Awards

The Society will recognize a SIRS member for an outstanding basic research contribution to schizophrenia research. The contribution may be preclinical or work which emphasizes the interface between basic and clinical research. The selection of the award recipient is based on the quality of the contribution(s) and its impact in advancing schizophrenia research.

The applicant may submit to multiple awards for consideration. If selected, applicants will only be eligible to receive one award.

Requirements for the award include:

• Individual and nominator (if one) must be current SIRS members. Self-nominations are accepted.
• In order to be eligible, the individual must have made a significant contribution to basic schizophrenia research.
• Nominations of members from underrepresented groups are highly encouraged.
• Previous winners of the award, Award Committee members and Officers of the Society are not eligible.

Award recipient will receive:

• Waived registration fee to the award year meeting.
• The awardee will also receive recognition at the meeting during one of the plenary sessions.

Award recipient will be asked to contribute the following:

• In collaboration with the SIRS Communications Committee, write a 500-800 word blog post about their research for the SIRS website.

The nomination or self-nomination should include:

1. Letter of recommendation or statement that is no more than one page in length. The letter or statement should describe the nominee’s contributions to the field and a single discovery or a cumulative body of work.

2. The curriculum vitae of the candidate.

3. Submit in a separate document the TITLES and URL Links of three-to-five relevant papers representing the nominee’s contribution(s) to basic schizophrenia research. Note with an asterisk the paper considered to be the most relevant for the application.

Individuals who have received the Basic Research Award are:

2024 Winner: Sabina Berretta, M.D.
2023 Winner: Daniel Martins-De-Souza, Ph.D.
2022 Winner: Davide Amato, Ph.D.
2021 Winner: Sergiu Pasca, M.D.
2020 Winner: Not awarded
2019 Winner: Brian Dean, Ph.D.
2018 Winner:  Kim Do, D. Sci.
2016 Winner:  Anthony Grace, Ph.D.
2014 Winner: Akira Sawa, M.D., Ph.D
2012 Winner: John Waddington, Ph.D.

The Society will recognize a member who has provided extraordinary service to the Schizophrenia International Research Society. This service should be through significant contributions to the society.

The applicant may submit to multiple awards for consideration. If selected, applicants will only be eligible to receive one award.

Requirements for the award include:

• Individual and nominator (if one) must be current SIRS members. Self-nominations are accepted.
• Nominations of members from underrepresented groups are highly encouraged.
• Previous winners of the award, Award Committee members and Officers of the Society are not eligible.

Award recipient will receive:

• Waived registration fee to the award year meeting.
• The awardee will also receive recognition at the meeting during one of the plenary sessions.

Award recipient will be asked to contribute the following:

• In collaboration with the SIRS Communications Committee, write a 500-800 word blog post about their research for the SIRS website.

The nomination should include:

1. Letter of recommendation or statement that is no more than one page in length. The letter or statement should describe the nominee’s contributions to the field and a statement about their contributions to the Society.

2. The curriculum vitae of the candidate.

Individuals who have received the Distinguished Service Award are:

2024 Winner: Eric Yu Hai Chen, M.D., FRCPsych
2023 Winner: Not Awarded
2022 Winner: Robin Emsley, Ch.B., D.Sc., M.B.
2021 Winner: Not Awarded
2020 Winner: Not awarded
2019 Winners: Jean Addington, Ph.D. and John Kane, M.D.
2014 Winners:  Lynn E. DeLisi, M.D. and Henry A. Nasrallah, M.D.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is SIRS most prestigious award, given to a scientist who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the field of schizophrenia research. This individual will have:
- an established history in schizophrenia research
- exhibited leadership and provided mentoring to young investigators
- positively impacted the field of schizophrenia research

The applicant may submit to multiple awards for consideration. If selected, applicants will only be eligible to receive one award.

