Bernard Lerer

Bernard Lerer is a psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist and neuroscientist in Jerusalem, Israel. He is a founder of Biological Psychiatry in Israel, Founding Editor of the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology[1] and mentor of many prominent clinicians and researchers over several decades.[2][3] He is Director of the National Knowledge Center for Research on Brain Disorders (Hadassah BrainLabs) at Hadassah Medical Center[4], Jerusalem, Israel and a Professor of Psychiatry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.[5] A key leader in the field of psychopharmacology in Israel, Lerer served as Director of the National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel from 1994-2002 and shaped its development as a major funding source for young and intermediate researchers in biological psychiatry and psychopharmacology.[6]

Bernard Lerer
Born1948
South Africa
NationalityIsraeli
Alma materUniversity of Cape Town
Known forBiological Psychiatry, Psychiatric Genetics
Spouse(s)Ziona Lerer
Scientific career
FieldsPsychiatry
InstitutionsHadassah Medical Center, Wayne State University

Education

Bernard Lerer received his medical training at the University of Cape Town, graduating in 1971. He moved to Israel in 1972 and specialized in psychiatry at Hadassah Medical Center and Ezrath Nashim (Herzog) Hospitals in Jerusalem. He was a post-doctoral research fellow with Samuel Gershon at Lafayette Clinic, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan from 1982–1984.

Career

On his return to Israel Lerer took over the leadership of the Research Laboratory at Ezrath Nashim (Herzog) Hospital in Jerusalem from 1984–1990. In 1990 he moved to Hadassah Medical Center and founded the Biological Psychiatry Laboratory which he headed until 2020. In 2013 he and Prof. Hanna Rosenmann founded the National Knowledge Center for Research on Brain Disorders (Hadassah BrainLabs)[7] at Hadassah Medical Center, a unique resource center supported by the Israel Ministry of Science and Technology, and became its first Director.

Scientific research

According to Google Scholar, Lerer has an h-index of 77, with 25,848 citations.[8] He has published 385 papers indexed in Pubmed,[9] as well as 4 books.[10][11][12][13]

Bernard Lerer's research spans a wide spectrum from preclinical laboratory studies through translational research to clinical trials.[14] His principal research focus has been on the molecular genetic basis of major psychiatric disorders, pharmacogenomics of psychotropic drugs and the neurochemical mechanisms of antidepressants, mood stabilizers and brain stimulation as a basis for novel drug development.

• In the field of genetics, he led studies that identified association of the Abelson Helper Insertion 1 (Ahi1) gene with schizophrenia[15] and identified key mechanisms potentially underlying this association in a mouse model.[16][17]

• He was an active and early contributor to the field of pharmacogenetics of psychiatric disorders[18] and published one of the first books on the subject.[19] In this area he has extensively studied factors underlying susceptibility to tardive dyskinesia[20][21] and nicotine addiction.[22][23]

• He has played a central role in the scientific and clinical development of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). His earlier studies on basic mechanisms of ECT earned him the A.E. Bennet Award of the US Society for Biological Psychiatry.[24]

• His extensive studies on treatment of major depressive disorder with thyroid hormone include a comprehensive evaluation of the antidepressant effects of triiodothyronine in mice and a randomized clinical trial demonstrating efficacy of T3 when combined with sertraline in depressed patients.[25][26]

Lerer's research has been supported by national and international agencies including the Israel Science Foundation, the US-Israel and German-Israeli Binational Science Foundations, the National Institute for Mental Health (USA), the European Union and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.[27] He holds granted US and European patents for novel type III deiodinase inhibitors in the treatment of major depressive disorder and cancer[28] and for the use of RGS2 genotypes to predict extrapyramidal symptoms associated with antipsychotic medication.[29]

Leadership positions

• Co-founder of the Israel Society for Biological Psychiatry (1989) and Chair (1992-1994).

• Academic Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Hebrew University- Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel (1989-1993).

• Director, National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (1994-2002). Currently member of the Board of Trustees and Scientific Advisory Committee.[30]

• Vice President of the Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum (CINP) (1996-2000).

• Founding Editor of the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum (CINP) [31] and Editor in Chief (1998-2008).

