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Science News About Institute Announcements

A headshot of Dr. Joshua Gordon.
Dr. Joshua Gordon to Step Down as Director of the National Institute of Mental Health

On February 29, 2024, Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., announced his decision to end his tenure as the director of the National Institute of Mental Health.

Brain made up of glowing, connected lights.
Using Games to Explore the Mind

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the non-profit organization The Many Brains Project partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of Us Research Program to adapt a series of new game-like tasks that are now part of the All of Us Research Program’s participant experience.

National Essay Contest for High School Students Ages 16-18. Speaking Up About Mental Health. Cash prizes! Entries due January 16, 2024. A high school student in a wheelchair using her laptop. Three teens collaborating on a writing project.
High School Students Invited to Reflect on Mental Health Stigma in National Essay Contest

The National Institutes of Health is inviting high school students ages 16-18 to participate in an essay contest on the topic of mental health stigma.

An organization chart featuring brightly colored icons of people standing in squares.
NIMH Creates Division of Data Science and Technology

On October 23, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announced the creation of a new Division of Data Science and Technology (DST).

A headshot of Dr. Patricia A. Areán.
Dr. Patricia A. Areán Named New Director of NIMH’s Division of Services and Intervention Research

Patricia A. Areán, Ph.D., has been selected as the new director of the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR).

Portrait of Dr. Susan Daniels
NIMH’s Dr. Susan Daniels Designated National Autism Coordinator

Susan A. Daniels, Ph.D. has been appointed as the HHS National Autism Coordinator and Director of the Office of National Autism Coordination (ONAC).

A headshot of Karen Berman, M.D.
NIMH Researcher Karen Berman Elected as AAAS Fellow

Karen Berman, M.D., a senior investigator at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), has been elected as a 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow.

Dr. Elisabeth Murray featured image
Dr. Elisabeth Murray Honored With Mika Salpeter Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Elisabeth A. Murray has been honored with the 2022 Mika Salpeter Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Neuroscience recognizing her distinguished career in biomedical research and dedication to mentoring future leaders in neuroscience.

Picture of Dr. Karen Lincoln
Dr. Karen Lincoln Wins the 2022 James Jackson Memorial Award

Dr. Karen D. Lincoln wins the 2022 NIMH James Jackson Memorial Award in recognition of her excellence in mental health disparities research, mentorship, and community engagement.

Portrait shot of Dr. Robert Heinssen
Dr. Robert Heinssen to Step Down as DSIR Director

In June 2022, Robert Heinssen, Ph.D., ABPP, will step down as director of the NIMH Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR) and transition to a new role as a senior advisor in the NIMH Office of the Director.

Tracy Waldeck, Ph.D.
Dr. Tracy Waldeck Named Director of NIMH Division of Extramural Activities

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recently selected Tracy Waldeck, Ph.D., as director of the Institute’s Division of Extramural Activities (DEA).

Headshot of Dr. Anna Ordóñez
Anna E. Ordóñez Named Director of NIMH’s Office of Clinical Research

NIMH has selected Anna E. Ordóñez, M.D., M.A.S., as director of the Office of Clinical Research (OCR).

abstract artwork made of wide lines
Acting National Autism Coordinator Named

National Autism Coordinator Ann E. Wagner, Ph.D., will retire from federal service on June 30, 2021—Susan A. Daniels, Ph.D., will serve as Acting National Autism Coordinator beginning on July 1, 2021, and until a permanent successor is named.

Andrea Beckel-Mitchener, Ph.D.
NIMH’s Dr. Andrea Beckel-Mitchener Named Deputy Director of NIH BRAIN Initiative

Andrea Beckel-Mitchener, Ph.D., has been named deputy director of the trans-NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative.

National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH Director’s Statement: Our Commitment to Ending Structural Racism in Biomedical Research

In this statement, NIMH Director Dr. Joshua Gordon reaffirms his commitment to dismantling structural racism in biomedical research and describes next steps for NIMH.

