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Professor Inga Neumann stands at the forefront of neuropeptide research, bringing over three decades of expertise to her role as Chair of the Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology at the University of Regensburg, Germany. Her journey in science began in East Germany at the Karl-Marx-University in Leipzig (now the University of Leipzig), where she earned both her diploma in biology and her PhD. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, her career path led her through a postdoctoral position at the University of Calgary in Canada and seven enriching years at the Max-Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich before assuming her current position at Regensburg in 2001. As the first woman to be appointed full professor at the Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, she has shaped the University's neuroscience landscape by establishing and directing the Elite Masters Programme in Experimental and Clinical Neuroscience. Currently, she heads the Graduate School “Neurobiology of Socio-Emotional Dysfunctions,” a prestigious program funded by the German Research Foundation since 2017. The heart of her research lies in understanding how neuropeptides, particularly oxytocin, vasopressin, and CRF, orchestrate stress responses and social behaviours. Her work spans multiple levels of analysis – from molecular mechanisms and epigenetics to neural circuits and behaviour – primarily using rodent models to unlock the mysteries of the social brain. In this Genomic Press Interview, Professor Neumann shares her reflections on a life dedicated to unravelling the intricate relationships between brain chemistry and behaviour, offering insights into both her scientific journey and personal philosophy.

Peter Kalivas stands as a pioneering architect in our understanding of addiction neuroscience, having transformed our knowledge of how substances of abuse reshape brain circuits and cellular function. Over four decades, his groundbreaking research has illuminated the fundamental mechanisms underlying substance use disorders, mainly through his seminal discoveries of glutamate's critical role in addiction and his innovative work on the “tetrapartite synapse” – revealing how astroglia and the extracellular matrix regulate addictive behaviors. With over 400 publications and eight edited volumes, his research has revolutionized our conceptual framework for treating addiction by identifying novel therapeutic targets beyond traditional neurotransmitter systems. After receiving his PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Washington and completing postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina, Dr. Kalivas built an extraordinary scientific legacy at Washington State University and then as the founding Chair of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina. There, he established a world-renowned research program that has trained generations of addiction scientists while developing innovative approaches to understanding stress, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Now serving as Distinguished University Professor, he continues to pioneer new frontiers in addiction neuroscience through his work on neural circuits and synaptic plasticity. In this Genomic Press Interview, Dr. Kalivas shares insights from his remarkable journey investigating the neurobiology of addiction and his vision for the field's future.

For half a century, Edo Ronald (Ron) de Kloet has pursued a fundamental question in neuroscience: how do stress hormones switch from protecting our brain to potentially harming it? After receiving his PhD in 1972 at the University of Utrecht under David de Wied's mentorship, he spent two formative years with Bruce McEwen at Rockefeller University before returning to the Rudolf Magnus Institute. In 1990, he was appointed Professor of Medical Pharmacology at Leiden University, where he discovered how a single hormone – cortisol – could protect and damage the brain through two distinct receptor systems (MR and GR). This finding opened new paths for understanding and treating stress-related mental disorders. His research, spanning over 600 publications, has transformed our grasp of how the brain copes with stress and earned him numerous honours, including the Geoffrey Harris Award (2005), the ECNP Award (2007), and the Golden Emil Kraepelin Medal (2014) for advancing our understanding of depression. Though officially “retired” since 2009, he remains active as an emeritus professor at Leiden University Medical Centre and academy professor at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Recognizing his contributions to science and society, he was knighted in the Order of the Dutch Lion in 2010. Recently, alongside his long-time collaborator Professor Marian Joëls, he received the 2024 Global Stress & Resilience Network Pioneer Award. In this Genomic Press Interview, Dr. de Kloet reflects on his remarkable journey and shares fresh insights into the fascinating world of stress neuroscience.

