and OCD Research Fellowship

Our program is currently recruiting MD candidates for research fellowships.

Program Description We are located in the Research Institute at Montefiore Einstein (PRIME) at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and aim to develop innovative, novel and breakthrough treatments for unique overlapping conditions; and to clarify underlying mechanisms that underlie core symptom domains across these conditions. Our Autism and Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Program focuses on Disorders (ASD), Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), and Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) and (TS). Our work seeks to bridge and translate basic neuroscience discoveries into innovative experimental therapeutics and new clinical treatments.

Dr. Eric Hollander is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Director of the Autism and OCD Program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medicine. He has been the PI of 10 federal grants, authored 528 publications, has 22,574 citations and an h-index of 84. He was chair of the DSM-5 Research Planning Agenda for Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorder; was director and PI of the NIH STAART Autism Center of Excellence, and PI of the NIMH Psychopharmacology Training Fellowship. The program has received funding from the Department of Defense, and the Orphan Products Division of FDA, for autism, body dysmorphic disorder, and Prader Willi Syndrome.

We were recently awarded funding by the Department of Defense Autism Research Program to study Cannabidivarin (CBDV) vs. Placebo in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The primary aim is to compare changes in irritability from baseline to endpoint between the treatment and placebo groups. The secondary aims include comparing repetitive behaviors, social communication, quality of life, and adaptive behavior. We also received funding from the Orphan Products Division of the Food and Drug Administration to study Intranasal Oxytocin vs. Placebo for the Treatment of Hyperphagia in Children and Adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). In this study we will determine if intranasal oxytocin is effective in reducing hyperphagia in PWS. We also received funding from Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health, to study Long-term Antipsychotic Pediatric Safety (LAPS). In this trial the primary objective is evaluate the long-term pathologic weight changes associated with multi-year risperidone or aripiprazole therapy in 3 –18 y.o. children who have varying durations of prior antipsychotic drug exposure from the start of study Month 0 (M0). Our program works with industry sponsors: GW Pharmaceuticals, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Curemark LLC, Takeda, Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Neurocrine Biosciences, Pfizer, Forest Research Institute (now Allergan), Transcept Pharmaceuticals, and Coronado Biosciences. Foundations that have provided funding for our research include the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research and the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI).

Fellowship Description

We are seeking a full-time fellow to work with our interdisciplinary team of physicians and psychologists on novel pharmacological studies for the treatment of Autism, Prader-Willi Syndrome, OCD and related disorders. The research fellow will work directly under the Principal Investigator and Director, Dr. Eric Hollander.

Applicant Requirements  Applicants must have an MD  Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in psychiatry research  1-year to 3-year fellowship opportunities are available

To apply, please send CV and Letter of Interest to [email protected]