image: 2024 Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners
Credit: BBRF
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, the world’s largest private funder of mental health research grants, today announced it is awarding the 2024 Outstanding Achievement Prizes in Mental Health to six scientists for their exceptional work in advancing psychiatric research. The prizewinners will be the featured speakers at the BBRF International Mental Health Research Symposium on October 25, 2024, in New York City, and will receive their awards later that evening at the BBRF International Awards Dinner.
“We celebrate the Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners and acknowledge the importance of neuroscience and psychiatric research to transform the lives of people living with mental illness,” said Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., president & CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. “These extraordinary scientists are advancing the development of new treatments, cures and methods of prevention for mental illness. We applaud them, and we thank our philanthropic supporters whose generosity allows us to continue to support the most promising research in the field of neuropsychiatry.”
The Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners are selected by special committees of the Foundation’s Scientific Council, a volunteer group of 195 mental health experts across disciplines in brain and behavior.
“The Outstanding Achievement Prize is awarded to exceptional scientists for their groundbreaking psychiatric research,” said Dr. Judith Ford, president of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation’s Scientific Council. “Because of their important work we are making great progress in our understanding of the brain and how to treat and potentially cure psychiatric illnesses."
The 2024 Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners are:
Lieber Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Schizophrenia Research
Deanna M. Barch, Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
Presentation: Identifying Risk for Developing Psychosis So We Can Promote Prevention
https://psych.wustl.edu/people/deanna-barch
Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research
Nicole Karcher, Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
Presentation: Identifying Risk Factors for Early Psychosis Spectrum Symptoms
https://psychiatry.wustl.edu/people/nicole-karcher-phd-ma/
Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research
Nolan R. Williams, M.D., Stanford University
Presentation: Breakthrough Rapid-Acting Therapeutics: Exploring Efficacy and Mechanisms in Treatment-Resistant Mood Disorders
https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/nolan-williams
Ruane Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Research
John N. Constantino, M.D., Pediatric Institute, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University
Presentation: New Horizons for Child Psychiatry from Research on Individual Differences in Early Social Development
https://www.choa.org/about-us/leadership/john-constantino
Christopher J. McDougle, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Presentation: The Psychopharmacology of Childhood-Onset Neuropsychiatric Disorders Across the Lifespan
https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/19059/chris-mcdougle
Goldman-Rakic Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Cognitive Neuroscience Research
Cameron S. Carter, M.D., University of California, Irvine
Presentation: A Cognitive Neuroscience Approach to Understanding Circuits and Symptoms in Psychosis
https://medschool.uci.edu/about/faculty/cscarte1
Also speaking at the BBRF Symposium will be Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong, winner of the 2024 Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health. Her presentation will be: Navigating My ADHD through Self Art Therapy.
About the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awards research grants to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness. These illnesses include addiction, ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, and schizophrenia, as well as research on suicide prevention. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $461 million to fund more than 5,600 leading scientists around the world. 100% of every dollar donated for research is invested in research. BBRF operating expenses are covered by separate foundation grants. BBRF is the producer of the Emmy® nominated public television series Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, which aims to remove the stigma of mental illness and demonstrate that with help there is hope.