Christina Bishop-Feeny Joins the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation as Chief Development Officer

For Immediate Release

NEW YORK CITY—Christina Bishop-Feeny has joined the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation as Chief Development Officer for the organization, which raises money to fund cutting-edge research for the understanding, early detection, treatment, prevention and cure of mental illness. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $346 million in NARSAD Research Grants to more than 4000 scientists around the world.

The announcement was made by Foundation President and CEO Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., who said Ms. Bishop-Feeny would expand the Foundation’s donor base on a regional and national level to advance its mission: funding mental health research that leads to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research to alleviate the suffering caused by mental illness, and, ultimately, improve the lives of people who are affected.

“Ms. Bishop-Feeny brings the Foundation an exceptional background and track record of success during her two-decades of working with donors and nurturing partnerships at nationally recognized health care institutions,” says Dr. Borenstein. “She will play a key role in shaping strategies to help the Foundation advance its fundraising goals.”

“The current environment is increasingly positive for funding neuroscientific research, so the Foundation is well positioned to significantly expand its donor base,” says Ms. Bishop-Feeny. “I feel privileged to be able to help realize the potential of assisting countess individuals and communities by growing the Foundation’s philanthropy to new levels.” 

Before joining the Foundation, Ms. Bishop-Feeny served as Director of Development at Northwell Health Foundation’s Cancer Institute and Institute of Urology, where she directed wide-ranging donor cultivation initiatives; board and volunteer management; the formation of strategic partnerships; served as liaison to marketing, annual fund and planned giving teams; and played a key role in establishing and managing Northwell’s Palm Beach regional development initiative. Her efforts resulted in the naming of several endowed chairs and Northwell’s annual cancer survivors’ celebration; as well as The John Stefanatos Thoracic Tumor Board; The Marsha Sims Braun Patient and Family Center at Katz Women’s Hospital; The Mazzei Family Patient Resource Center for Transplantation; and the funding of The Whisper: The Silent Crisis of Ovarian Cancer, which aired nationally on PBS.

Before that, Ms. Bishop-Feeny served as a senior fund raiser at two other major academic medical centers. At NYU Langone Medical Center, she raised institutional funds for the Children’s Health Initiative and Cancer Institute. At Montefiore Medical Center, she developed a comprehensive fund raising strategy and grew a major gift funding pipeline for the Montefiore - Einstein Heart Center. Her experience in non-profit development included tenures at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Columbia University, NYU School of Law, and New York Law School. 

Ms. Bishop-Feeny holds a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College and received her master’s degree from Columbia University. She is a resident of Bayside, NY.

About the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation:

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is committed to alleviating the suffering of mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research. The Foundation funds the most innovative ideas in neuroscience and psychiatry to better understand the causes and develop new ways to treat brain and behavior disorders. These disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $346 million to fund more than 5,000 grants to more than 4,000 leading scientists around the world. This has led to over $3 billion in additional funding for these scientists. The Foundation is also dedicated to educating the public about mental health and the importance of research including the impact that new discoveries have on improving the lives of those with mental illness, which will ultimately enable people to live full, happy and productive lives. For more information, visit bbrfoundation.org.