Irwin Lucki

Irwin Lucki is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, MD. He holds dual appointments in the School of Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry. His career includes tenure at the University of Pennsylvania from 1981–2016, where he advanced from Research Associate to Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry and Pharmacology. His research focuses on neuropharmacology, particularly antidepressant mechanisms, serotonin regulation, and stress-related disorders. He has led multiple NIH-funded grants exploring buprenorphine for depression, kappa receptor antagonists, and neurogenesis modulation.

Education: B.A. (1972) in Psychology from the University of Illinois; M.A. (1976) and Ph.D. (1979) in Biopsychology from the University of Iowa. Postdoctoral training in psychopharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania (1979–1981).

Research interests emphasize antidepressant drug efficacy, serotonin and norepinephrine pathways, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling, and the neurobiology of mood disorders. His work bridges preclinical models and translational drug discovery, with over 180 peer-reviewed publications. Notable contributions include defining CRF’s role in stress and addiction, and elucidating mechanisms of rapid-acting antidepressants like ketamine.

Grants include NIH R01 awards totaling over $2.25M since 2012, focusing on buprenorphine’s antidepressant potential and kappa receptor antagonists. He directed a National Cooperative Drug Discovery Group (2005–2009) and served as Training Program Director for the NIH-funded Psychopharmacology T32 program at Penn (1992–2016).

Lucki’s editorial roles include Principal Field Editor for Psychopharmacology (2007–present) and advisory roles for Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurobiology of Stress. His lab investigates novel therapeutic targets for depression and anxiety, leveraging genetic models and pharmacological tools.