September 17, 2025

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) today announced that Alan F. Schatzberg is the recipient of the 2025 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health for his work advancing knowledge and treatment of depressive disorders, with an emphasis on psychopharmacology. The award, which recognizes Schatzberg’s achievements with a medal and $20,000, will be presented at the NAM Annual Meeting on Oct. 19. Schatzberg is the Kenneth T. Norris Jr. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and director of its Mood Disorders Center.

Schatzberg’s research, teaching, and clinical treatment of major depression has influenced the practice of psychopharmacology and impacted the lives of millions of patients around the world. In addition to his research on major depressive disorder and hypercortisolism in psychotic depression, Schatzberg has contributed to the development of numerous depression treatments including a brain stimulation treatment for resistant depression and uncovered the antidepressant effects of ketamine through its mu opioid activity.

Read the full press release from the National Academy of Medicine »

Dr. William Bunney (UCI) was awarded the School of Medicine Lifetime Research Achievement Award (Clinical/Translational), University of California, Irvine. This award recognizes senior scientists who have made significant fundamental contributions to research with a lasting impact on their fields including academic accomplishments, original contributions to the literature, and significance of innovation to the field.

Megan Hagenauer (UM) was awarded the 2024 NINDS Rigor Champions Prize: Honorable Mention by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), an award for championing activities that promote research rigor and transparency and helping change the culture of science.

October 24, 2023

Presented by President Joe Biden, this prestigious award recognizes Dr. Akil’s outstanding contributions to the “physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or social and behavioral sciences, in service to the Nation.”

At the ceremony, Dr. Akil was praised for her dedication to advancing the field of neuroscience and her tireless efforts to help those with addiction and mental illness. Her work has led to breakthroughs in understanding how the brain works and has opened new avenues for treating these conditions. Her work also played a crucial role in combatting our nation’s opioid epidemic.

Dr. Akil is currently the Gardner C. Quarton Distinguished University Professor of Neurosciences, an MNI research professor, and a professor of psychiatry. She has spent most of her career at U-M building a wide-ranging research program with her scientific partner and husband, Stanley Watson, M.D., Ph.D., the Ralph Waldo Gerard Professor of Neurosciences, an MNI research professor, and professor of psychiatry. Together, Drs. Akil and Watson led the Michigan Neuroscience Institute and its predecessor unit, the Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, for 26 years.

Read the full article at Michigan Neuroscience Institute »