Dr. Gerard Sanacora
Dr. Gerard Sanacora
Dr. Gerard Sanacora is the George D. Gross and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine, Director of the Yale Depression Research Program, and Co-Director of the Interventional Psychiatry Program at Yale-New Haven Hospital. For the past 25 years his research has focused using both preclinical and clinical studies in attempts to expand our understanding of the pathophysiology of mood disorders and to use this information in developing new approaches in treating mood and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
He has served as PI on numerous NIH, foundation, and industry sponsored studies in the area of mood disorders research ranging from rodent models of stress-related pathogenesis, to mechanistic neuroimaging studies introducing novel magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods, to large phase III clinical trials. At multiple levels these studies have all helped highlight the role of the amino acid neurotransmitter systems in relation to mood disorders and contributed significantly to the development, testing, and actual clinical use of novel treatment approaches such as recent approvals of esketamine (SPRAVATO®) and brexanolone, (ZULRESSO™).
Most recently his work has expanded to program development and implementation science in attempts to efficiently and cost effectively bring these nascent, neuroscience informed diagnostic and treatment approaches to clinical practice. These efforts have included working closely with other investigators, industry sponsors and even third party payers to optimize the design, coordination and participation in late stage clinical trials examining effectiveness and safety of novel treatment approaches in “real world” patients such as those considered at imminent risk of suicide who would historically be excluded from any clinical participation. He has also devoted much effort recently to educations and dissemination efforts, providing leadership to consensus statements and national educational efforts relating to the clinical utility and concerns associated with these novel therapeutic options.
