The mission of the neuroscientists at the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, a 50-person research group established by Dr. Pearlson in 2002, is to study severe mental illnesses and to translate their findings rapidly into new, effective treatments. In the Center’s four component laboratories, they are applying brain imaging techniques to a broad variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, from childhood to old age, including dementias, mood disorders, substance abuse problems, autism, schizophrenia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychopathy.

Dr. Pearlson’s research interests include the role of illness vulnerability genes in the brain as demonstrated through functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ongoing projects include collaboration in a multi-site psychosis project (BSNIP) and Brain and Alcohol Research with College Students (BARCS). His research also involves neuropsychopharmacologic probes and the development of fMRI tasks using virtual reality scenarios.

Dr. Pearlson was formerly a Professor of Psychiatry and Founding Director of the Division of Psychiatry Neuroimaging at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.