Patricia and James Poitras, longstanding supporters of MIT, have initiated a fellowship program aimed at graduate students and postdoctoral researchers focusing on major mental illnesses. This program, launched through the Poitras Center for Psychiatric Disorders Research at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research, will provide 50 two-year fellowships, with five fellowships awarded annually for the next decade. This commitment is part of a broader effort to cultivate a talent pipeline dedicated to psychiatric research.
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The Poitras family's $10 million contribution is their latest investment to enhance MIT’s capabilities in addressing severe mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Robert Desimone, director of the McGovern Institute and head of the Poitras Center, emphasized the couple's enduring dedication to impactful research that can transform mental health treatment.
The Poitras family's involvement in mental health initiatives has spurred significant advancements in the field. Since establishing the Poitras Center with a $20 million gift in 2007, they have bridged basic neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, and molecular biology to develop a comprehensive understanding of psychiatric disorders. This pioneering approach aims to reveal how these disorders affect the brain at various levels and foster the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Their investments have led to meaningful breakthroughs, including an AI tool for predicting bipolar disorder risk in adolescents and technologies that enhance targeted therapy delivery.
The latest fellowship initiative is particularly timely, given current challenges in federal funding for mental health research. James Poitras noted the importance of supporting emerging researchers who are vital for advancing psychiatric science.
The first cohort of five fellows has been selected, featuring researchers with diverse projects. Amrita Lamba will investigate the distinction between generalized and social anxiety using behavioral economics. Hoonwon Lee plans to explore the development of fear memories to identify potential PTSD targets. Karen Pang is developing methods to study gut-brain interactions related to anxiety and depression, while Smriti Saini will use brain imaging to tailor cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals with social anxiety. Lastly, Linghua Zhang aims to understand the brain mechanisms through which exercise affects mood.
With this contribution, the Poitras family’s total donations to mental health research at MIT exceed $100 million, reinforcing their commitment to advancing knowledge and treatment for brain disorders. Patricia Poitras remarked on the profound impact of serious mental health conditions and the necessity of investing in future researchers to bring about transformative discoveries. The next application period for the Poitras Center fellowships will begin in May 2027.