Dr. Carlos Zarate
NIMH’s Carlos Zarate Jr., M.D., Elected to National Academy of Medicine

Carlos Zarate Jr., M.D., chief of the Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch within the NIMH Intramural Research Program, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH Director’s Statement on Racism

Right now, people across the country are currently coping with yet another episode of violence perpetrated against a person of color. In this Institute Update, Dr. Gordon addresses recent events.

NIMH Strategic Plan logo
New NIMH Strategic Plan Paves the Way for Advances in Mental Health Research

The Strategic Plan for Research advances the Institute’s mission and helps guide future mental health research efforts.

a pair of hands hold a mobile phone; the index finger of one hand is touching the screen
Digital Mental Health: Innovating in a Time of High Anxiety

Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Mental Health, and P. Murali Doraiswamy, M.B.B.S., of Duke University School of Medicine, discuss the use of apps to manage mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Susan Amara, Ph.D.
NIMH Scientific Director Susan Amara Selected as AAAS President-Elect

Susan Amara, Ph.D., scientific director of the Intramural Research Program at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), has been selected to serve as president-elect of the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Infant and female caregiver holding tablet and speaking with doctor.
NIH Awards Funding for Early Autism Screening

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded more than four million dollars in FY 2019 to support seven research projects aimed at developing and validating screening tools to detect signs of autism spectrum disorder in the first year of life.

Icon for Clinical Research Toolbox
NIMH Announces New Clinical Research Toolbox

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recently developed a Clinical Research Toolbox designed to assist clinical investigators with the development of clinical research studies.

National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH Director’s Statement on Diversity

NIMH Director’s Statement on Diversity

National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH Deploys New Strategy for Outreach

NIMH has developed NIMH Education and Awareness, a portal on the NIMH website with tools and resources designed for and dedicated to outreach.

An image showing the internal structure of the brain
NIMH Grantees Named Recipients of Prestigious Presidential Award

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) congratulates NIMH grantees who received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).

Speaking Up About Mental Health essay contest poster
Nationwide Essay Contest Challenges High Schoolers to be Frank About Mental Health

The National Institutes of Health invites students ages 16 to 18 years old to participate in the “Speaking Up About Mental Health!” essay contest to explore ways to address the stigma and social barriers that adolescents from racial and ethnic minority populations may face when seeking mental health treatment.

Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN)® Initiative Investigators Meeting
Fifth Annual BRAIN Initiative Investigators Meeting

On April 11-13, 2019, approximately 1,500 scientists from many disciplines will attend the fifth annual Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN)® Initiative Investigators Meeting in Washington, DC. This open meeting provides a forum for discussing scientific developments and potential new directions, and to identify areas for collaboration and research coordination.

illustration of two human outlines with gears above their heads, indicating shared ideas
NIMH Explores the “Next Big Thing” in Mental Health Services Research

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)’s 24th biennial Mental Health Services Research (MHSR 2018) conference held August 1-2, in Rockville, MD, brought together mental health researchers, trainees, consumers, advocates, and mental health care providers to learn about current research findings and discuss new research that might close the gap between what science shows is most effective and what services people actually receive in real-world settings.

National Institute of Mental Health
NIH Directors Address Chronic Pain and Opioid Crisis at Annual Society for Neuroscience Meeting

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, at a press conference at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual Meeting, National Institutes of Health directors will discuss how NIH is marshalling resources, primarily through the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative, to come up with short- and long-term solutions for countering the pain and opioid crisis.

National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH Director Joshua Gordon and IRP Researcher Ellen Leibenluft Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and Ellen Leibenluft, M.D., chief of the Section on Mood Dysregulation and Neuroscience and co-chief of the Emotion and Development Branch in the NIMH Intramural Research Programs, have been elected as members of the National Academy of Medicine.

National Institute of Mental Health
Media Advisory: NIMH Researchers Available to Discuss the Suicide Prevention Research

For National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, NIMH Director Dr. Joshua Gordon and Dr. Jane Pearson, chair of the Suicide Research Consortium at the NIMH, are available for interviews on suicide prevention research, trends, and the findings and implications of recent studies.

