Beny Lafer

Dr. Lafer is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of São Paulo Medical School (FMUSP). He Graduated in Medicine and obtained his PhD at the University of São Paulo Medical School where he did his Residency in Psychiatry. In 1991-1995 he did a Clinical and Research Fellowship in Psychopharmacology and Brain Imaging in Mood Disorders at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Since 1996, he is Director of the Bipolar Disorder Research Program (PROMAN) at the Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas, FMUSP. His research focus in on pathophysiological and therapeutic studies related to Bipolar Disorders, specifically the use of imaging and laboratory techniques to elucidate underlying mechanisms and investigation of novel approaches for the acute episodes and long-term maintenance treatments. His research has been funded by CNPq, FAPESP, CAPES, American Psychiatric Association, NARSAD and Canadian Health and Research Institute. His has published over 200 manuscripts and 20 book chapters that have received more than 2200 citations. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the journals Bipolar Disorders, Journal of Affective Disorders and Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. He is Editor Emeritus of the RBP Psychiatry. He is a member of the Brazilian Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, Society for Biological Psychiatry and International Society for Bipolar Disorders. Due to a long-term research collaboration, in 2013 he was appointed Adjunctive Associate Professor of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

Research Synopsis

My research focus in on pathophysiological and therapeutic studies related to Bipolar Disorders, specifically the use of imaging and laboratory techniques to elucidate underlying mechanisms and investigation of novel approaches for the acute episodes and long-term maintenance treatments.