National Academy Honors Stanford Psychiatrist for Decades of Biological Research and Clinical Innovation
WASHINGTON — The National Academy of Medicine announced that Dr. Alan F. Schatzberg, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, has been awarded the 2025 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health.
The international prize, established in 1992, recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations that have demonstrated exceptional achievements in improving mental health. Dr. Schatzberg was selected for his research on the biological mechanisms underlying mood disorders, his contributions to psychopharmacology, and his sustained leadership in medical education.
Breakthrough Contributions to Psychopharmacology and Depression Treatment
Dr. Schatzberg serves as the Kenneth T. Norris Jr. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and directs the Stanford Mood Disorders Center. Over a research and clinical career spanning several decades, his work has influenced the practice of biological psychiatry and the treatment of major depressive disorder.
His research accomplishments include investigations into hypercortisolism in psychotic depression, as well as contributions to the development of novel therapeutic modalities, such as targeted brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression. Furthermore, Dr. Schatzberg's clinical studies helped elucidate the role of mu-opioid receptor pathways in mediating the antidepressant properties of ketamine, providing critical insights into pharmacologic interventions for severe mood conditions.
Beyond empirical research, Dr. Schatzberg authored the Manual of Clinical Psychopharmacology, a fundamental reference text currently in its 10th edition and published in more than ten languages worldwide.
Leadership in Mentorship and Medical Education
In its award announcement, the National Academy of Medicine emphasized Dr. Schatzberg’s contributions to academic mentorship. For more than 30 years, he has led a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded fellowship training program, alongside co-leading an NIMH career development institute for two decades. These initiatives have trained hundreds of translational researchers, fellows, and junior faculty members across the field of academic psychiatry.
Dr. Schatzberg has previously held several major professional leadership positions, having served as president of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Society of Biological Psychiatry.
The Sarnat Prize, which includes a commemorative medal and a $20,000 award, was formally presented during the National Academy of Medicine's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.