New NIMH director offers institutional stimulant
Marshall, E.; Hyman, S.
Science 271(5256): 1662-1663
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-8075 PMID: 8596921 Document Number: 469418
Last week, Steven Hyman of Harvard University was appointed director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). He plans to carry out a top-to-bottom review of NIMH's intramural program with the assistance of an outside panel of advisers. Hyman, who wants to blend genetic studies more closely with behavioral research and move away from sponsoring searches for disease genes for their own sake, prefers small research groups and will examine the institute's large labs. He also hopes to place more emphasis on encouraging investigator-initiated grants and less on bankrolling centers. Scientists in the intramural program are encouraged by the fact that the position has gone to a topflight researcher. Hyman's career to date and some of the issues and plans he discussed in an extensive interview are examined.