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Transforming the understanding
and treatment of mental illnesses.

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Photo of Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.

Director’s Messages from 2020

The Lives Lost to COVID-19

By Joshua Gordon on

In this Director’s message, Dr. Gordon shares a personal perspective on the importance of remembering the individual lives that have been lost to COVID-19.

Accelerating Science to Advance Early Interventions for Schizophrenia

By Joshua Gordon on

In this message, Dr. Gordon highlights a new public-private partnership that aims to develop novel treatment approaches that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals at risk of schizophrenia.

Addressing the Crisis of Black Youth Suicide

By Joshua Gordon on

In this message for National Suicide Prevention Month, Dr. Gordon describes NIMH’s efforts to address the rising rates of suicide in the U.S. among Black youth.

RDoC at Ten Years - Part 2: The Next Ten Years

By Joshua Gordon on

In a previous message, Dr. Gordon discussed how the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework has changed the conversation in mental health research since its initiation in 2010. In this message, he looks forward to the next ten years of RDoC.

Why Testing is the Key to Getting Back to Normal

By Guest Author on

In this message, Dr. Gordon joins with 10 other NIH Institute Directors to highlight the importance and necessity of COVID-19 testing and the ways NIH is helping establish programs that will ensure access to and acceptance of rapid and reliable testing for COVID-19.

RDoC at Ten Years: Part 1

By Joshua Gordon on

In the first of two Director’s Messages to mark the 10-year anniversary of the creation of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative, Dr. Gordon discusses the initial purpose of RDoC and the progress made over the last ten years.

NIH One Step Closer to Speeding Delivery of COVID-19 Testing Technologies to Those Who Need It Most Through RADx-UP

By Guest Author on

In this message, Dr. Gordon joins with 10 other NIH Institute Directors to spotlight NIH’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative — a national call for scientists and organizations to advance their innovative ideas for new COVID-19 testing approaches and strategies.

Racism and Mental Health Research: Steps Toward Equity

By Joshua Gordon on

In this Director’s message, Dr. Gordon describes NIMH efforts to address mental health disparities and ensure an effective and inclusive workforce for mental health research.

A Plan for Mental Health Research

By Joshua Gordon on

This week, the National Institute of Mental Health unveiled its new NIMH Strategic Plan for Research. In this Director’s message, Dr. Gordon discusses the advances in knowledge and treatment that got us to where we are today and points to where we want our research to go in the future.

The Kindness of Strangers: Supporting Each Other During COVID-19

By Joshua Gordon on

In this Director’s message, Dr. Gordon reflects on some of the acts of kindness he has encountered and calls on others to support friends, family, and strangers alike during the pandemic.

Piecing Together the Genetic Puzzle of Autism

By Joshua Gordon on

In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon looks at new findings that help shed light on the complex causal web that leads from genes to autism.

Coping with Coronavirus: Support for the Autism Community

By Joshua Gordon on

In this autism awareness month Director’s message, Dr. Gordon addresses the challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Coping With Coronavirus: Managing Stress, Fear, and Anxiety

By Joshua Gordon on

Each person responds to stress in different ways. In this Director’s message, Dr. Gordon talks about managing fear, anxiety, and stress related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Piecing Together the Genetic Puzzle of Schizophrenia

By Joshua Gordon on

In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon highlights new findings that advance our understanding of how genetic differences contribute to the development of schizophrenia.

Addressing Disparities: Advancing Mental Health Care for All Americans

By Joshua Gordon on

Mental health disparities are significant and easily documented. In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon discusses NIMH-funded research that aims to close the gap, ensuring that improved mental health care meets the needs of all Americans.