Each year, the BBRF convenes its Scientific Council, a collective of nearly 200 distinguished experts spanning various disciplines within brain and behavioral sciences, to meticulously evaluate the contributions of numerous candidates. This rigorous selection process ensures that awardees exemplify exceptional innovation and have a tangible impact on advancing mental health research. The 2025 prizewinners will share their cutting-edge findings at the upcoming BBRF International Mental Health Research Symposium, scheduled for October 24, 2025, at New York City’s Kaufman Music Center. The formal awards ceremony will follow that evening, further celebrating these leaders in psychiatric science.

One of the honored recipients, Dr. Daniel C. Javitt from the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Columbia University, will receive the Lieber Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Schizophrenia Research. His pioneering presentation, “Listening to Schizophrenia: How Modern Neuroscience Explains the Subjective Experience of Schizophrenia and Points to New Treatment and Remediation Approaches,” promises to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying the complex phenomenology of schizophrenia. By integrating contemporary neuroscience with clinical insights, Dr. Javitt aims to refine diagnostic frameworks and explore innovative remediation strategies to alleviate cognitive and perceptual disruptions characteristic of this disorder.

Complementing this effort, Dr. Antigona Martinez, also affiliated with Nathan Kline Institute and Columbia University, will be awarded the Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research. Her work centers on modulating specific brain circuits to enhance emotional recognition deficits in schizophrenia patients. Employing advanced neuroimaging techniques and circuit-based interventions, Dr. Martinez investigates how targeted manipulations within neural networks can restore social cognitive functions, which are crucial for daily interpersonal interactions and quality of life.

In the realm of mood disorders, Dr. Ole A. Andreassen of the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital will be recognized with the Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research. His research utilizes large-scale genetic analyses to uncover biological pathways implicated in bipolar disorder. Dr. Andreassen’s approach integrates genomics with clinical phenotyping, offering unprecedented insights that may translate into precision medicine. These discoveries hold potential for developing individualized therapies that directly target the molecular substrates of mood dysregulation.

The Ruane Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Research goes to Dr. Luis Augusto Paim Rohde, whose work at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and affiliated institutions in Brazil focuses on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). His presentation, “What Can a Research Center in Brazil Tell Us About ADHD?” exemplifies how regional research centers can contribute valuable epidemiological and neurodevelopmental data in diverse populations, thereby enriching global perspectives on pediatric psychiatric conditions and informing cross-cultural diagnostic and treatment protocols.

Highlighting cognitive neuroscience, Dr. Joseph LeDoux of New York University and NYU Langone will receive the Goldman-Rakic Prize. His talk, “What Happened to the ‘Mental’ in ‘Mental’ Disorders?” challenges prevailing frameworks by revisiting the cognitive and emotional dimensions of psychiatric illnesses. Dr. LeDoux’s work intricately dissects the neural circuits involved in fear and anxiety, proposing refined models that bridge the gap between brain-based mechanisms and subjective mental experiences.

In addition to these scientific accolades, the Foundation will spotlight a humanitarian leader, Nur Yanayirah, founder of MotherHope Indonesia, who earned the 2025 Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health. Her presentation, “Empowering Maternal Voices Through Peer Support and Advocacy,” underscores the crucial role of community-driven mental health initiatives. By facilitating peer support networks and advocacy, Ms. Yanayirah’s efforts address maternal mental health challenges, which are often marginalized yet essential for broader societal well-being.

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has been a transformative force in psychiatric research funding since its inception in 1987. With over $475 million awarded to more than 5,700 scientists globally, the BBRF exclusively channels every donated dollar into research grants, thanks to separate grants covering operational costs. This financial model underscores a profound commitment to accelerating breakthroughs in conditions such as addiction, ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia.

Beyond funding, the BBRF is actively combating the stigma surrounding mental illness. It produces the Emmy®-nominated public television series “Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein,” which aims to demystify psychiatric disorders and promote hope through education. This multifaceted approach of supporting scientific inquiry while fostering public understanding exemplifies the Foundation’s holistic mission to transform mental health care worldwide.

