Eric J Nestler

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, is an esteemed neuroscientist and Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, holding appointments in the Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, and Pharmacological Sciences. He currently serves as the Interim Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine and Chief Scientific Officer for the Mount Sinai Health System. Previously, he directed The Friedman Brain Institute at Mount Sinai from 2008 to 2025 and was Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2000–2008).

Dr. Nestler's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying addiction and depression. Key contributions include identifying ΔFOSB as a molecular switch that rewires the brain in response to chronic drug use or stress, pioneering work on epigenetic regulation in psychiatric disorders, and advancing novel treatment platforms that account for biological sex differences. His work has shifted psychiatric paradigms from symptom management to root-cause prevention.

• Education: BA, PhD, and MD from Yale University
• Residency: Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine (1987)

His research portfolio spans addiction, epigenetics, synaptic plasticity, and stress biology, with a strong emphasis on translating findings into therapeutic interventions. The articles listed highlight his recent work on transcriptional encoding in brain regions, cocaine-induced gene regulation, and dopamine signaling dynamics.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• National Academy of Sciences (2025)
• American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2005)
• National Academy of Medicine (1998)
• Patricia S. Goldman-Rakic Prize
• Falcone Prize (Colvin Prize)
• Gold Medal Award, Society of Biological Psychiatry
• Peter Seeburg Integrative Neuroscience Prize
• Redelsheimer Distinguished Research Award (2019)

Dr. Nestler has driven multidisciplinary collaborations at Mount Sinai, establishing programs in regenerative medicine, genomics, AI, and health equity. His mentorship has profoundly influenced early-career scientists, earning him the Julius Axelrod Prize for Mentorship.