Dr. Judith Ford Named President of Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Scientific Council
July 26 2024 - 9:29AM
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF), the
nation’s top non-governmental funder of mental health research
grants, today announced that Judith M. Ford, Ph.D., is the new
president of its Scientific Council. The all-volunteer group of 192
pre-eminent mental health researchers guides the Foundation to fund
the most creative and impactful research relevant to the whole
spectrum of mental illness. Dr. Ford succeeds Herbert Pardes, M.D,
who was the Founder and President of the Scientific Council from
1987 until his passing earlier this year.
In making the announcement, Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, President
and CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation said, “Dr.
Ford is a renowned force in mental health research. Under her
leadership, the Scientific Council will continue the legacy of Dr.
Pardes by selecting impactful research projects by scientists
around the world. I am excited to work with her as we support the
talented scientists who are expanding the frontier of
neuropsychiatric research and leading us to new pathways for
diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness.”
Dr. Ford co-directs the Brain Imaging and Electroencephalography
(EEG) Laboratory at the University of California in San Francisco,
where she is using human electrophysiological methods to understand
failures of a basic neurophysiological mechanism in patients with
schizophrenia. She was formerly Director of the Schizophrenia
Biological Research Center of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System
and has taught at Stanford and Yale.
The Scientific Council reviews hundreds of grant applications
submitted from around the world and selects the most promising
research ideas with the greatest potential to lead to
breakthroughs, rigorously evaluating every grant application to
identify the most promising, high-quality science. “Scientists
around the globe are expanding our understanding of the brain and
human behavior and are exploring new opportunities to alleviate the
suffering of the millions of people who are impacted by mental
illness,” said Dr. Ford. “I am excited to work with my colleagues
on the BBRF Scientific Council as we guide the BBRF research
portfolio forward by identifying and selecting the most innovative
psychiatric research projects.”
The Brain & Behavior Research FoundationThe
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awards research grants to
develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for
mental illness. These illnesses include addiction, ADHD, anxiety,
autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder,
depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, and schizophrenia, as well
as research on suicide prevention. Since 1987, the Foundation has
awarded more than $450 million to fund more than 5,400 leading
scientists around the world. 100% of every dollar donated for
research is invested in research. BBRF operating expenses are
covered by separate foundation grants. BBRF is the producer of the
Emmy® nominated public television series Healthy Minds with Dr.
Jeffrey Borenstein, which aims to remove the stigma of mental
illness and demonstrate that with help, there is hope.
- BBRF Scientific Council President
Myrna Manners
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
(718) 986-7255
mmanners@mannersdotson.com