Intramural Investigators
NIMH scientists conduct research ranging from studies into mechanisms of normal brain function, conducted at the behavioral, systems, cellular, and molecular levels, to clinical investigations into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illness.
The investigators at NIMH include:
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Arash Afraz, M.D., Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Unit on Neurons, Circuits and Behavior (UNCB)
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)
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Veronica Alvarez, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Neurobiology of Compulsive Behaviors
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Susan Amara, Scientific Director, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (LMCN)
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Lauren Atlas, Ph.D. | Adjunct Investigator
Chief
Section on Affective Neuroscience and Pain, NCCIH
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Bruno Averbeck, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Learning and Decision Making (SLDM)
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)
Acting Chief
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)
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Christopher Baker, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Learning and Plasticity
Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC)
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Peter Bandettini, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Functional Imaging Methods
Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC)
Director
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core Facility (FMRIF)
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Christopher M Bartley, M.D., Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Translational Immunopsychiatry Unit (TIU)
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Karen Faith Berman, M.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Integrative Neuroimaging
Chief
Section on Psychosis and Cognitive Studies
Chief
Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch
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James A. Bourne, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Neuroscience and Novel Therapeutics Unit (NNT)
Emotion and Development Branch (E & D)
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Ashura Buckley, M.D. | Senior Clinician
Director
Sleep and Neurodevelopment Service
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Heather Cameron, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
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De-Maw Chuang, Ph.D. | Scientist Emeritus
Scientist Emeritus
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Yogita Chudasama, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Behavioral Neuroscience
Director
Rodent Behavioral Core
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Bevil Conway, Ph.D. | Adjunct Investigator
Chief
Unit on Sensation, Cognition, Action, NEI
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George Dold, M.S. | Core Director
Director
Section on Instrumentation (SI)
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Lee E Eiden, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Molecular Neuroscience
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation
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Charles R. Gerfen, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Office of the Scientific Director
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Samer Hattar, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
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Mark H Histed, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
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Robert Innis, M.D., Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
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Angela Langdon, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Unit on the Neural Computations in Learning
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Soohyun Lee, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Unit on Functional Neural Circuits
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David Leopold, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Cognitive Neurophysiology and Imaging (SCNI)
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)
Director
Neurophysiology Imaging Facility
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Zheng Li, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Synapse Development Plasticity
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Sarah Lisanby, M.D. | Adjunct Investigator
Director
Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit
Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch
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Silvia Lopez-Guzman, M.D., Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Unit on Computational Decision Neuroscience (CDN)
Emotion and Development Branch (E & D)
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Stefano Marenco, M.D. | Core Director
Director
Human Brain Collection Core (HBCC)
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Alex Martin, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Cognitive Neuropsychology
Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC)
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Francis McMahon, M.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Genetic Basis of Mood and Anxiety Disorders (GBMAD)
Human Genetics Branch
Chief
Human Genetics Branch
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Tobias Merson, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Staff Scientist
Oligodendroglial Interactions Group
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Betsy Murray, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (SNLM)
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)
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Allison C Nugent, Ph.D. | Core Director
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Maryland Pao, M.D. | Senior Clinician
Clinical Director
Office of the Clinical Director
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Mario Penzo, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on the Neural Circuits of Emotion and Motivation
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Francisco Pereira, Ph.D. | Service/Team Director
Director
Machine Learning Team
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Victor Pike, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience (SDAN)
Emotion and Development Branch (E & D)
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Dietmar Plenz, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Critical Brain Dynamics
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Armin Raznahan, M.D., Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Developmental Neurogenomics
Human Genetics Branch
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Barry Richmond, M.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Neural Coding and Computation (SNCC)
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)
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Peter Schmidt, M.D. | Principal Investigator
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Wallace (Philip) Shaw, B.M., B.Ch., Ph.D. | Adjunct Investigator
Chief
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, NHGRI
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Jun Shen, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
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Paul Taylor, Ph.D. | Core Director
Chief
Unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration
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Adam Thomas, Ph.D. | Service/Team Director
Director
Data Science and Sharing Team
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Audrey Thurm, Ph.D. | Service/Team Director
Director
Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service
Office of the Clinical Director
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Ted Usdin, M.D., Ph.D. | Service/Team Director
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Tonya Jo Hanson White, M.D., Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Chief
Section on Social and Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience
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Benjamin White, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
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W Scott Young, M.D., Ph.D. | Scientist Emeritus
Scientist Emeritus