Prestigious Lieber Prize for Schizophrenia Research Goes to Dr. Michael O’Donovan
Prestigious Lieber Prize for Schizophrenia Research Goes to Dr. Michael O’Donovan
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation celebrated 25 years of Empowering Research for Productive Lives and honored eight extraordinary scientists at its Annual National Awards Dinner in New York City on October 26.
Michael O’Donovan, M.D., Ph.D., was one of two winners of the Lieber Prize for Schizophrenia Research this year. Dr. O'Donovan is Deputy Director of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and of the Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University School of Medicine, in Wales, where he is also Professor of Psychiatric Genetics. The main focus of his research has been on the genetics of schizophrenia and on basic laboratory methods related to genomics and gene regulation. His landmark research with Michael Owen, M.D., Ph.D., (who also won the Lieber Prize this year) involves the application of molecular genetic technology to identify specific risk genes for schizophrenia and optimize treatment decisions for individual patients.
Dr. O’Donovan was selected through a peer-review process of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Scientific Council, a volunteer group of 138 pre-eminent mental health researchers. These annual prizes are amongst the most prestigious recognitions possible in psychiatric research.