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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 principal investigators at NIMH include:

Principal Investigators

Chief
Unit on Neurons, Circuits and Behavior (UNCB)
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)

Chief
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (LMCN)

Chief
Section on Learning and Decision Making (SLDM)
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)

Chief
Section on Learning and Plasticity
Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC)

Chief
Section on Neuroadaptation and Protein Metabolism (SNPM)

Chief
Section on Integrative Neuroimaging
Chief
Section on Psychosis and Cognitive Studies
Chief
Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch

Chief
Section on Neuroplasticity

Chief
Section on Molecular Neuroscience
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation

Senior Investigator

Chief
Section on Neurobiology of Fear and Anxiety

Chief
Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms (SLCR)

Chief
Section on Functional Neuroanatomy (SFN)
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation

Chief
Unit on Neural Computation and Behavior (Histed group)

Chief
Section on PET Neuroimaging Sciences
Chief
Molecular Imaging Branch (MIB)

Senior Investigator

Chief
Unit on Functional Neural Circuits

Chief
Section on Mood Dysregulation and Neuroscience (SMDN)
Co-Chief
Emotion and Development Branch (E & D)

Chief
Section on Synapse Development Plasticity

Chief
Section on Cognitive Neuropsychology
Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC)

Chief
Human Genetics Branch

Photo of Kathleen Merikangas

Kathleen R Merikangas, Ph.D.

NIH Distinguished Investigator

Chief
Genetic Epidemiology Research Branch (GEB-SDGE)

Chief
Section on Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (SNLM)
Chief
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)

Chief
Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory

Chief
Section on PET Radiopharmaceutical Sciences

Photo of Daniel Pine

Daniel Pine, M.D.

NIH Distinguished Investigator

Chief
Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience (SDAN)
Co-Chief
Emotion and Development Branch (E & D)

Chief
Section on Critical Brain Dynamics
Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience

Chief
Section on Developmental Neurogenomics
Human Genetics Branch

Chief
Section on Neural Coding and Computation (SNCC)
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)

Chief
Behavioral Endocrinology Branch

Chief
Mood Brain & Development Unit (MBDU)
Emotion and Development Branch (E & D)

Profile photo of Hugo Tejada, PhD

Hugo Tejeda, Ph.D.

Stadtman Investigator

Chief
Unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration

Photo of Leslie Ungerleider

Leslie Ungerleider, Ph.D.

NIH Distinguished Investigator

Chief
Section on Neurocircuitry
Chief
Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC)

Chief
Section on Neural Function (SNF)

Chief
Section on Neural Gene Expression (SNGE)
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation

Photo of Carlos Zarate

Carlos Zarate Jr, M.D.

NIH Distinguished Investigator

Chief
Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch

Assistant Clinical Investigators

Assistant Clinical Investigator
Neuroscience and Novel Therapeutics Unit (NNT)
Emotion and Development Branch (E & D)

Core Directors

Chief
Section on Functional Imaging Methods
Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC)
Director
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core Facility (FMRIF)

Chief
Section on Behavioral Neuroscience
Director
Rodent Behavioral Core

Director
Scientific and Statistical Computing Core - Overview

Director
Section on Instrumentation (SI)

Chief
Section on Cognitive Neurophysiology and Imaging (SCNI)
Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN)

Director
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Core Facility

Director
Transgenic Core Facility

Chief
Section on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Director
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Core (MRS)

Service/Team Directors

Director
Sleep and Neurodevelopment Service
Office of the Clinical Director

Director
Machine Learning Team

Director
Data Science and Sharing Team

Director
Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service
Office of the Clinical Director

Director
Systems Neuroscience Imaging Resources

Adjunct Investigators

Chief
Section on Affective Neuroscience and Pain, NCCIH

Chief
Unit on Sensation, Cognition, Action, NEI

Chief
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, NHGRI

Scientists Emeritus

Scientist Emeritus