Professor Helen Lavretsky, a pioneering force in geriatric psychiatry and integrative medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)'s Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of brain health and aging. Her groundbreaking research connecting mind-body interventions with neurobiological mechanisms has transformed skepticism into scientific acceptance, establishing new paradigms in mental health care. As director of research for the UCLA's Integrative Medicine Collaborative and Late-life Mood, Stress and Wellness Research Program, she has led seminal studies on novel therapeutic combinations for treatment-resistant depression and cognitive disorders. Her work, recognized by “triple crown” honors from major psychiatric associations in 2020, spans from innovative psychopharmacology to pioneering investigations in yoga and Tai Chi for mental health. A dedicated mentor who has championed women and underrepresented minorities in science for over 25 years, Professor Lavretsky currently serves as President of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (2022–25), and she is on the Advisory Research Council to the National Center of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. In her engaging Genomic Press Interview, Professor Lavretsky shares insights from her remarkable journey from a young medical student to becoming a leading voice in integrative psychiatry, offering a compelling glimpse into the future of personalized mental health care.

Peter Falkai stands as one of the world's leading authorities in psychiatric research, particularly in understanding the neurobiology of schizophrenia. As a Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society and Director and Head of the Hospital at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry since October 2024, he continues to advance our understanding of mental health disorders. His distinguished career spans over three decades, during which he has held multiple prestigious leadership positions, including President of the European Psychiatric Association (2021–2023) and current President of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry. A member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, where he served as Senator of the Neurosciences Section, Prof. Falkai has been instrumental in shaping modern psychiatric research and treatment approaches. His groundbreaking work on brain plasticity and innovative treatment combinations has opened new pathways for understanding and treating psychotic disorders. As site spokesperson for the German Centre for Mental Health and former President of the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology, he continues to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application. In this Genomic Press Interview, Prof. Falkai graciously shares insights into his remarkable professional journey and personal life, offering readers a glimpse into the mind of one of psychiatry's most influential figures.

Etienne Sibille, a pioneering figure in neuropsychiatric research, has yet to follow conventional paths. From his early days as a photojournalist editor in New York to becoming one of neuroscience's most innovative voices, his journey reflects the same creative thinking that drives his groundbreaking research at the University of Toronto. As a Professor of Psychiatry, Pharmacology & Toxicology, he brings a fresh perspective to understanding how our brains age and why we get depressed. At the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), where he directs the Neurobiology of Depression and Aging research program, his team is turning fascinating discoveries about brain chemistry into potential new treatments. Building on his influential work at Columbia University and the University of Pittsburgh, Sibille has challenged traditional views of brain disorders, particularly through his insights into the GABAergic system and aging. While serving as CAMH's Campbell Chair (2014–2024) and Deputy Director of the Campbell Institute (2017–2020), he has pushed the boundaries between basic research and real-world treatments, recently diving into biopharma development to help bridge this gap. In this Genomic Press Interview, he shares the winding road that led him from behind a camera lens to the forefront of psychiatric research, offering a candid look at what drives his passion for unraveling the brain's mysteries.

Dr. Ana Cristina Andreazza is a Professor of Pharmacology Toxicology and Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, holding the Thomas C. Zachos Chair in Mitochondrial Research and a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Molecular Pharmacology of Mood Disorders. As the visionary Founder and Scientific Director of the Mitochondrial Innovation Initiative (Mito2i), she leads pioneering research on the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurological and psychiatric diseases, organ transplants, and novel therapeutic strategies. Her groundbreaking work has revolutionized our understanding of the relationship between mitochondrial function and mental health disorders, particularly bipolar disorder. Dr. Andreazza's career was inspired by early curiosity, family influence, and a commitment to reduce the stigma surrounding metabolic and psychiatric conditions. Her innovative work bridges multiple disciplines, aiming to discover biomarkers that could enable personalized treatments in mental health. A recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including membership in the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Dr. Andreazza has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and is internationally recognized for her contributions to metabolic psychiatry. In this Genomic Press Interview, she shares insights into her remarkable journey from studying wine chemistry in Brazil to becoming a leading force in mitochondrial research while discussing her perspectives on collaborative science and innovation. Driven by a passion for teaching and collaborative science, Dr. Andreazza continues to foster innovation and mentorship in the mitochondrial research community.

