Janssen
Pharmaceutica Endows Psychiatry Chair at Emory University
Janssen Pharmaceutica,
L.P. is committing $1.5 million to endow the Paul Janssen Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology
at the Emory University School of Medicine. The gift commitment from
Janssen honors the company's 75-year-old founder Paul Janssen, PhD,
MD. Emory has one of the nation's largest and most rapidly growing research
groups in the study of drugs and their effects on the human mind, brain,
and behavior.
The new chair will be located
in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, where 13 faculty
researchers are members of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
-- the leading national consortium of scientists devoted to studying
both natural and synthetic compounds used in the treatment of anxiety,
depression, schizophrenia and other mental and behavioral disorders.
"The Paul Janssen Chair is
a wonderful tribute to a man who has been one of the most highly productive
and widely esteemed pharmacological researchers in the world for more
than 45 years," said Charles B. Nemeroff, M.D., Ph.D., the Reunette
W. Harris professor and chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
"It is gratifying to know that with the establishment of this chair,
the Janssen name will be linked forever to research in the Department
of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory. We depend on extraordinary
support such as this to maintain the pace of discovery in one of the
most exciting areas in all of medicine."
Researchers in the department
are working at the molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels to understand
how existing psychotropic drugs affect the brain and to identify promising
new targets in the brain for future drugs. Researchers use MRI, PET,
SPECT, and MRS imaging equipment for both human and animal studies of
brain activity and response. Departmental researchers in the Emory University
Hospital also work in clinical studies of patients suffering from mood
and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.
A leading area of research
is the relationship of stress to mood and anxiety disorders. The department
is also recognized for its studies of the neurobiological basis of schizophrenia
and for the psychiatric effects of drugs on nursing mothers and infants.
"The Paul Janssen Chair is
a very welcome commitment that gives us the option of either recruiting
or retaining a world-class faculty researcher in psychiatry and behavioral
sciences," said Thomas J. Lawley, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine.
"We are particularly dedicated to supporting cutting-edge researchers
who are actively involved in training graduate and medical students
-- who will, in their turn, populate the next generation of investigators
in this field. This gift thus allows us to support and extend one of
the most vital communities of scientists devoted to neuropsychopharmacology
to be found anywhere."
BACKGROUND ON JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICA
Janssen Pharmaceutica Products,
L.P. produces and markets prescription pharmaceuticals for use in psychiatry,
neurology, gastroenterology, pain management and dermatology.
After the breakthrough of
Haldol, Dr. Paul Janssen followed with the discovery of the now first-line
atypical, Risperdal" (risperidone), the most widely prescribed atypical
antipsychotic in the world. Five Janssen drugs are on the World Health
Organization's critical list of essential drugs. During his career Dr.
Janssen is responsible for discovering over 25 psychotherapeutics.
Janssen's U.S. operations
are based in Titusville, New Jersey, and its international headquarters
are in Beerse, Belgium. Dr. Paul Janssen, a renowned physician and chemist,
founded the company in Belgium. In the early 1960s it became a part
of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies. Johnson & Johnson is the
world's most comprehensive and broadly based manufacturer of health
care products and provides related health care services for the consumer,
pharmaceutical and professional markets.
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Paul Adriaan Jan Janssen
Dr. Paul
A man of genius
Belgium, Turnhout, 12 September
1926
Dr. Paul is one of the world's
foremost medical scientists, whose research has resulted in treatments
and improvements for countless illnesses, in a wide variety of diseases,
ranging from mycotic infections to mental illnesses, from gastrointestinal
to parasitic diseases, from anaesthetics to products for veterinary
medicine, plant and wood protection. In total, more than 75 drugs were
developed under his inspirational guidance.
Dr. Paul has served Janssen
Pharmaceutica as president and director of research for 33 years. The
company has now 34 international affiliates with some 20,000 employees
world-wide.
Dr. Paul is known throughout
the world as an outstanding physician, pharmaceutical chemist, inventor
and mentor to many scientists. As a result of over 45 years of research
and development work through his pharmaceutical company, Dr. Paul holds
over 100 drug patents.
His formidable contributions
to the world of medical science have been justly recognized with 21
honorary doctorate degrees and five honorary professorships from 16
different countries. His worldwide awards, honours and appointments
number close to 100, among them the International Galenus Prize for
Risperdal, the Pioneer in Science Award from the United States' National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the Psychiatric Times' Lifetime Achievement
Award, the Taylor Manor Hospital Psychiatric Award, the Gairdner Foundation
Award, the Discoverers' Award, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association,
the Award in Medicinal Chemistry, American Chemical Society, Carothers
Award, American Chemical Society, Distinguished Service Award, American
College of Clinical Pharmacology, Honorary Professor in Clinical Dermatology,
Stanford University.
He is currently a member
of 20 international associations, colleges and societies, and holds
four directorships. Throughout his career, Dr. Paul has contributed
a vast amount of knowledge to pharmaceutical science. He has authored
or co-authored more than 800 scientific publications and presented more
than 500 scientific lectures in any of five languages.
Dr. Paul has always been
the personification of a unique combination : on the one hand the brilliant
scientist, and on the other the very successful manager. Nevertheless,
he has never wished to take all the credit for himself. His elevation
to the Belgian peerage with the titel of Baron, is not just a personal
accolade but above all a token of recognition of the achievements of
all those people who have assisted over the years and dedicated their
best efforts in spreading the excellent reputation that Janssen Pharmaceutica
has earned within just a few decades all over the world.
'I wish to continue to devote
my energies to the improvement of health care because there is still
so much more to be done.'
-- Dr. Paul Janssen
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