Stephen Warren, Ph.D.
Dr. Warren is the William Patterson Timmie Professor and Chairman of Human Genetics as well as Professor of Biochemistry and of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Warren is world renowned for his research on the genetics of mental retardation and led the international team that identified the FMR1 (fragile X mental retardation 1) gene, which is responsible for fragile X syndrome. Dr. Warren is President of the American Society of Human Genetics and was Editor-in-Chief of The American Journal of Human Genetics from 1999 - 2005. Among his awards are the William Rosen Research Award from the National Fragile X Foundation, a MERIT award from the National Institute of Health and the William Allan Award from the American Society of Human Genetics. In 2003, he was inducted into the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Hall of Honor and, in 2004, Dr. Warren was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Dr. Stephen T. Warren received his PhD in Human Genetics from Michigan State University in 1981.

Robert C. Malenka, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Malenka holds the Pritzker Chair of Psychiatry and is Director of the Pritzker Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. He has been a world leader in elucidating the mechanisms underlying the action of neurotransmitters in the mammalian brain and the molecular mechanisms by which neural circuits are reorganized by experience. His pioneering contributions have laid the groundwork for a more sophisticated understanding of the mechanisms by which neurons communicate and the adaptations in synaptic communication which underlie all forms of normal and pathological behavior. He was trained as both a clinical psychiatrist and cellular neurobiologist and has been at the forefront of helping to apply the knowledge gained from basic neuroscience research to the treatment and prevention of major neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. Malenka received his undergraduate degree from Harvard, his M.D. and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Stanford University , and completed his residency in psychiatry at Stanford as well as further postdoctoral training at UCSF.  Dr. Malenka has received numerous awards for his research including the Young Investigator Award from the Society for Neuroscience, the Perl/UNC Neuroscience Prize and several career development awards from NIH.  He has served on the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse and is a member of the Institute of Medicine and American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Jeffrey Conn, Ph.D.
Dr. Conn is a Professor of Pharmacology and founding Director of Vanderbilt University's Program in Translational Neuropharmacology, an interdisciplinary effort whose goal is to quickly and efficiently translate promising scientific discoveries into novel drug therapies for brain disorders.  Dr. Conn 's ground breaking research into the roles of G-protein coupled receptors and second messenger systems in regulating neuronal function has cemented his position as a leader in the area of neurotransmitter receptors and their regulation of brain function in circuits involved in psychiatric and neurological disorders.  His current focus is on using these basic science advances to guide efforts aimed at discovery and development of new treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders.  Dr. Conn previously held the position of Senior Director and Head of the Department of Neuroscience at Merck and Company's West Point , PA facility. Dr. Conn has received numerous awards and honors, including the NARSAD Essel Investigator Distinguished Investigator Award, Lee University Distinguished Alumnus Award, Eli Lilly Graduate Training Award, and was named as an ISI Most-Cited Scientists in Pharmacology & Toxicology.  Dr. Conn received his Ph.D. degree in Pharmacology in 1986 from Vanderbilt University and pursued postdoctoral studies in the Department of Pharmacology at Yale University.

Richard Paylor, Ph.D.

Dr. Richard Paylor is an Associate Professor of the Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, and Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He is a leader in developing and implementing behavioral test batteries for the analysis of mutant mice.  In particular, he is well recognized for his research directed towards the behavioral characterization of mouse genetic models of mental retardation and developmental disorders including fragile X syndrome. 

Dr. Paylor received his Ph. D. in Psychology from the University of Colorado.  After receiving his degree he pursued postdoctoral training from the Institute of Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.

Next: Programs »