Dr. Nora D. Volkow is Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health, where she has served since 2003 as the first woman and first Hispanic person in this role. NIDA is the world's largest funder of scientific research on the health aspects of drug use and addiction. Dr. Volkow's groundbreaking work has been instrumental in demonstrating that substance use disorder is a brain disorder, revolutionizing our understanding of addiction. As a research psychiatrist and pioneer in the field of neuroimaging, Dr. Volkow transformed the use of brain imaging to investigate how substance use affects brain functions. In particular, her studies have documented how changes in the dopamine system affect the functions of brain regions involved with reward and self-control in addiction, leading to fundamental shifts in how addiction is viewed and treated. She has also contributed to understanding the neurobiology of obesity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and aging. In this Genomic Press Interview, Dr. Volkow shares insights into her remarkable journey from a medical student in Mexico to becoming one of the most influential figures in addiction research while discussing her perspectives on the current challenges in addressing substance use disorders, including the ongoing opioid crisis.

From pianist to pioneering neuroscientist, Dr. Raül Andero Galí brings a unique perspective to his role as ICREA (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats) Research Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona). Following his PhD in Neuroscience, earning the Extraordinary Doctoral Prize, he worked alongside Dr. Kerry Ressler at Emory University's Howard Hughes Medical Institute, pioneering innovative approaches that bridge mouse and human studies in fear research. After a productive tenure as an Instructor in Psychiatry at McLean Hospital-Harvard Medical School, he established his laboratory at UAB in 2016, where he continues to break new ground in understanding how stress shapes fear memory formation. His laboratory uniquely combines sophisticated techniques, from in vivo calcium imaging in mice to human fear response studies, focusing on how sex differences and hormonal cycles influence fear processing. Through this work, his team is uncovering new possibilities for treating anxiety disorders and PTSD, offering hope for more targeted therapeutic approaches. Beyond the bench, Professor Andero has cultivated an intellectually stimulating laboratory environment that reflects his broader vision for advancing neuroscience through comparative studies. We are pleased that he completed the Genomic Press Interview, offering our readers valuable insights into both his scientific journey and personal philosophy that drives his innovative research forward.

Professor Vicki Clifton, PhD, GAICD, Dip Manag, Dip Counselling, FRSM, is a Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland Amplify Fellow specializing in obstetrics research through clinical trials and basic biology. With 327 publications, h-Index: 61, and over 14,000 citations, her research focuses on stress and maternal asthma during pregnancy, examining their effects on maternal health, placental function, fetal growth, and child health. She is notably recognized for her work on sex-specific placental function and stress responses influencing fetal growth and pregnancy outcomes. Professor Clifton has led her institution's asthma and pregnancy research program, establishing multi-disciplinary, end-user-engaged research programs in Australia and overseas. Her innovative research has advanced our understanding of factors affecting asthma during pregnancy, leading to new models of care and improved fetal outcomes. Her work has influenced national and international asthma management guidelines, identified sex-specific mechanisms affecting maternal-fetal health, and expanded the frontiers of existing knowledge on fetal-neonatal physiology. Through preclinical studies and clinical partnerships, she has rapidly translated findings into practice guidelines and consumer information. She currently leads the Queensland Family Cohort study, a state-wide longitudinal study linking parental and child health outcomes to biological mechanisms. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, she pioneered women's leadership as the first female President of the Endocrine Society of Australia and the first female Editor of Placenta (Elsevier). As an NHMRC Research Fellow (2000–2023), she has secured over $25 million in category 1 grants. We are privileged to have Professor Clifton share her personal and professional insights with our readers in this Genomic Press Interview.