Yale neuroscientist Amy Arnsten has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly the Institute of Medicine, the organization announced Oct. 16.
The NAM has elected 70 new members and 10 new international members this year. Membership in the NAM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievements and commitment to service.
Arnsten’s lab discovered the molecular mechanisms that govern activity in the brain’s highest-order circuits and helped explain why neurons are vulnerable to disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. Her research has led to two treatments now in widespread clinical use: guanfacine (Intuniv™) for treating childhood cognitive disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and autism, and prazosin for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“It is a great honor and a personal pleasure to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine,” Arnsten said. “As my lab does research that is quite different from many neuroscientists, it is particularly moving to be recognized by one’s peers.”
The National Academy of Medicine, established in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, is an independent organization of eminent professionals from diverse fields including health and medicine; the natural, social, and behavioral sciences; and beyond. It serves alongside the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering as an adviser to the nation and the international community.