NIH Clinical Center's 2008 Medicine for the Public Lecture Series

Mood disorders are serious, debilitating, life-shortening illnesses that affect millions. About one in five Americans could develop a mood disorder during his or her lifetime. The World Health Organization projects that mood disorders will be a leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020. To make treatments work better and find new treatments, we must understand more about what causes mood disorders. Dr. Carlos Zarate will cover the symptoms and treatments for mood disorders and the latest research on what may cause them.

Dr. Zarate completed a Fellowship in Clinical Psychopharmacology at McLean Hospital from 1992-1993, after which he remained as a staff member until 1998. At McLean Hospital of the Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Dr. Zarate was the Director of the Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Outpatient Services, Chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee, and Director of the New and Experimental Clinic. From 1998 to 2000 Dr. Zarate was the Chief of the Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Program, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In January 2001, he joined the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

His achievements and awards include the Ethel-DuPont Warren Award and Livingston Awards, Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Outstanding Psychiatrist Research Award, Massachusetts Psychiatric Association; Program for Minority Research Training in Psychiatry, American Psychiatric Association; National Institute of Health-National Institute of Mental Health Travel Award, 1994; American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Travel Awards 1994 and 1995; the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression Young Investigator Award, 1996-1998; The Diversity and Advocacy Award, Hispanic Research Initiative Committee, NIMH, 2002; the mentor of the year, intramural program NIMH 2004; and the supervisor of the year NIMH 2005; National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression Independent investigator award, 2005-2008; and the National Institutes of Health Director’s Award Scientific/Medical 2006.

He is a member of the Society of Biological Psychiatry, International Society of Bipolar Disorders, and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Dr. Zarate also serves as a member of the Mood Disorders DSM-V Committee.

Dr. Zarate’s research focuses on the pathophysiology and novel therapeutics of mood disorders

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