Awards and honors
  • A.E. Bennet Research Award for Basic Science of the US Society for Biological Psychiatry, 1984.[32]
  • Werner Kalow Responsible Innovation Prize in Global Omics and Personalized Medicine, 2014.[33]
  • New Horizons in Biological Psychiatry – International Conference to mark the 70th Birthday of Professor Bernard Lerer, 2018. [34]
  • International Society for Affective Disorders (ISAD), Lifetime Achievement Award, 2019.[35][36]

Personal life

Bernard Lerer has been married to Ziona Lerer since 1970. Ziona is an English teacher. They have 3 children.

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References
  1. "International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  2. "PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE: From Freud to Biology, From Genes to Medicines: A 40 Year Perspective" (PDF). Israel Journal of Psychiatry. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  3. "New Horizons in Biological Psychiatry - Jerusalem, 21 June 2018". Bernard Lerer. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  4. "Prof. Bernard Lerer". Hadassah Medical Organisation. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. "Professor Bernard Lerer". Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  6. "NIPI's Current and Past Directors". The National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  7. "Hadassah BrainLabs". Hadassah BrainLabs. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  8. "Bernard Lerer". Google Scholar. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  9. "Pubmed-indexed articles by B Lerer". Pubmed. 24 July 2020.
  10. Lerer, Bernard; Weiner, Richard; Belmaker, Robert (1984). ECT: Basic Mechanisms. London: John Libbey. p. 183. ISBN 086196-021-1.
  11. Lerer, Bernard; Gershon, Samuel (1989). New Directions in Affective Disorders. New York: Springer Verlag. p. 732. ISBN 0-387-96769-9.
  12. Lerer, Bernard (2002). Pharmacogenetics of Psychotropic Drugs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 446. ISBN 0-521-80617-8.
  13. Stein, Dan; Lerer, Bernard; Stahl, Stephen (1984). Evidence-based Psychopharmacology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 362. ISBN 0-521-82481-8.
  14. "Bernard Lerer". Loop. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  15. Amann-Zalcenstein, D.; Avidan, N.; Kanyas, K.; Ebstein, R. P.; Kohn, Y.; Hamdan, A.; Ben-Asher, E.; Karni, O.; Mujaheed, M.; Segman, R.H.; Maier, W.; Macciardi, F. O.; Beckmann, J. S.; Lancet, D. O.; Lerer, B. (October 2006). "AHI1, a pivotal neurodevelopmental gene, and C6orf217 are associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia". Eur J Hum Genet. 14 (10): 1111–1119. doi:10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201675. PMID 16773125.
  16. Lotan, A.; Lifschytz, T.; Slonimsky, A.; Broner, E. C.; Greenbaum, L.; Abedat, S.; Fellig, Y.; Cohen, H.; Lory, O.; Goelman, G.; Lerer, B. (February 2014). "Neural mechanisms underlying stress resilience in Ahi1 knockout mice: relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders". Mol Psychiatry. 19 (2): 243-252. doi:10.1038/mp.2013.123. PMID 24042478.
  17. Lotan, A.; Lifschytz, T.; Mernick, B.; Lory, O.; Levi, E.; Ben-Shimol, E.; Goelman, G.; Lerer, B. (June 2017). "Alterations in the expression of a neurodevelopmental gene exert long-lasting effects on cognitive-emotional phenotypes and functional brain networks: translational evidence from the stress-resilient Ahi1 knockout mouse". Mol Psychiatry. 22 (6): 884-899. doi:10.1038/mp.2016.29. PMID 27021817.
  18. "Professor Bernard Lerer on 'Pharmacogenetics of Antipsychotic Drug Treatment". Australian National University. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  19. Stein, Dan; Lerer, Bernard; Stahl, Stephen (1984). Evidence-based Psychopharmacology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 362. ISBN 0-521-82481-8.
  20. Lerer, B.; Segman, R. H. "Pharmacogenetics of antipsychotic therapy: pivotal research issues and the prospects for clinical implementation". Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 8 (1): 85-94. PMID 16640118.