The 2025 Outstanding Achievement Prizes signify more than just awards; they herald a new era of integrative, precise, and humane psychiatric research. Each recipient’s work embodies the cutting edge of neuroscience and psychiatry, combining molecular genetics, neuroimaging, cognitive psychology, and community health. Collectively, their contributions offer renewed optimism for developing effective interventions that will ultimately reduce the personal, social, and economic burdens imposed by mental illnesses.

As mental health conditions remain among the leading causes of disability globally, initiatives like those supported by the BBRF are critical. They fuel the scientific engine that moves us closer to unraveling the complexity of brain disorders and establishing durable, personalized treatments and prevention strategies. The upcoming symposium and awards dinner in New York City will not only celebrate these scientific achievements but also galvanize further philanthropic support, ensuring that innovation in mental health research continues unabated.

Through visionary funding, robust peer review, and public engagement, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation exemplifies a model for how science can drive societal progress in understanding and treating mental illnesses. The 2025 award recipients stand as beacons of this enduring endeavor, reminding us of the power of research to illuminate the shadowed corridors of the mind and improve the lives of millions worldwide.

Subject of Research: Mental health, schizophrenia, mood disorders, ADHD, cognitive neuroscience, psychiatric research

Article Title: Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Announces 2025 Outstanding Achievement Prizes in Mental Health

News Publication Date: Not specified

Web References: https://bbrfoundation.org/, https://bbrfoundation.org/event/international-mental-health-research-symposium

Image Credits: BBRF

Keywords: Mental health, psychiatry, schizophrenia research, mood disorders, ADHD, cognitive neuroscience, psychiatric science, brain research, neuropsychiatry, genetic analysis, neuroimaging, mental illness treatment

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts and repetitive behaviors that severely diminish quality of life. Central to these symptoms is a disruption in the brain’s inhibitory mechanisms—the neural processes that regulate impulse control and suppress unwanted behaviors and thoughts. The study by Rodriguez-Manrique et al. focuses on dissecting these mechanisms by examining how tDCS, applied to specific cortical regions, modulates activity within the inhibitory control network. Crucially, the team’s approach simultaneously monitors brain activity via fMRI to capture the dynamic neurophysiological changes elicited by tDCS. This dual-modality design provides a rich spatial and temporal map of brain function during and after stimulation that was previously unattainable.

At the core of the research lies the hypothesis that targeted tDCS can enhance inhibitory control by normalizing aberrant neural activity found in OCD patients. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region long implicated in executive function and behavioral regulation, serves as the primary stimulation site. By delivering weak, direct currents to the DLPFC, the researchers aim to modulate the excitability of neurons, thereby restoring improved inhibitory processing. The novel insight comes from observing how these electrical interventions reshape functional connectivity within the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit, a well-known network that exhibits dysregulated signaling in OCD pathology.

The experimental protocol employed in this study involved patients undergoing multiple sessions of tDCS while simultaneously undergoing fMRI scans. This simultaneous acquisition allowed for tracking transient and sustained changes in blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals that correspond to neuronal activity. Detailed analysis revealed that active tDCS enhanced activation within the right DLPFC and downstream inhibitory nodes, including the anterior cingulate cortex and the basal ganglia. These regions are integral to implementing control over intrusive thoughts and compulsive motor patterns, implying that tDCS selectively boosts the neural substrates governing self-regulation and inhibition.

Interestingly, the brain stimulation effects were not uniform but instead displayed subject-specific variability, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of OCD and its neural underpinnings. Factors such as baseline cortical excitability, anatomical differences, and symptom severity influenced the magnitude and distribution of tDCS-induced modulation. This underscores the critical need for personalized treatment paradigms when applying neuromodulatory techniques and raises exciting prospects for adaptive stimulation protocols guided by real-time neuroimaging feedback.

