BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Awarding research grants to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness. BBRF is the world’s largest private funder of mental health research grants, supporting transformative discoveries in order to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for our loved ones. CONTENTS Mission 4 BBRF Events 28 Leadership Letter 6 The Research Partners Program 42 Important Advancements 8 Team Up for Research 50 BBRF Scientific Council 12 2019 Donor Listing 52 2019 Leading Research Achievements 14 Getting the Word Out 76 BBRF Grants 18 Financial Summary 78 2019 Grants by Illness 20 The Research We Fund We invest in innovative research because we believe that only by pursuing the boldest and most ambitious ideas will we find better treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness. We are at the Forefront of Critical Discoveries Since 1987, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has awarded more than $408 million in grants that have led to discoveries that change the way we think about recovery. BBRF-funded research has contributed to: • FDA approval of the first rapid-acting antidepressants (esketamine and brexanalone) to alleviate severe depression symptoms within hours. • Dietary supplements for pregnant women to potentially help prevent subsequent mental illness in the child. • Development of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and continued improvement of TMS and other non-invasive brain stimulation treatments for treatment-resistant depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. • Computer-guided training for cognitive remediation in people with schizophrenia. MISSION The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is committed to alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research. VISION To dramatically improve the lives of those living with mental illness, ultimately enabling them to live full, happy, and productive lives. We fund leading-edge research for mental health that: • Patients require to recover • Parents desire for their children • Psychiatrists need to provide better care • Pioneering Scientists depend upon to make new discoveries • Philanthropists can point to with pride Our goal: new treatments, cures, and methods of prevention. 30+ 70k+ $408M+ 4,800+ years donors awarded researchers For more than 30 years Our 70,000 donors Since 1987 the Grants have been given the Brain & Behavior have joined together in Foundation has awarded to more than 4,800 Research Foundation the great challenge of more than $408 million leading scientists has fostered new modern medical science to fund more than 5,900 around the world. research pathways — overcoming mental grants. and transformative illness. breakthroughs. WHAT WE SUPPORT BBRF funds research in the following areas: addiction, ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, and suicide prevention. OUR SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL The high quality of the research we fund is made possible by the BBRF Scientific “ Together we can Council. This group of 181 prominent dramatically improve mental health researchers, led by Dr. the lives of those Herbert Pardes, reviews each grant ap- living with mental plication and selects the most promising illness and enable ideas with the greatest potential to lead to breakthroughs. The Scientific Council more people to live guides the Foundation to fund creative full, happy, and and impactful basic, translational, and productive lives.” clinical research relevant to the whole Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D. spectrum of mental health. BBRF President & CEO Our operating expenses are covered by separate foundation grants. Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D. Herbert Pardes, M.D. Stephen A. Lieber President & CEO President, Scientific Council Chair, Board of Directors Since 1987, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation greatest potential to lead to significant breakthroughs; has invested in the future. The research we fund is projects that will bring benefits by producing new innovative, visionary and transformative. We are proud to research tools, better treatments, and methods of present you with our 2019 Annual Report. prevention. It is a formidable task and one that each Council member enjoys and looks forward to. This BBRF is a collaboration between generous donors and past year the Council evaluated more than 900 grant dedicated scientists. We understand that advances proposals. BBRF awarded 200 Young Investigator in science often happen where innovative ideas are research grants for $35,000 per year over two years. nurtured. And we foster it in the best way possible—by supporting scientists with the funding they need to bring One reason that research funded by BBRF has such their ideas to fruition. We provide the initial funding they great impact is because we do not limit our focus to one need to pursue their hypothesis, concepts and strategies illness or condition. It is important that we continue to that we believe have the greatest chance of advancing award grants to those investigators who try to determine the field. how the brain works through basic research, as well as develop prevention measures and better treatments— BBRF has provided more than $408 million in research such as the recent development of rapid-acting grants to more than 4,800 scientists around the world. antidepressants for treatment-resistant depression. We are proud to report that in 2019 BBRF funded more than $15.2 million in research grants across a broad BBRF grants are often the springboard that young spectrum of brain illnesses including addiction, ADHD, scientists need to get a new idea off the ground, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality create an improved treatment or new methods for disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, psychosis, prevention, to generate the crucial preliminary PTSD, schizophrenia, as well as suicide prevention. data to secure additional funding from the National Institutes of Health. BBRF grants often have great 100% of every dollar donated for research is impact on a scientist’s career because of their Our operating invested in our research grants. multiplier effect. BBRF grantees usually go on to expenses are covered by separate foundation grants. receive sustained grant support from other sources This means that if you donate a dollar for research, that (both federal and private) that on average has dollar goes directly to the scientist. equaled 10 times the original research grant amount. All BBRF grantees are chosen by our world-renowned Many significant Foundation-funded research results were Scientific Council. Led by Dr. Herbert Pardes, the Council published in articles in leading psychiatric and medical is comprised of 181 scientists who rigorously evaluate journals during 2019. This annual report features our “Top every grant application, identifying the most promising 10” Leading Research Achievements by BBRF Grantees, and high-quality science. The Council selects those Prizewinners & Scientific Council Members in 2019, proposals, submitted from around the world, with the 6 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 illustrating just some of the remarkable progress being conditions and treatments as well as cutting edge made by investigators we have funded. These important research advancements. advancements, as well as other scientific discoveries, are changing how we help people who live with mental illness. In summary, 2019 was a strong testament to more than 30 years of our leadership in supporting mental health In November at our fall Symposium research. Working alongside the BBRF nine outstanding scientists Board, Scientific Council, and our presented their research on donors is an honor and we thank you depression, ADHD, bipolar Innovative for your dedication to our mission. disorder, and schizophrenia. Their work is distinguished by their scientists. Novel Together, we will continue to fund devotion to finding innovative innovative and impactful research new therapies that will improve ideas. Cutting edge that will drive the field forward. care for those living with mental Our shared goal of a world free illness. Later that evening at our technology. from debilitating mental illnesses International Awards Dinner relies first and foremost upon you, we presented the Pardes our donors—in partnership with Humanitarian Prize in Mental the scientists chosen by the BBRF Health to Dr. William T. Carpenter, Jr., the Honorary Scientific Council—who are working Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health to Cynthia to transform your donations into improved treatments, Germanotta and Born This Way Foundation, and we cures, and methods of prevention for our loved ones. celebrated the nine outstanding scientific achievement We are inspired by the magnitude and scope of the prizewinners. At our “Breaking the Silence About Mental discoveries that are being made by the scientists we fund Illness Luncheon” this past May, Tipper Gore spoke with together and appreciate your ongoing generous support. us about the stigma that is all too often still associated with mental illness. Sincerely, Our main print publication, Brain & Behavior Magazine, continues to highlight the most important advancements in scientific research. This is supplemented by our Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D. weekly eNews, a weekly email newsletter written for our President & CEO donors and the general public featuring