Cameron S. Carter Awarded Patricia Goldman-Rakic Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Cognitive Neuroscience Research

Cameron S. Carter, MD, Distinguished Professor and chair of the UCI School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, has been awarded the 2024 Goldman-Rakic Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Cognitive Neuroscience Research by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation's (BBRF) Scientific Council. Carter will accept the award on Oct. 25 in New York during the BBRF's 2024 International Mental Health Research Symposium, where he will also give a presentation on "A Cognitive Neuroscience Approach to Understanding Circuits and Symptoms in Psychosis." In addition to being recognized at the upcoming symposium, Carter will receive a $40,000 award and give an honorary lecture at Yale University in memory of Patricia Goldman-Rakic’s significant contributions.

Since 2003, this award has been given out by BBRF to honor the legacy of the late Patricia Goldman-Rakic, PhD, a neuroscientist from Yale University who pioneered multidisciplinary research on the brain's frontal lobe and its role in cognitive processes. It was specifically created to celebrate excellence in neurobiological research at the cellular, physiological and/or behavioral levels that may lead to a greater understanding of the underlying cognitive neuroscience of psychiatric disease. BBRF is the largest private funder of mental health research grants dedicated to alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness through awards that encourage scientific advances and breakthroughs.

Carter's clinical interest lies in the early diagnosis and treatment of serious mental disorders, while conducting pioneering research focused on the neural basis of healthy cognition and the changes in brain circuitry that underlie alterations in cognitive and emotional processing in conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism. His research seeks to advance our understanding of the underlying causes and develop new therapies to improve patient outcomes, utilizing cutting-edge cognitive, neuroimaging and electrophysiological technologies.

"This award honors the incredible legacy of Patricia Goldman-Rakic, and it is a great honor to be a part of this continued journey of discovery in understanding the human brain and its functions in health and in mental health disorders," said Carter.
 

View the official press release about the six scientists who received outstanding achievement prizes from BBRF in 2024.