 Requirements for the award include:

• Individual and nominator (if one) must be current SIRS members.  Self-nominations are accepted.
• In order to be eligible, the individual must have an established history in schizophrenia research, have exhibited leadership and provided mentoring to young investigators, positively impacted the field of schizophrenia research, and be a current SIRS Member.
• The nominee should be at the end of their career in schizophrenia research
• Nominations of members from underrepresented groups are highly encouraged.
• Previous winners of the award, Award Committee members and Officers of the Society are not eligible.

Award recipient will receive:

• Waived registration fee to the award year meeting.
• The awardee will also receive recognition at the meeting during one of the plenary sessions.

Award recipient will be asked to contribute the following:
In collaboration with the SIRS Communications Committee, write a 500-800 word blog post about their research for the SIRS website.

The nomination or self-nomination should include:

1. Up to three (3) letters of recommendation that are each no more than one page in length. The letters should describe a justification for why the nominee should receive the award and describe their overarching contributions to the field.

2. The curriculum vitae of the candidate.

Individuals who have received the Lifetime Achievement Award are:

2024 Winner: Professor Dame Til Wykes DBE, FAcMedSci, FSocSci, FBPS
2024 Winner: Dolores Malaspina, M.D., M.S., M.P.H.
2023 Winner: Nina Schooler, Ph.D.
2023 Winner: Jim van Os, M.Sc., Ph.D.
2022 Winner: Lynn DeLisi, M.D.
2021 Winner: E. Fuller Torrey, M.D.
2020 Winner: Robin Murray, FMedSci, FRS
2019 Winner: William Carpenter, M.D.
2018 Winner:  Patrick McGorry, M.D.
2016 Winner:  Herbert Meltzer, M.D

The Society will recognize a SIRS member for an outstanding clinical/community contribution to schizophrenia research.  The contribution may be based on a single discovery or a cumulative body of work. The selection of the award recipient is based on the quality of the contribution(s) and its impact in advancing schizophrenia research.

The applicant may submit to multiple awards for consideration. If selected, applicants will only be eligible to receive one award.

Requirements for the award include:

• Individual and nominator (if one) must be current SIRS members. Self-nominations are accepted.
• In order to be eligible, the individual must have made a significant contribution to clinical schizophrenia research.
• Nominations of members from underrepresented groups are highly encouraged.
• Previous winners of the award, Award Committee members and Officers of the Society are not eligible.

Award recipient will receive:

• Waived registration fee to the award year meeting.
• The awardee will also receive recognition at the meeting during one of the plenary sessions.

Award recipient will be asked to contribute the following:

• In collaboration with the SIRS Communications Committee, write a 500-800 word blog post about their research for the SIRS website.

The nomination or self-nomination should include:

1. Letter of recommendation or statement that is no more than one page in length. The letter or statement should describe the nominee’s contributions to the field.

2. The curriculum vitae of the candidate.

3. Submit in a separate document the TITLES and URL Links of three-to-five relevant papers representing the nominee’s contribution(s) to clinical/community in schizophrenia research. Note with an asterisk the paper considered to be the most relevant for the application.

Individuals who have received the SIRS Outstanding Clinical/Community Research Award are:

2024 Winner: Jean-Paul Selten, M.D., Ph.D.
2023 Winner: Dolores Malaspina, Ph.D.
2022 Winner: Matcheri Keshavan, M.D.
2021 Winner: Mary Cannon FRCPsy, M.D.
2020 Winner: Thara Rangaswamy, FRCPsych
2019 Winner: Keith Nuechterlein, Ph.D.
2018 Winner:  Ashok Malla, FRCPC
2016 Winner:  Larry Seidman, Ph.D.
2014 Winner: Michael Foster Green, Ph.D
2012 Winner: Philip D. Harvey, Ph. D.

The Society will recognize a SIRS member for an outstanding translational research contribution to schizophrenia research. The contribution may be based on a single discovery or a cumulative body of work which has translational impact. The selection of the award recipient is based on the quality of the contribution(s) and its impact in advancing schizophrenia research.

