Michael Irwin

Dr. Michael Irwin is the Norman Cousins Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine and Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UCLA College of Letters and Sciences. He directs the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, the Mindful Awareness Research Center, and the Center's Inflammatory Biology Core. His research elucidates psychoneuroimmunological pathways linking psychosocial factors to immune dysfunction, focusing on sleep's role in depression, aging, and chronic diseases like cancer and arthritis.

• Research Highlights: Stress-induced inflammation, mindfulness interventions, sleep-immune interactions, and molecular mechanisms in depression.
• Grants: Continuous NIH funding (NIA, NCI, NHLBI, NIDA, NIAAA, NIMH) for 25+ years via 25+ R01 awards.
• Leadership: Past President of Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society and Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research; NIH CSR Study Section Chair.

Scientific Awards:

• Faculty Research Mentor Award (UCLA Psychiatry, 2x)
• Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
• Distinguished Fellow, American College of Psychiatrists

Publication Trends: Over 300 articles spanning Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Sleep, with recent emphasis on:

• Mechanistic links between sleep disruption and inflammatory gene expression
• Cytokine roles in depression and pain
• Mind-body interventions (Tai Chi, Qigong) for immune modulation
• Sex differences in neuroimmune responses to stress
• Alcohol use disorder and neuroimmune pharmacology
• Adolescent psychosocial stress and inflammatory trajectories

Labs/Teams: Leads the Cousins Center's Inflammatory Biology Core and Mindful Awareness Research Center, coordinating interdisciplinary teams in psychoneuroimmunology, sleep science, and behavioral oncology.