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Celebrating 50 years of the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA

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Celebrating 50 years of the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA

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Semel Welcomes Suma Jacob, MD, PhD, Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

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Semel Welcomes Suma Jacob, MD, PhD, Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

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About Us

Leading the way in human neuroscience research, education, clinical care, and wellbeing

The Institute provides a collaborative home for preeminent researchers and faculty across many disciplines to study complex human behavior. Their research includes the genetic, biological, behavioral, and sociocultural underpinnings of behavior and the causes and consequences of neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Research

Dedicated to the discovery of better treatments, prevention strategies, and cures

Operating in one of the premier biomedical research institutions in the world, our research faculty members conduct state of the art basic, clinical, and translational research aimed at improving the care of people with mental illness both locally and globally.

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Helena Hansen, MD, PhD Interim Director, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior

What makes the Semel Institute unique is its transdisciplinary approach to translational research. We translate discoveries made at the basic neuroscience level to patient care, ultimately improving population-level outcomes and providing a true benefit to society.

Education

Designed to serve current UCLA and visiting undergraduates and graduate students, medical students, residents, and postgraduate researchers

The Office of Education houses a variety of clinical and nonclinical training programs and fields of research. As the field of Psychiatry continues to expand within and across disciplines, the Office of Education at the Semel Institute will continue to help shape the education and training of future leaders in the field.

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Clinical

Partners with the Department of Psychiatry and the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital to provide clinical care

The Semel Institute, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital are three separate entities with a shared mission to serve and heal our community. This inextricable link brings together world-class researchers and clinicians to discover and implement effective treatments for patient care.

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Latest News

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The Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences Announces 2025-2026 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients

Congratulations to this year’s award recipients—in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the education and mentorship of undergraduate and medical students, interns, residents, fellows, and colleagues. Outstanding Faculty Housestaff Teaching Adult Psychiatry Division Jennifer L. Kruse, MD Outstanding Faculty Housestaff Teaching Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division Sabrina Reed, MD, MACM Outstanding Faculty Housestaff Teaching Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division Natacha…

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UCLA Postdoctoral Fellow Receives Grant from the Society for Research in Child Development

Dr. Kelly Kohler received a grant from the Society for Research in Child Development. Dr. Kohler is a first-year postdoctoral fellow in the UCLA Division of Population Behavioral Health. This grant will fund a project adapting the current FOCUS-Early Childhood (FOCUS-EC) Program, originally developed for preschool-aged children, to be accessible for families with infants and toddlers (0-2 years). Funding will…

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UCLA Postdoctoral Fellow Awarded 2026 Diversity Professional Development Award

Dr. Jenny Shen was selected as a recipient of the 2026 Diversity Professional Development Award presented by the Division of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology of the American Psychological Association. The award supports professional development opportunities by helping recipients build new skills, increase their networks, and participate in professional conferences. Dr. Shen, a first-year postdoctoral fellow in…

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