The applicant may submit to multiple awards for consideration. If selected, applicants will only be eligible to receive one award.

Requirements for the award include:

• Individual and nominator (if one) must be current SIRS members. Self-nominations are accepted.
• In order to be eligible, the individual must have made a significant contribution to translational schizophrenia research.
• Nominations of members from underrepresented groups are highly encouraged.
• Previous winners of the award, Award Committee members and Officers of the Society are not eligible.

Award recipient will receive:

• Waived registration fee to the award year meeting.
• The awardee will also receive recognition at the meeting during one of the plenary sessions.

Award recipient will be asked to contribute the following:

• In collaboration with the SIRS Communications Committee, write a 500-800 word blog post about their research for the SIRS website.

The nomination or self-nomination should include:

1. Letter of recommendation or statement that is no more than one page in length. The letter or statement should describe the nominee’s contributions to the field and a single discovery or a cumulative body of work.

2. The curriculum vitae of the candidate.

3. Submit in a separate document the TITLES and URL Links of three-to-five relevant papers representing the nominee’s contribution(s) to translational schizophrenia research. Note with an asterisk the paper considered to be the most relevant for the application.

Individuals who have received the SIRS Translational Research Award are:

2024 Winner: Inez Myin-Germeys, Ph.D.
2023 Winner: Anthony Grace, Ph.D.
2023 Winner: Stephan Heckers, M.D., M.Sc.
2022 Winner: Philip Corlett, Ph.D.
2021 Winner: Cynthia Shannon Weickert, Ph.D. and Vince Calhoun, Ph.D.
2020 Winner: Alison Yung, M.D.
2019 Winner:  Raquel Gur, M.D., Ph.D. and Ruben Gur, Ph.D.

The Society will recognize a mid-career researcher below full professor status who has shown exceptional research in the field of schizophrenia research and promising research trajectory.

The applicant may submit to multiple awards for consideration. If selected, applicants will only be eligible to receive one award.

Requirements for the award include:

• Individual and nominator (if one) must be current SIRS members.  Self-nominations are accepted.
• In order to be eligible, the individual must have made a significant contribution to schizophrenia research.
• Nominations of members from underrepresented groups are highly encouraged.
• Previous winners of the award, Award Committee members and Officers of the Society are not eligible.

Award recipient will receive:

• Waived registration fee to the award year meeting.
• The awardee will also receive recognition at the meeting during one of the plenary sessions.

Award recipient will be asked to contribute the following:

• In collaboration with the SIRS Communications Committee, write a 500-800 word blog post about their research for the SIRS website.

The nomination or self-nomination should include:

1. Letter of recommendation from a SIRS member that is no more than one page in length. The letter or statement should describe the nominee’s contributions to the field and anticipated trajectory.

2. The curriculum vitae of the candidate.

3. A personal statement including career goals (max. 250 words).

4. An optional statement explaining any career breaks.

5. Abstract submission for presentation at the upcoming Congress.

Individuals who have received the Research Excellence Award are:

2024 Winner: Sinan Guloksuz, M.D., Ph.D. 
2023 Winner: Gemma Modinos, Ph.D.
2022 Winner: Jai Shah, FRCPC, M.D.
2021 Winner: Margaret Niznikiewicz, Ph.D.
2020 Winner: Emmanuelle Peters, Ph.D.

The Society will recognize an early career researcher who is less than 40 years of age by April 2023 or within five years post-doc of their terminal degree taking into account career breaks.  The researcher should show exceptional research in the field of schizophrenia and promising research trajectory.

The applicant may submit to multiple awards for consideration. If selected, applicants will only be eligible to receive one award.

Requirements for the award include:

• Individual and nominator (if one) must be current SIRS members.  Self-nominations are accepted.
• In order to be eligible, the individual must have made a significant contribution to schizophrenia research.
• Nominations of members from underrepresented groups are highly encouraged.
• Previous winners of the award, Award Committee members and Officers of the Society are not eligible.