Mental Health Services Research Webinar
NIMH Conference to Explore Mental Health Services Research

On August 1-2, 2018, the NIMH is hosting the 24th Mental Health Services Research (MHSR) Conference with the theme: What’s the Next Big Thing? The conference aims to promote high-priority areas in mental health services research and identify opportunities with potential for significant impact for people with mental disorders.

National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH’s Dr. Ann Wagner Designated as the National Autism Coordinator

NIMH’s Dr. Ann Wagner has been designed as the National Autism Coordinator. In this role, she will play a vital role in ensuring the implementation of national autism spectrum disorder research, services, and support activities across federal agencies.

NIMH Twitter Chat
NIMH Twitter Chat on Seasonal Affective Disorder

On February 20, 2018, join NIMH for a Twitter chat on Seasonal Affective Disorder with expert Dr. Matthew Rudorfer.

NIMH redesigns health statistics pages
Mental Illnesses by the Numbers

Redesigned web section adds interactive tools, sharing features.

National Institute of Mental Health
Different Approaches to Understanding and Classifying Mental Disorders

Research in a wide range of disciplines supports the idea that mental disorders result from the complex interplay of biological, developmental, social, and environmental processes; however, the more we learn about mental disorders, the more we realize there are still gaps in our understanding of how best to classify, diagnose, and treat them.

Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Leading Neuropsychopharmacology Organization Promotes NIMH Director to Fellow Status

Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., Director of NIMH, has been promoted to Fellow status by the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology based on his scientific reputation, contributions to the College through committee work and involvement in the Annual Meeting program.

Dr Josh Gordon seated at desk, hands on keyboard, smiling at camera.
NIMH Director Joshua Gordon Elected to Rank of AAAS Fellow

American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to induct Dr. Gordon and other recipients in February ceremony.

Twitter bird logo over "@NIMHDirector" next to laptop displaying the directors new twitter page.
NIMH Launches Twitter Account for Director

Follow @NIMHDirector on Twitter.

female medical professional and patient
NIMH Releases Strategic Research Priorities Update

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recently released its second annual update of the Strategic Research Priorities.

illustration of a brain
The NIH NeuroBioBank: Addressing the Urgent Need for Brain Donation

The directors of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke discuss the importance of post-mortem brain donation in a joint message.

NIMH Deputy Director Shelli Avenevoli, Ph.D
Avenevoli Named NIMH Deputy Director

Dr. Shelli Avenevoli has been named deputy director of NIMH.

The White House logo
Two NIMH Grantees Receive Prestigious Presidential Award

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) congratulates two NIMH grantees, Mary Kay Lobo from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Eric Morrow from Brown University, who are among the 102 scientists and researchers receiving the 2017 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).

Francis McMahon, M.D.
NIMH’s Francis McMahon, M.D., Awarded Prestigious Colvin Prize

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announces that Francis McMahon, M.D., is a recipient of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation’s 2016 Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research.

Karen F. Berman, M.D.
NIMH’s Karen F. Berman, M.D. elected to National Academy of Medicine

At its annual meeting for 2016, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) announced the election of 79 regular members, including the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH Karen F. Berman, M.D. One of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, election to the Academy recognizes outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

NIMH Research Domain Criteria
RDoC Unit to Co-host Webinar Series

The NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) unit, the Delaware Project (DP), and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) will launch a webinar series examining the science-to-service pipeline in psychology and psychiatry.

Strategic Research Priorities image
NIMH Releases Strategic Research Priorities Update

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recently released updates to its Strategic Research Priorities.

NIMH Research Domain Criteria
RDoC Unit to Host Virtual “Office Hours”

RDoC Unit at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announce that they are holding monthly virtual “office hours” starting Friday, October 14, 2016.

logo for Zero Suicide in health and behavioral health care
NIMH Funds 3 ‘Zero Suicide’ Grants

NIMH is supporting Zero Suicide efforts with 3 new research grants. Each project focuses on prevention and health care systems.

Kavli lighted neurons
NIMH Grantees Named Recipients of Prestigious Kavli Prize

Three NIMH grantees have been named recipients of the 2016 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience.

high resolution brain scan
Human Connectome Project Marks its First Phase

Studies based on a database made available by the Human Connectome Project’s first phase reveal that an individual’s brain connectivity can predict his or her behavior.