  21. Alkelai, A.; Greenbaum, L.; Heinzen, E. L.; Baugh, E. H.; Teitelbaum, A.; Zhu, X.; Strous, R. D.; Tatarsky, P; Zai, C. C.; Tiwari, A. K.; Tampakeras, M.; Freeman, N.; Müller, D. J.; Voineskos, A. N.; Lieberman, J. A.; Delaney, S. L.; Meltzer, H. Y.; Remington, G.; Kennedy, J. L.; Pulver, A. E.; Peabody, E. P.; Levy, D. L.; Lerer, B. (August 2019). "New insights into tardive dyskinesia genetics: Implementation of whole-exome sequencing approach". Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 94: 109659. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109659. PMID 31153890.
  22. Greenbaum, L.; Kanyas, K.; Karni, O.; Merbel, Y.; Olender, T.; Horowitz, A.; Yakir, A.; Lancet, D.; Ben-Asher, E.; Lerer, B. (March 2006). "Why do young women smoke? I. Direct and interactive effects of environment, psychological characteristics and nicotinic cholinergic receptor genes". Mol Psychiatry. 11 (3): 312-322. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001774. PMID 16314871.
  23. Greenbaum, L.; Kanyas, K.; Rigbi, A.; Alkelai, A.; Kohn, Y.; Lerer, B. (November 2010). "Why do young women smoke? VII COMT as a risk modifying gene for nicotine dependence - role of gene-gene interaction, personality, and environmental factors". Hum Psychopharmacol. 25 (7–8): 536-542. doi:10.1002/hup.1149. PMID 21312287.
  24. Lerer, B. (January 1985). "Studies on the role of brain cholinergic systems in the therapeutic mechanisms and adverse effects of ECT and lithium". Biol Psychiatry. 20 (1): 20–40. doi:10.1016/0006-3223(85)90132-5. PMID 3917309.
  25. Lifschytz, T.; Zozulinsky, P.; Eitan, R.; Landshut, G.; Ohayon, S.; Lerer, B. (May 2011). "Effect of triiodothyronine on antidepressant screening tests in mice and on presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors: mediation by thyroid hormone α receptors". J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 337 (2): 494-502. doi:10.1124/jpet.111.179564. PMID 21317357.
  26. Cooper-Kazaz, R.; Apter, J. T.; Cohen, R.; Karagichev, L.; Muhammed-Moussa, S.; Grupper, D. .; Drori, T.; Newman, M. E.; Sackeim, H. A.; Glaser, B.; Lerer, B. (June 2007). "Combined treatment with sertraline and liothyronine in major depression: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial". Arch Gen Psychiatry. 64 (6): 679-688. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.64.6.679. PMID 17548749.
  27. "Funded studies - Bernard Lerer". Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  28. "US20180215709 - TYPE III DEIODINASE INHIBITORS AND USES THEREOF". WIPO. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  29. "US20110236896 - RGS2 GENOTYPES ASSOCIATED WITH EXTRAPYRAMIDAL SYMPTOMS INDUCED BY ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION". WIPO. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  30. "NIPI's Current and Past Directors". The National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel: Board of Trustees. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  31. "Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum". Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  32. Lerer, B. (January 1985). "Studies on the role of brain cholinergic systems in the therapeutic mechanisms and adverse effects of ECT and lithium". Biol Psychiatry. 20 (1): 20–40. doi:10.1016/0006-3223(85)90132-5. PMID 3917309.
  33. Ozdemir, V.; Endrenyi, L.; Aynacıoğlu, S.; Bragazzi, N. L.; Dandara, C.; Dove, E. S.; Ferguson, L. R.; Geraci, C. J.; Hafen, E.; Kesim, B. E.; Kolker, E.; Lee, E. J. D.; Llerena, A.; Nacak, M.; Shimoda, K.; Someya, T.; Srivastava, S.; Tomlinson, T.; Vayena, E.; Warnich, L.; Yaşar, U. (April 2014). "Bernard Lerer: recipient of the 2014 inaugural Werner Kalow Responsible Innovation Prize in Global Omics and Personalized Medicine (Pacific Rim Association for Clinical Pharmacogenetics)". OMICS. 18 (4): 211–221. doi:10.1089/omi.2014.0029. PMC 3976589. PMID 24649998.
  34. "Bernard Lerer honoured at New Horizons in Biological Psychiatry International Conference". Herzlia Alumni Association. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  35. "Award Committee". International Society for Affective Disorders. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  36. "First-Ever International Lifetime Achievement Award Goes to Hadassah Psychiatrist". Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
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