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Buxbaum
Last Name: C
Tyrone D. Cannon, Ph.D.
Yale University
Cannon
William A. Carlezon, Ph.D.
McLean Hospital
Carlezon
William T. Carpenter, Jr., M.D.
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Carpenter
Cameron S. Carter, M.D.
University of California, Davis
Carter
Edwin H. Cook, M.D.
University of Illinois, Chicago
Cook
Richard Coppola, D.Sc.
National Institute of Mental Health
Coppola
Ronald L. Cowan, M.D., Ph.D.
Cowan
Christopher W. Cowan, Ph.D.
The Medical University of South Carolina
Cowan
Joseph T. Coyle, M.D.
Harvard Medical School
Coyle
Jacqueline N. Crawley, Ph.D.
University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento
Crawley
Kathryn R. Cullen, M.D.
Cullen
Last Name: D
Zafiris J. Daskalakis, M.D., Ph.D.
UC San Diego Health
Daskalakis
Karl A. Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D.
Stanford University
Deisseroth
J. Raymond DePaulo, Jr., M.D.
Johns Hopkins University
DePaulo
Robert Desimone, Ph.D.
Desimone
Ariel Y. Deutch, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt University
Deutch
Ralph J. DiLeone, Ph.D.
Yale School of Medicine
DiLeone
Lisa Beth Dixon, M.D., M.P.H.
Columbia University Medical Center
Dixon
Wayne C. Drevets, M.D.
Janssen Research and Development
Drevets
Kafui Dzirasa, M.D., Ph.D.
Duke University
Dzirasa
Last Name: F
Guoping Feng, M.D., Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Feng
André A. Fenton, Ph.D.
Fenton
Robert L. Findling, M.D.
Findling
Stan B. Floresco, Ph.D.
University of British Columbia
Floresco
Judith M. Ford, Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Ford
Alan Frazer, Ph.D.
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Frazer
Robert R. Freedman, M.D.
Freedman
Last Name: G
Aurelio Galli, Ph.D.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Galli
Mark S. George, M.D.
Medical University of South Carolina
George
Elliot S. Gershon, M.D.
University of Chicago
Gershon
Mark A. Geyer, Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego / VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health
Geyer
Jay N. Giedd, M.D.
Giedd
Jay Adam Gingrich, M.D., Ph.D.
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons / New York State Psychiatric Institute
Gingrich
James M. Gold, Ph.D.
University of Maryland School of Medicine / Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
Gold
David Goldman, M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Goldman
Andrea Goldschmidt, Ph.D.
Goldschmidt
Rita Z. Goldstein, Ph.D.
Goldstein
Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health
Gordon
Elizabeth Gould, Ph.D.
Princeton University
Gould
Anthony A. Grace, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh
Grace
Dorothy E. Grice, M.D.
Grice
Raquel E. Gur, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Gur
Last Name: H
Suzanne N. Haber, Ph.D.
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Haber
Philip D. Harvey, Ph.D.
Harvey
Stephan Heckers, M.D.
Vanderbilt University
Heckers
René Hen, Ph.D.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center / New York State Psychiatric Institute
Hen
Takao K. Hensch, Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School
Hensch
Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, M.D.
Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
Hirschfeld
Elliott L. Hong, M.D.
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Hong
Laura M. Huckins, Ph.D.
Huckins
Yasmin L. Hurd, Ph.D.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Hurd
Last Name: I
Robert B. Innis, M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Innis
Alicia Izquierdo, Ph.D.
Izquierdo
Last Name: J
Jonathan A. Javitch, M.D., Ph.D.
New York State Psychiatric Institute / Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Javitch
Daniel C. Javitt, M.D., Ph.D.
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Javitt
Shafali Spurling Jeste, M.D.
Jeste
Dilip V. Jeste, M.D.
University of California, San Diego
Jeste
Last Name: K
René S. Kahn, M.D., Ph.D.
Kahn
Ned H. Kalin, M.D.
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Kalin
Peter W. Kalivas, Ph.D.
Medical University of South Carolina
Kalivas
Eric R. Kandel, M.D.
Columbia University / Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Kandel
Thomas L. Kash, Ph.D.
Kash
Ege T. Kavalali, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine
Kavalali
Richard S.E. Keefe, Ph.D.
Keefe
Christoph B. Kellendonk, Ph.D.
Kellendonk
Martin B. Keller, M.D.
Alpert Medical School of Brown University / Butler Hospital
Keller
John R. Kelsoe, M.D.
University of California, San Diego
Kelsoe
Kenneth S. Kendler, M.D.
Medical College of Virginia / Virginia Commonwealth University
Kendler
James L. Kennedy, M.D.
Center for Addiction and Mental Health / University of Toronto
Kennedy
Robert M. Kessler, M.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kessler
Mary-Claire King, Ph.D.
University of Washington-Seattle
King
Arnold R. Kriegstein, M.D., Ph.D.
Kriegstein
John H. Krystal, M.D.
Yale University School of Medicine
Krystal
Last Name: L
Cecile D. Ladouceur, Ph.D.
Ladouceur
Amanda J. Law BSc (Hons), MSc, Ph.D.
Law
James F. Leckman, M.D., Ph.D.
Yale School of Medicine
Leckman
Francis S. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
Weill Cornell Medicine / NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Lee
Robert H. Lenox, M.D.
University of New England
Lenox
David A. Lewis, M.D.
Lewis
Jeffrey A. Lieberman, M.D.
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Lieberman
Gregory A. Light, Ph.D.
Light
Kelvin O. Lim, M.D.
VA Medical Center, Minneapolis (VA) / University of Minnesota
Lim
Sarah H. Lisanby, M.D.
National Institute of Mental Health
Lisanby
Joan L. Luby, M.D.
Luby
Irwin Lucki, Ph.D.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Lucki
Beatriz Luna, Ph.D.
Luna
Gary Lynch, Ph.D.
University of California, Irvine
Lynch
Last Name: M
Robert C. Malenka, M.D., Ph.D.
Stanford University School of Medicine
Malenka
