James Murrough

Dr. James Murrough is a Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, serving as Director of the Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment. He is affiliated with the Friedman Brain Institute and the Center of Excellence in Neuropharmacology. His research focuses on understanding the biological basis of mood and anxiety disorders, with an emphasis on developing novel treatments, particularly leveraging neuropharmacology and neuromodulation techniques like ketamine and ECT. Dr. Murrough completed his BS in Neuroscience at Emory University, MD at Tufts University, and a PhD in clinical research methodology from Mount Sinai. He has received research funding from NIH, the Doris Duke Foundation, and others.

Key research areas include depression, anhedonia, stress-related disorders, and neuroimaging of brain circuits. His clinical practice emphasizes evidence-based pharmacological treatments for mood and anxiety disorders. Notable industry relationships include consulting roles with pharmaceutical companies such as Autobahn Therapeutics and Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Major contributions include studies on KCNQ potassium channel openers for depression, the ELEKT-D trial comparing ECT and ketamine, and investigations into resilience mechanisms in trauma-exposed populations. His work bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, aiming to improve treatment outcomes for severe psychiatric conditions.