• Institute update
This spring, Sarah Hollingsworth «Holly» Lisanby, MD, director of the Translational Research Division (DTR), will leave NIMH to join the Arizona State University (ASS) as a dean founder of the new Faculty of Medicine of Asu and Advanced Medical Engineering.
When joining Nimh in 2015, Dr. Lisanby directed the fusion of two separate divisions to form a new translational research division, an integrated entity that covers the translational mental health research in life. Since 2015, Dr. Lisanby has supervised an important portfolio of research funds, shaped the National Agenda for Mental Health Research and encouraged collaboration between the Extramural and Intramural Research Programs of the Institute.
Under the leadership of Dr. Lisanby, the Nimh translational research division launched several new programs to advance in an integrative research portfolio that unites a variety of research domains, including computational psychiatry, social neuroscience, statistical methods, neuromodulation, neurotherapeutic and genomic transptional. Dr. Lisanby has also had significant papers in Brain research through innovative neurotecutologies® Initiative or brain initiative®as co-leader of a team focused on neuronal recording and modulation devices and as an architect and co-leader of the Nih Brain Brain-Beavior Program and Synchronization .
In addition to her extramural roles, Dr. Lisanby served as the founder and director of the Non -Invasive Neuromodulation Unit of the Nimh intramural research program. This transdisciplinary research program has focused on unpacking the mechanisms of non -invasive neuromodulatory treatments to develop safer, more effective and personalized interventions for treatment resistant to treatment and autistic spectrum disorder. Dr. Lisanby’s key achievements include pioneer magnetic seizures as a rapid action treatment for depression. She is the author of more than 330 publications and is recognized as a leading figure in the field of neuromodulation.
Dr. Lisanby serves in the Neurological Device Advisory Panel of the United States Drug and Food Administration and has held key leadership positions in professional organizations, including the Task Force Service of the American Psychiatry Association to review the practice of electroconvulsive therapy (TEC) and the president of the International Society of Tec and Neuroestimulation. Before coming to Nimh, Dr. Lisanby also served at the Nimh scientific advisors Board.
Dr. Lisanby has received numerous national and international awards, including the Distinguished Researcher Prize at the Brain Behavior Research Foundation Foundation, the Max Hamilton Memorial Prize of the Association of Depression and Depression of Collegium Internatione Neuropsychopharmacologicum, the R. Klerman’s R. Klerman Award of the National Association of Depression and Depression Manic, Eva King Killam Research Award of the American College of Neuropsypharmacology.
Before her arrival at Nimh, Dr. Lisanby was the professor of Psychiatry at JP Gibbons at Duke University and the first woman to be selected as president of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Duke. Psychiatrist certified by the Board, Dr. Lisanby received her dual Bs titles in Mathematics and Psychology and her MD at Duke University.
Dr. Lisanby’s passion for advancing in mental health, commitment to innovative research and leadership will be deeply lost in Nimh.