Anil K. Malhotra, M.D.
Zucker Hillside Hospital / Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Malhotra
Husseini K. Manji, M.D.
Oxford University
Manji
J. John Mann, M.D.
Columbia University Medical Center
Mann
John S. March, M.D., M.P.H.
Duke University Medical Center
March
Stephen A. Maren, Ph.D.
Texas A&M University
Maren
Keri Martinowich, Ph.D.
Martinowich
Daniel H. Mathalon, M.D., Ph.D.
UCSF School of Medicine
Mathalon
Helen S. Mayberg, M.D.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Mayberg
Carla Mazefsky, Ph.D.
Mazefsky
Colleen A. McClung, Ph.D.
McClung
Ronald McKay, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University Medical School
McKay
James H. Meador-Woodruff, M.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Meador-Woodruff
Herbert Y. Meltzer, M.D.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Meltzer
Kathleen R. Merikangas, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Merikangas
Richard J. Miller, Ph.D.
Northwestern University
Miller
Guo-li Ming, M.D., Ph.D.
Ming
Karoly Mirnics, M.D.
Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Mirnics
Bita T. Moghaddam, Ph.D.
Oregon Health & Sci University
Moghaddam
Lisa M. Monteggia, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt University
Monteggia
David A. Morilak, Ph.D.
Morilak
Last Name: N
Charles B. Nemeroff, M.D., Ph.D.
The University of Texas at Austin
Nemeroff
Eric J. Nestler, M.D., Ph.D.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Nestler
Andrew A. Nierenberg, M.D.
Nierenberg
Last Name: O
Patricio O'Donnell, M.D., Ph.D.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
O'Donnell
Dost Ongur, M.D., Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School
Ongur
Maria A. Oquendo, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Oquendo
Last Name: P
Herbert Pardes, M.D.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Pardes
Martin P. Paulus, M.D.
Paulus
Godfrey D. Pearlson, M.D.
Yale School of Medicine
Pearlson
Peter Penzes, Ph.D.
Northwestern University
Penzes
Mary L. Phillips M.D., M.D. (Cantab)
University of Pittsburgh / Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic
Phillips
Marina R. Picciotto, Ph.D.
Yale School of Medicine
Picciotto
Daniel S. Pine, M.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Pine
Robert M. Post, M.D.
George Washington School of Medicine
Post
James B. Potash, M.D., M.P.H.
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Potash
Susan B. Powell, Ph.D.
Powell
Last Name: R
Pasko Rakic, M.D., Ph.D.
Yale University
Rakic
Judith L. Rapoport, M.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Rapoport
Perry F. Renshaw, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Utah School of Medicine
Renshaw
Kerry J. Ressler, M.D., Ph.D.
Emory University School of Medicine
Ressler
Victoria B. Risbrough, Ph.D.
University of California San Diego
Risbrough
Carolyn I. Rodriguez, M.D., Ph.D.
Rodriguez
Bryan L. Roth, M.D., Ph.D.
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical School
Roth
Laura M. Rowland, Ph.D.
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Rowland
Scott J. Russo, Ph.D.
Russo
Last Name: S
Gerard Sanacora, M.D., Ph.D.
Yale School of Medicine
Sanacora
Akira Sawa, M.D., Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University
Sawa
Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D.
Schatzberg
Nina R. Schooler, Ph.D.
State University of New York Downstate Medical Center
Schooler
Robert Schwarcz, Ph.D.
University of Maryland
Schwarcz
Yvette I. Sheline, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Sheline
David A. Silbersweig, M.D.
Harvard Medical School
Silbersweig
Vikaas Singh Sohal, M.D., Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Sohal
Matthew W. State, M.D., Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco
State
Murray B. Stein, M.D., MPH, F.R.C.P.C.
University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Stein
Joanna E. Steinglass, M.D.
Steinglass
Stephen M. Strakowski, M.D.
Strakowski
Last Name: T
Carol A. Tamminga, M.D.
University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical School
Tamminga
Laurence H. Tecott, M.D., Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Tecott
Last Name: V
Flora M. Vaccarino, M.D., Ph.D.
Yale University School of Medicine
Vaccarino
Rita J. Valentino, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Valentino
Jeremy M. Veenstra-VanderWeele, M.D.
Columbia University
Veenstra-VanderWeele
Susan Voglmaier, M.D., Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Voglmaier
Aristotle N. Voineskos, M.D., Ph.D.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health / University of Toronto Canada
Voineskos
Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
National Institutes on Health
Volkow
Last Name: W
Karen Dineen Wagner, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston
Wagner
Daniel R. Weinberger, M.D.
Lieber Institute for Brain Development
Weinberger
Myrna M. Weissman, Ph.D.
Weissman
Last Name: Y
L. Trevor Young, M.D., Ph.D.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto
Young
Jared W. Young, Ph.D.
University of California, San Diego
Young
Last Name: Z
Carlos A. Zarate, Jr., M.D.
National Institute of Mental Health
Zarate
Jon-Kar Zubieta, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute
Zubieta

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The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is a global nonprofit organization focused on improving the understanding, prevention and treatment of psychiatric and mental illnesses.

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Beginning in 1987, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation was providing seed money to neuroscientists to invest in “out of the box” research that the government and other sources were unwilling to fund. Today, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is still the leading, private philanthropy in the world in this space.

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