Poitras Center to fuel early careers of 50 young scientists dedicated to psychiatric disorders research

Patricia and James Poitras, esteemed supporters of MIT, have initiated a fellowship program targeting early-stage scientists dedicated to studying psychiatric disorders. This initiative, established through the Poitras Center for Psychiatric Disorders Research at MIT’s McGovern Institute, allocates 50 two-year fellowships over the span of a decade.

Five fellowships will be granted annually, fostering a steady pipeline of talent focused on combating severe depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other complex psychiatric conditions. The $10 million donation from the Poitras family is a testament to their enduring commitment to advancing mental wellness through bold research.

Robert Desimone, director of the McGovern Institute and head of the Poitras Center, lauds the Poitras' steadfast dedication to pioneering research that can revolutionize mental health. The Poitras Center, inaugurated in 2007 with a $20 million contribution, has since expanded its philanthropic scope, supporting groundbreaking research in molecular tools, AI-driven technologies, and cognitive neuroscience.

Recent innovations include algorithms predicting bipolar disorder risk in adolescents, molecular carriers for targeted therapies, and strategies matching patients with suitable treatments based on brain activity patterns. Recognizing the financial uncertainties in federal funding, the Poitras family's latest investment directly supports PhD students and postdocs, critical figures driving the future of psychiatric research.

Five researchers from the McGovern Institute were chosen as the inaugural cohort of Poitras Center Fellows, each embarking on unique projects that could uncover novel treatments for mental health disorders. These include Amrita Lamba exploring economic game theory to differentiate generalized and social anxiety, Hoonwon Lee investigating fear memory development across brain networks, Karen Pang studying gut-brain communication in anxiety and depression, Smriti Saini using brain imaging to predict response to cognitive behavioral therapy, and Linghua Zhang examining the brain benefits of physical activity.

The new $100 million investment in mental health research at MIT underscores the Poitras family's bold vision for transforming psychiatric disorders, aiming to accelerate transformative discoveries and improve lives for countless patients and families. Applications for the next fellowship cohort will open in May 2027.