|
Office of the Scientific Director (OSD) - OSD Staff
Richard Nakamura - Director of the Division of Intramural Research Programs |
|
|
Dr. Richard K. Nakamura is currently the Scientific Director as well as the Deputy Director of NIMH. Dr. Nakamura received his
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Earlham College (Richmond, IN), his Master of Arts in Psychology
from New York University, and his Ph.D. in Psychology from State University of New York (Stony Brook,
NY). He has been with NIMH since 1976 — first in NIMH and NEI post-doctoral fellowships within the
Laboratory of Neuropsychology and a staff fellowship and senior staff fellowship in the Laboratory of
Psychology. In the mid-80’s he transitioned to extramural administration, first running the
Biobehavioral Program and later the Intergrative Neuroscience Research Branch. Since 1997, he has
served as Acting Deputy Director, Deputy Director and Acting Director. While at NIMH, he has held
other positions such as Associate Director for Science Policy and Program Planning; Chief, Behavioral
and Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch; and Coordinator, ADAMHA Office of Animal
Research Issues. Dr. Nakamura has special expertise in several areas, including cognitive and
comparative neuroscience, science policy/funding and ethics in science. He has published 26 peerreviewed
scientific journal articles, most related to neurocognition of primates.
|
|
|
In 1999, Dr. Nakamura led NIH/NIMH participation with the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office in
researching and writing the first report on mental illness. The report goes into detail on the
fundamentals of mental health and mental illness, the prevalence and treatment of mental illness,
the tie between mind and body, policy, legal and ethical issues around mental illness, and a vision
for the future. The report further details mental health issues surrounding children, adults and older
adults. Dr. Nakamura was also involved in the development of the supplement to the Surgeon
General’s Report: Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity.
Dr. Nakamura received recognition from the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services for his leadership in the Secretary’s Initiative in Mental Health, and for the Surgeon General’s
Report on Mental Health. In 2001, he received the NIH-Asian/Pacific American Organization (APAO)
Outstanding Achievement Award for Administrative Work. In 2002, Dr. Nakamura was elected by the
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Board of Directors to the status of
AAAS Fellow. Also in 2002, Dr. Nakamura was awarded the Presidential Rank Award for outstanding
leadership. In 2004 and 2005 respectively, he received leadership awards from the Federation of
Behavioral Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, and from the International Society for Behavioral
Neuroscience.
|
Address: |
|
National
Institute of Mental Health
10 Center Drive
Building 10, Room 4N222
Bethesda, MD 20892 |
Phone: |
|
301-496-3501 |
E-Mail
Dr. Nakamura |
Fax: |
|
301-480-8348 |
|
|