The White House logo
NIMH Grantees Named Recipients of Prestigious Presidential Award

NIMH congratulates four NIMH grantees who received the 2016 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).

The thinker with brain map superimposed
Secrets to Our Smarts Hidden in the Folds of Our Cortex

The more folding in the thinking parts of our brain, the smarter we are – to a degree.

a man's hands hold a smartphone
A BRIGHT Technological Future for Mental Health Trials

Is mobile mental health research the next frontier for smartphones? Based on Dr. Patricia Areán’s pioneering BRIGHTEN study, research via smartphone app is already a reality.

Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode
Team-based Treatment for First Episode Psychosis Found to be High Value

Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis is Cost Effective

illustration of neurons firing in brain
Biomarker for Brain Excitability May Help Track Medication Effect

NIMH scientists have recently discovered a link between order in the activity of neurons in the brain and excitability—how likely it is that individual neurons will “fire”— which may provide a means for monitoring treatment of conditions like epilepsy that would be less invasive and thus more versatile than current methods

Medicaid CMS logo
Federal Agencies Partner to Promote Coordinated Services for Patients with First Episode Psychosis

On October 16, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced support for a new treatment for first episode psychosis called coordinated specialty care (CSC). This decision means more clinics may be able to offer CSC and it may become more readily available.

Antipsychotics use among older adults increases with age
Antipsychotics Use Among Older Adults Increases with Age

Researchers find antipsychotic use among older adults increases with age despite known health risks. In 2010, more than 3/4 of seniors receiving an antipsychotic prescription had no documented clinical psychiatric diagnosis during the year. In addition, among those who did have a diagnosed mental disorder and/or dementia, nearly half of the oldest patients had dementia, regardless of FDA warnings that antipsychotics increase mortality in people with dementia.

Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode
Team-based Treatment is Better for First Episode Psychosis

New research shows that a team-based, coordinated specialty care treatment plan produces better outcomes than typical community care for people with first episode psychosis. Investigators also found that treatment is most effective for people who receive care soon after psychotic symptoms begin.

NIMH Research Domain Criteria
RDoC Joins the Twitterverse

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)’s Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Unit has launched its official account on Twitter, @NIMH_RDoC.

people walking along prison cells New NIH-Department of Justice Study
Embracing the SPIRIT of reducing suicide

NIMH, NIH, and the National Institute of Justice are collaborating on a 4-year, $6.8 million study called Suicide Prevention for at-Risk Individuals in Transition or “SPIRIT.” The study focuses on the high-risk individuals who are transitioning from jail to community. SPIRIT is NIMH’s first major investment in suicide prevention in the justice system.

OnTrackNY logo
Psychosis Treatment Program Expands in New York

New York expanded OnTrackNY, a treatment program for youth with psychosis which is an offshoot of one of the two NIMH-funded Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) studies.

young boys reading book
Boys More Likely to Have Antipsychotics Prescribed, Regardless of Age

Boys are more likely than girls to receive an antipsychotic prescription regardless of age, according to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Cover of the new report: Racial/Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use Among Adults
A New Look at Racial/Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use Among Adults

New report on mental health service use among racial/ethnic groups

NIMH Strategic Plan for Research
New NIMH Strategic Plan Aims to Focus, Accelerate Mental Health Research

New NIMH Strategic Plan balances the need for long-term investments in basic research with urgent mental health needs.

Dr. Sarah H. Lisanby, M.D.
Lisanby Chosen to Lead NIMH Division of Translational Research

Dr. Sarah Hollingsworth Lisanby, one of the leading researchers in the area of neuromodulatory interventions for treating major depression, will join NIMH as the director of the Division of Translational Research.

Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode
Medications for Patients with First Episode Psychosis May Not Meet Guidelines

Many patients with first-episode psychosis receive medications that do not meet guidelines. A study finds that almost 40 % of people with first-episode psychosis in community mental health clinics across the country might benefit from medication treatment changes.

Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS)
Soldiers at Increased Suicide Risk after Leaving Hospital

Soldiers hospitalized with a psychiatric disorder have a higher suicide risk in the year following discharge from the hospital.

Joseph Buxbaum, Ph.D.
Largest Autism Gene Dragnet Fingers 33 Prime Suspects

Many patients with psychosis develop health risks associated with premature death early in the course of their mental illness, researchers have found.

NIMH Website Goes Mobile
NIMH Website Goes Mobile

An increasing number of U.S. adults connect to the web through smartphones or a tablets, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Internet Project. With NIMH’s new mobile-friendly website, visitors can access NIMH information and resources anywhere, anytime, and on any device—from desktop computers to tablets and mobile phones.

NIMH Research Domain Criteria
NIMH Creates New Unit to Support Its Research Domain Criteria Initiative

NIMH announces a new unit within the Office of the Director to support the development of the institute’s Research Domain Criteria initiative. The unit will enhance communication with scientists, clinicians, and the public to refine the RDoC research framework and accelerate the translation of basic research into clinical treatments.

Dorsal anterior cingulate cortex
Rapid Agent Restores Pleasure-seeking Ahead of Other Antidepressant Action

A drug being studied as a fast-acting mood-lifter restored pleasure-seeking behavior independent of – and ahead of – its other antidepressant effects.

Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode
Increased Health Risks Linked to First-episode Psychosis

Many patients with psychosis develop health risks associated with premature death early in the course of their mental illness, researchers have found.

CBHSQ Data Review: Past Year Mental Disorders among Adults in the United States
New Report Provides National Clinical Data on the Prevalence of Many Specific Mental Disorders

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released the findings of a new clinical study providing national data on the past-year prevalence of specific mental disorders in adults.

new neurons born in adult dentate gyrus
How Might New Neurons Buffer Against Stress?

Over the past decade or so, evidence has emerged suggesting that the birth of new neurons in the adult brain’s memory hub, or hippocampus, may play a key role the action of antidepressants, resilience to stress, the benefits of exercise and enriched environments, and preventing memory loss. But understanding how it might work has remained elusive. NIMH researchers in NIH’s new Porter Neuroscience Research Center are following up leads.

NIMH Director Thomas Insel, M.D.
NIMH Director Honored by BBRF

NIMH Director Honored by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation

NIMH’s Dr. Robert Heinssen Receives Special Presidential Commendation from APA
NIMH’s Dr. Robert Heinssen Receives Special Presidential Commendation from APA

NIMH’s Dr. Robert Heinssen Receives Special Presidential Commendation from APA

BrainSpan Atlas of the Developing Human Brain
NIH-funded Brain Atlas Offers Clues to Psychiatric Disorders

A brain blueprint maps where genes are tuned on and off during mid-pregnancy—when most brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia occur.

22nd NIMH Conference on Mental Health Services Research
The 22nd NIMH Conference on Mental Health Services Research

The 22nd National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Conference on Mental Health Services Research (MHSR): Research in Pursuit of a Learning Mental Health Care System, will be convened on April 23–25, 2014, at the Natcher Conference Center on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Campus, Bethesda, MD.

Middle schoolers’ field day with the brain
NIMH Scientists Help Students Learn About the Brain at NMHM

NIMH scientists presented hands-on demonstrations of neural electrical activity at the National Museum of Health and Medicine Brain Awareness Week program, March 12, 2014.

student enjoys activities at Brain Awareness Week 2014
Students Unlock the Mysteries of the Brain with NIH Scientists

As part of Brain Awareness Week 2014, scientists from seven NIH institutes will sponsor hands-on activities—aimed at helping students learn about the brain—at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, MD

disability statistics chart
Announcing New U.S. Disability Statistics on the NIMH Website

NIMH announces updated World Health Organization estimates of the burden of disease in the United States.

NIMH Twitter Chat
NIMH Twitter Chat on Eating Disorders

NIMH Twitter Chat on Eating Disorders

National Institute of Mental Health
NICHD/NIMH Podcast on Youth Violence

NIMH/NICHD experts explain what sparks and halts youth violence.