Paul J Kenny

Paul J. Kenny, PhD is a Professor and Chair of Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also serves as Director of the Drug Discovery Institute. His research focuses on understanding brain mechanisms underlying addiction, obesity, and schizophrenia, with a particular emphasis on distributed neural networks shaping motivation and decision-making.

• Education:
  • BA, Trinity College Dublin
  • PhD, University of London

His lab employs cutting-edge technologies such as AI-driven behavior quantification, CRISPR-based genome editing, and single-cell/spatial transcriptomics to map gene expression and identify therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Recent publications highlight advancements in:

• Understanding stress-induced depression mechanisms
• Developing novel brain clearing methods for implant localization

Scientific recognition includes:

• Jacobi Medallion (2025)
• Alton Ochsner Award Relating Smoking and Disease (2020)
• Daniel H. Efron Research Award (2018)
• Tom Connor Distinguished Investigator Award (2015)
• Mathilde Solowey Lecture Award (2012)
• Jacob P. Waletzky Memorial Award (2010)