Huda Akil, PhD, recipient of the 2025 Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Science, will deliver her Vanderbilt Prize Discovery Lecture at 4 p.m. Sept. 11 in 208 Light Hall.
Akil is an internationally known neuroscientist at the University of Michigan and Michigan Neuroscience Institute whose research has helped reveal the fundamental nature of anxiety, depression, pain and addiction.
The title of her lecture is “How can science help with the mental health crisis? A neurobiological perspective on stress and resilience.”
She will discuss the impact of genetic and developmental factors, and experience, on neural and behavioral responses to stress, their role in the development of depression and anxiety disorders, and how these scientific insights can help stem what has been described as a global mental health crisis.
Part of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Discovery Lecture series, Akil’s talk is sponsored by the Offices of the Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer at VUMC and the Dean of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences.
The lecture will feature a brief presentation by the 2025 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar, Kimberly Bress, an MD-PhD candidate in the Vanderbilt Medical Scientist Training Program who is being mentored by Akil this year.
Established by VUMC in 2006, the Vanderbilt Prize recognizes scientists of national reputation who have a stellar record of research accomplishments and are known for mentoring others in science. Two previous honorees subsequently received Nobel Prizes.
For more information about the Vanderbilt Prize and a complete list of previous winners, go to the VUMC Office of Research website at www.vumc.org/oor, and click on the “awards” tab.