Award recipient will receive:

• Waived registration fee to the award year meeting.
• Waived membership for one year to the Society.
• The awardee will also receive recognition at the meeting during one of the plenary sessions.

Award recipient will be asked to contribute the following:

• In collaboration with the SIRS Communications Committee, write a 500-800 word blog post about their research for the SIRS website.

The nomination or self-nomination should include:

1. Letter of recommendation from a SIRS member that is no more than one page in length. The letter or statement should describe the nominee’s contributions to the field and anticipated trajectory.

2. The curriculum vitae of the candidate.

3. A personal statement including career goals (max. 250 words).

4. An optional statement explaining any career breaks.

5. Abstract submission for presentation at the upcoming Congress.

Individuals who have received the SIRS Rising Star Award are:

2024 Winner: Oleguer Plana-Ripoll, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
2023 Winner: Dominique Endres, M.D.
2022 Winner: Ana Pinheiro, Ph.D.
2021 Winner: Katharine Thakkar, Ph.D.
2020 Winner: Greg Strauss, Ph.D.
2019 Winners: Gemma Modinos, Ph.D., Panos Roussos, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D., and Jared Young, Ph.D.
2018 Winner:  Lena Palaniyappan, M.D.
2016 Winners:  Aristotle Voineskos, FRCP(C),M.D., Ph.D. and Alan Anticevic, Ph.D.
2014 Winner: Oliver Howes, BM, BCh, MA, MRCPsych, Ph.D., D.M.
2012 Winner: Paolo Fusar Poli, Ph.D.

The Global Schizophrenia Award is to support a SIRS member in a low and middle income country to attend the annual SIRS congress. The intent of the award is to widen diversity and to bring a member from under-represented countries to a state-of-the-art meeting to establish collaborations with other SIRS members.

The applicant may submit to multiple awards for consideration. If selected, applicants will only be eligible to receive one award.

Requirements for the award include:

• • Individual and nominator (if one) must be current SIRS members. Self-nominations are accepted.
  • Those applying or nominating a member for this award should provide a justification for why the nominee should receive the award and how it will benefit the nominee.
  • The awardee must be a SIRS member and presently residing and employed within a country within the World Bank Country Category groups upper-middle, lower-middle, and low. The World Bank classifies the world's economies into four income groups — high, upper-middle, lower-middle, and low. They base this assignment on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (current US$) calculated using the Atlas method. The classification is updated each year on July 1st. Click here to see the countries in groups upper-middle, lower-middle, and low.
  • Applicants are asked to indicate the nominee meets the ALL eligibility criteria.
  • Nominations of members from underrepresented groups are highly encouraged.
  • Previous winners of the award, Award Committee members and Officers of the Society are not eligible.

Award recipient will receive:

• • Waived registration fee to the Congress.
  • Hotel stay for up to 5 nights and coach/economy airfare (round trip) be paid by SIRS
  • The awardee will also receive recognition at the meeting during one of the plenary sessions.

Award recipient will be asked to contribute the following:

• In collaboration with the SIRS Communications Committee, write a 500-800 word blog post about their research for the SIRS website.

The nomination or self-nomination should include:

1. A nominating statement no more than one page in length. This statement should describe a justification for why the nominee should receive the award and how it will benefit the nominee.
2. The curriculum vitae of the candidate.

Individuals who have received the Global Schizophrenia Award are:

2024 Winner: Camilo de la Fuente Sandoval, M.D., Ph.D.
2023 Winner: Natália Bezerra Mota, Ph.D.
2023 Winner: Lebogang Phahladira, FCPsych
2022 Winner: Sachin Nagendrappa, M.D.
2021 Winner: Raymond Chan, Ph.D.
2020 Winner: Felipe Gomes, Ph.D.
2019 Winner: Alexandre Loch, M.D., Ph.D.
2019 Winner: Alexandra Zugno, Ph.D., Pharm.D.