Anis Contractor

Anis Contractor is the Wendell Krieg Professor of Neuroscience and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, with additional appointments in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. He serves as Vice Chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Neuroscience and leads the Contractor Lab.

His research centers on synaptic communication mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Key interests include:

• Synaptic Plasticity in cortical circuits
• Mouse models of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Fragile X Syndrome
• Pathophysiology of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
• Memory mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease
• Excitatory/inhibitory balance in neurodevelopmental conditions

Dr. Contractor's work demonstrates critical discoveries in antipsychotic drug mechanisms, neural receptor roles in adult neurogenesis, and chemical imbalance reversal in autism models. His laboratory receives substantial funding including a $17 million grant for autism/schizophrenia genetics research.

He maintains active affiliations with:

• Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment
• Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS)
• Northwestern University Institute of Neuroscience (NUIN)
• Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics
• Stephen M. Stahl Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience

Mentorship occurs through the NUIN Graduate Program and Driskill Graduate Program, supporting trainees in neuroscience and biomedical sciences research.