Stanley J. Watson

Stanley J. Watson is a Research Professor at the Michigan Neuroscience Institute and the Ralph Waldo Gerard Professor of Neurosciences in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. His work focuses on understanding the central nervous system (CNS) circuits and cellular systems that regulate emotional states linked to severe mental illnesses.

• University: University of Michigan
• School: Michigan Neuroscience Institute
• Department: Department of Psychiatry

Research Interests

The Watson laboratory investigates the emotional regulation of complex behaviors such as reinforcement, feeding, and stress. Utilizing molecular, anatomical, behavioral, and pharmacological approaches, the lab explores:

• Dysregulation of gene families (e.g., fibroblast growth factor, mitochondrial, immune genes) in depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia via postmortem human brain studies.
• Stress and substance abuse responsive systems in rodent CNS using in situ hybridization and genetic models.
• Glucocorticoid receptor roles in stress response and drug use propensity through genetically altered mice and rat models.

Projects emphasize mapping neural circuits altered in animal models and translating findings to human patient cohorts.