Karl Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D., Announced as Inaugural Winner of U-M Depression Center's Translational Research Prize

Dr. Karl Deisseroth was just announced as the inaugural winner of the U-M Depression Center's Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg Translational Research Prize, a $50,000 award. The newly established award is intended for a world-renowned scientist and honors breakthrough research accomplishments that advance knowledge in the understanding of underlying mechanisms and treatments in depression, bipolar illnesses, or related mood disorders.

Dr. Deisseroth is the D.H. Chen Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute of Stanford University. As a scientist, Dr. Deisseroth has expertise in electrophysiology, ion channel structure-function analysis, and optics; he has created, investigated, and applied truly novel molecular tools for neuroscience, and has been the global catalyst for the new field of optogenetics in neuroscience. As a board-certified psychiatrist, he conducts care at Stanford, specializing in treatment-resistant depression, using pharmacological and interventional treatments. He is also a member of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences and of Medicine.

"I am deeply honored to receive this recognition," said Dr. Deisseroth. "Our plan is to use the support to advance the understanding of the neural circuit basis for depression, and uncover new avenues for treatment and cures." 

"We are excited about Dr. Deisseroth's past and future contributions to precision medicine for depression, bipolar illnesses, and related brain disorders," said John F. Greden, M.D., executive director of the U-M Depression Center. "Karl is leading an array of groundbreaking investigations and is a stellar inaugural recipient of the Eisenberg Prize. The Eisenberg family's vision is to advance research capabilities for clinicians at the pinnacle of their field and support those dedicated to training a new generation of translational investigators. Dr. Deisseroth excels in both. He is the perfect choice for this award." 

Learn more about the Depression Center's Eisenberg Research Prize.