The research also addressed a fundamental question regarding the directionality of tDCS effects—whether the applied current enhances or suppresses cortical excitability in targeted regions. Through concurrent fMRI measurements, the study demonstrated a predominantly excitatory influence over the right DLPFC, which aligns with the goal of fortifying top-down inhibitory processes. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the simplistic cathodal-anodal dichotomy of tDCS effects and reinforces the complexity of current flow dynamics within the human brain, a key consideration for clinical applications.

Beyond immediate changes in neural activity, the study explored the potential for tDCS to induce lasting plastic changes in inhibitory networks. Longitudinal analyses suggested that repeated stimulation sessions resulted in progressive normalization of functional connectivity patterns within the CSTC loop. This neuroplastic effect may underpin the sustained clinical benefits observed in some patients undergoing tDCS treatment, offering hope for durable symptom alleviation in OCD—a disorder notoriously resistant to conventional therapies.

Of particular note is the use of simultaneous tDCS–fMRI, which enabled precise investigation into temporal aspects of neural modulation. The high temporal resolution afforded by this combination revealed rapid onset responses within milliseconds after current application, followed by more prolonged shifts in resting-state network configurations. Such insights are crucial in optimizing stimulation parameters—intensity, duration, electrode montage—to maximize therapeutic impact while minimizing side effects.

Methodologically, integrating tDCS with fMRI posed significant technical challenges, including managing artifacts induced by electrical currents in MRI data acquisition. The team developed rigorous preprocessing pipelines to de-noise and correct for these artifacts, ensuring that the observed BOLD signal changes authentically reflected neural activity rather than measurement confounds. This technical breakthrough sets a new standard for future neuromodulation research, expanding the possibilities to study brain stimulation effects in vivo with unprecedented clarity.

The implications of this study extend far beyond OCD, as inhibitory control deficits are central to numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, ranging from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to substance abuse and schizophrenia. Understanding how non-invasive brain stimulation can selectively target and recalibrate inhibitory networks opens a wide therapeutic frontier. Rodriguez-Manrique et al.’s findings contribute foundational evidence toward developing personalized, biofeedback-informed interventions that harness brain plasticity mechanisms to remediate dysfunctional inhibitory processes.

Clinicians and researchers are particularly hopeful that neuromodulation strategies informed by such detailed mechanistic insights will complement existing pharmacological and cognitive-behavioral therapies, which often fall short in achieving full remission. By illuminating the neural circuitry changes induced by tDCS, this work paves the way for refining treatment protocols to maximize efficacy and durability, potentially transforming the therapeutic landscape for refractory OCD patients.

Moreover, ethical considerations accompany the increased use of brain stimulation technologies, especially when deployed alongside neuroimaging. The demonstration of precise, targeted effects alleviates some safety concerns but also demands careful regulation and informed consent protocols to ensure responsible clinical translation. Future studies are encouraged to further evaluate long-term impacts, cognitive outcomes, and potential off-target effects.

In sum, this landmark investigation by Rodriguez-Manrique and colleagues exemplifies the power of combining cutting-edge neurostimulation with functional imaging to unravel complex brain-behavior relationships. Their work not only advances fundamental neuroscience knowledge on inhibition control networks but also propels clinical neuropsychiatry into a new era of precision brain modulation. As this line of research accelerates, we may soon witness transformative treatments that restore mental health by recalibrating the brain’s own inhibitory engine.

The marriage of tDCS and fMRI stands as a vivid testament to the synergy achievable when technological innovations converge, enabling scientists to peer deeper into the living human brain while dynamically nudging its activity toward health. With continued interdisciplinary collaboration, the quest to decode and heal the neural circuits disrupted by OCD and related disorders is entering an auspicious phase, brimming with hope and scientific rigor.

Subject of Research: Investigating the neural effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on inhibitory control networks in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients using simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Article Title: Investigating the effects of brain stimulation on the neural substrates of inhibition in patients with OCD: A simultaneous tDCS – fMRI study.

Article References:
Rodriguez-Manrique, D., Ruan, H., Winkelmann, C. et al. Investigating the effects of brain stimulation on the neural substrates of inhibition in patients with OCD: A simultaneous tDCS – fMRI study. Transl Psychiatry 15, 173 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03381-9

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03381-9