Dr. Anissa Abi-Dargham, a distinguished professor at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, has been selected to receive the 2025 Award for Research in Psychiatry from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). This award acknowledges significant contributions to the field of psychiatry, through either a single achievement, a body of work, or a lifetime of impactful research.
Dr. Abi-Dargham's recognition comes from her extensive contributions to schizophrenia research, which have significantly influenced the field. She will be presented with the award at the APA’s annual meeting in Los Angeles on May 19.
Expressing her feelings about the award, Dr. Abi-Dargham stated, “I am very honored and grateful to receive this award and be able to present the work of many trainees and collaborators I have had the privilege to work with over the course of my career.” She added, “It is a pleasure to work with such talented and dedicated scientists and to contribute to the discovery process. This award is very meaningful, particularly at a time when research is facing many challenges.”
Since joining Stony Brook in 2016, Dr. Abi-Dargham has focused on molecular imaging, pharmacology, schizophrenia, and addiction in her clinical and research work. Her research aims to enhance understanding of the neurobiology of severe mental illnesses, especially through the investigation of molecular markers using multi-modal imaging techniques.
Dr. Abi-Dargham oversees a multidisciplinary team that employs various neuroimaging methods to explore significant questions about brain mechanisms related to schizophrenia. At the APA annual meeting, she will deliver a lecture titled “Misfiring signals: Dopamine Dysfunction in Schizophrenia – From Neural Pathways to Behavioral Manifestations” to APA members nationwide.