News

Cydney Terryn, M.D., recently joined the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology as an assistant professor in the division of child and adolescent psychiatry.

When Rebecca Rampe, Psy.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, began working with patients affected by childhood abuse, neglect and traumatic loss, she noticed many struggled to find treatment approaches that fully addressed the lasting impact of those experiences.

Matthew Macaluso, D.O., has been selected to receive the 2027-28 Faculty Innovation in Education Award from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a nationally competitive honor that recognizes innovation in psychiatric education.

Can AI replace therapy? A UAB psychiatry expert explains the benefits, risks and limitations of using AI for mental health support, why more people are turning to chatbots, who may be most vulnerable and when professional mental health care should be sought.

Jennifer Lockman, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, has received a $3.4 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to lead a five-year, multi-site randomized controlled trial evaluating a novel suicide recovery intervention for individuals receiving care in crisis stabilization centers.

UAB researchers have developed a new clinical trial combining medication, peer support, telehealth and ongoing recovery navigation to assist opioid overdose survivors.

A UAB expert explains how decreasing daylight hours during late fall and winter can contribute to mood changes and increase the risk of seasonal affective disorder, while offering practical strategies to support mental well-being throughout the season.

The UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology recently welcomed Kristina McMahan, Ph.D., as an assistant professor in the Division of Adult Psychiatry.

S. Justin Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, has received an NIH K24 Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research to support mentorship, career development, and translational research in sleep and circadian rhythms.

Shin-ichi Kano, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, has been named the latest recipient of the school's Featured Discovery award. This recognition celebrates notable faculty research contributions and highlights the impact of their scientific advancements.

Mbila and Bias will each receive $2,500 scholarships and serve as ambassadors of UAB for the coming year and UAB Future Blazers Alumni leaders.

Opioid overdose has been a persistent public health crisis for decades, with the emergency department becoming a critical touchpoint for overdose survivors. However, most patients treated in an emergency department for an overdose never continue medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) after they go home even though MOUDs can reduce the mortality by at least 50%.

The UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology recognized eight members for their outstanding work this year in the 2026 Chair Awards.

Lauren Walter, M.D., MSPH, FACEP, has been awarded a five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for her project titled “Integrated Emergency Addiction Care: A Patient-Centered Model for Medications for Opioid Use Disorder.”

Four faculty members in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology have received promotions, and one has received an award of tenure, effective Oct. 1, 2026.

Our school continues to make meaningful strides toward the goals I outlined at the annual State of School address on February 6, 2026.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology is addressing a critical need in maternal health through the Perinatal Consultation Clinic (PCC), a specialized outpatient service designed to provide timely psychiatric care for patients during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

UAB researchers have identified a new communication pathway in which extracellular vesicles from T cells influence neural activity and improve social behavior, offering insights into mental health disorders.

When patients in rural or underserved communities need mental health care, access to a psychiatrist can be difficult. Project ECHO Depression at UAB was created to help bridge that gap by equipping primary care providers with the knowledge and support they need to manage common mental health conditions close to home.

Badari Birur, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, has assumed the role of Medical Director of the UAB Center for Psychiatric Medicine (CPM).

Scientists have long known that the brain and immune system communicate, but a new UAB-led study reveals an unexpected messenger connecting the two: tiny particles circulating in the bloodstream. The findings, recently published in Nature Communications, demonstrate that these particles can influence brain function and improve social behavior in multiple mouse models with social impairments.

Eight research teams have been selected as the inaugural recipients of the Heersink School of Medicine’s Team Science Grant Program. The funded teams will tackle a wide range of health challenges while laying the groundwork for future large-scale research initiatives.

The UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology recently welcomed Jonathan Reid Black, M.D., as an assistant professor.

A new study led by Andrew Hardaway, Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, provides new insight into how GLP-1 medications suppress appetite by acting on specific brain circuits. 

A UAB researcher studied how tiny molecules could influence groups of genes responsible for how brain cells communicate, adapt and respond to stress.

As temperatures climb during summer, most people expect the physical effects of heat: sweating, fatigue, and the need to stay hydrated. What many may not realize is that heat can also take a toll on mental health.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System recently approved the formal establishment of the Section of Psychology within the Division of Adult Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology.

The Alabama Department of Public Health has awarded UAB a $426,000 grant to support people during the vulnerable period after hospital discharge.

Lillian Brady, Ph.D., assistant professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, is among 10 recipients of the 2026 McKnight Scholar Award, a prestigious honor supporting early-career neuroscientists with exceptional potential.

Members of the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology were honored Thursday, June 11, at the 2026 Graduation and Education Awards. The annual event served to recognize exemplary residents, faculty, and fellows in the department for the 2025-2026 academic year.