Iris Sommer

Prof. Iris Sommer is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and the University of Groningen. She leads the Clinical Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Research Program (CCNP) and contributes to the Biology-Related, Artificial, and Interventional Neuroscience (BRAIN) group. Her expertise spans neuropsychiatry, with a focus on hallucinations, schizophrenia, and gender disparities in mental healthcare. She is an internationally recognized researcher, having pioneered studies on female brain research, estrogen’s role in psychosis, and innovative treatments like the Stemmenpoli (Voices Clinic).

• Roles: Editor at Schizophrenia Bulletin, Psychological Medicine, and Lancet Psychiatry.
• Committee Roles: Chair of ZonMw Offroad Grants Committee, Speaker of the Speakers Academy.

Research Interests: Dr. Sommer’s work addresses the origins of psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia and hallucinations. Her key contributions include uncovering estrogen’s protective role in psychotic disorders and advocating for gender-sensitive psychiatric treatments. Recent projects explore gut-brain interactions, probiotics in mental health, and computational linguistics in psychosis diagnosis.

• Notable Findings: Female brain underrepresentation in clinical studies leads to less effective treatments for women; antipsychotics may suppress beneficial estrogens.

Publications & Impact: Over 438 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact works on hallucinations, COH-FIT pandemic mental health studies, and PET/SPECT imaging in schizophrenia. Her research emphasizes translational medicine and societal impact through public engagement.

Awards: Distinguished Lorentz Fellowship (2022/23), Huibregtsenprijs (2022), NWO Science Communication Award (2024), and recognition for science communication initiatives like 'Marvelous Mind.'

Labs/Teams: Leads the CCNP, collaborates globally via networks like the HAMLETT and OPHELIA consortia. Active in interdisciplinary projects linking neuroscience, AI, and clinical practice.