Director’s Messages

In this message, Dr. Gordon discusses the role of NIMH and others in the bench-to-bedside story of bexanolone, which has just been approved by the FDA as the first treatment specifically for postpartum depression. 

Mental illnesses are a global problem. In this director’s Message, Dr. Gordon discusses his recent trip to Nepal and Kenya to see how NIMH is helping bring cutting-edge research to bear on the problems facing individuals with mental illnesses in low-resource settings.

Dr. Gordon discusses NIMH’s role in the HEAL (Helping End Addiction Long-term ^SM) Initiative -- the National Institutes of Health(NIH)’s all-in, coordinated response to the opioid epidemic.

The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) focuses on research which translates basic neuroscience findings into novel treatments. In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon discusses some of the exciting work presented at this year’s ACNP meeting.

Those of you who follow Dr. Gordon on Twitter (@NIMHDirector) may have seen snippets of his experiences at the 2018 annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), the largest gathering of neuroscientists in the world. In this Director’s message, Dr. Gordon highlights some of the excellent basic research on display at this year’s conference.

Dr. Gordon discusses the presence—and negative impact—of bias in science and how we can take positive steps as individuals and organizations to challenge these assumptions and combat their damaging effects.

Research tells us that severe stress can cause all kinds of adverse health outcomes, including an increased risk for mental illnesses. Dr. Gordon discusses how NIMH is trying to move the field of stress research forward, toward the translation of basic findings into clinical advances.

NIMH is committed to research training and career development of young researchers. As students across the country head back to school, Dr. Gordon discusses some of the ways NIMH supports and trains the next generation of researchers.

In recognition of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Gordon highlights efforts within the NIMH research portfolio to address disparities in mental health and access to care.

Figuring out how best to deliver effective therapies is the domain of services research. Dr. Gordon offers examples of the spectrum of services research supported by NIMH.