Dr. Duman is a Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology and the Director of the Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities. His work has focused on antidepressants and stress at the molecular and cellular levels, providing the groundwork for a hypothesis of depression based on the maintenance and survival of neurons, or neurotrophy. This hypothesis is based on work demonstrating that chronic antidepressant treatment increases the proliferation of new neurons (or neurogenesis) in the adult brain. These effects counteract the atrophy and cell loss that is caused by stress and that is thought to underlie, in part, the functional brain changes associated with depression. These findings represent groundbreaking advances in our understanding of antidepressants and provide a framework for developing novel therapeutic agents.
Dr. Duman received his doctorate degree from the University of Texas in Houston and conducted postgraduate work at Yale University before joining the faculty there. He has written and/or coauthored over 250 original papers, reviews and book chapters, and has presented over 150 invited lectures. Dr. Duman is also on the editorial board of several prestigious journals and serves as a consultant for a number of biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
Awards and Credentials
- Anna-Monika Prize for Depression Research, 2001
- Nola Maddox Falcone Prize for Depression Research, 2002
- Janssen Prize for Research in Psychopharmacology, 2003
- Congress of International Neuropsychopharmacology Basic Research Award, 2006
Related Links
Recommended Reading List
- “A Molecular and Cellular Theory of Depression.” Duman, R.S., et al. (1997). Arch Gen Psychiatry 54.
- “Depression: A Case of Neuronal Life and Death?” Duman, R.S. (2004) Biol Psych 56.
- “A Neurotrophic Model for Stress-Related Mood Disorders.” Duman, R.S., et al (2006). Biol Psych 59.
