Brain cell discoveries reshape understanding of psychiatric disorders

BELMONT, Massachusetts, USA, 14 October 2025 -- In a compelling Genomic Press Interview published today in Genomic Psychiatry, Dr. Bruce M. Cohen discusses results and insights that are reshaping international approaches to understanding and treating neuropsychiatric disorders. The Robertson-Steele Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Program for Neuropsychiatric Research at McLean Hospital shares remarkable discoveries from nearly five decades of groundbreaking research and places them in the context of a growing evidence base that can reshape psychiatric practice across continents.

Dr. Cohen's laboratory is a pioneer in the use of revolutionary techniques for growing brain cells from patient samples using induced pluripotent stem cell technology, representing what he describes as advances "giving us leads we did not have forty years ago." These innovations have uncovered critical abnormalities in energy metabolism and cellular connectivity that contribute to psychiatric disorders affecting millions worldwide. With over 400 peer-reviewed publications and five awarded patents, his work suggests therapeutic avenues that may be better targeted and more effective than current treatments.

Mitochondrial Mysteries Transform Treatment Paradigms

The interview reveals how Dr. Cohen's team has documented fundamental energy metabolism abnormalities underlying major psychiatric conditions. These discoveries carry profound implications for developing targeted interventions applicable to diverse populations globally. His research demonstrates that brain cells derived from individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer disease exhibit inherent metabolic dysfunctions that may be modifiable before illness onset.

This metabolic perspective represents a paradigm shift from traditional neurotransmitter-focused theories dominating psychiatric research for decades. Dr. Cohen emphasizes that the brain, more than any organ, depends on precise energy production and connectivity. His findings suggest that addressing these fundamental cellular processes could prevent or ameliorate symptoms in susceptible individuals worldwide, regardless of geographic or demographic factors.

The multidisciplinary approach championed by Dr. Cohen combines genomics, brain imaging, and cellular modeling to create comprehensive pictures of psychiatric disorders. This integrated methodology provides researchers internationally with powerful frameworks for understanding complex brain conditions, notably mood, psychotic, and cognitive disorders, that are commonly seen across cultural and regional boundaries.

Challenging Century-Old Diagnostic Models

Instead of the status quo expert-consensus diagnostic systems, that place people in categories, Dr. Cohen advocates implementation of an evidence-based dimensional approach for describing patients. He argues that terms like "schizophrenia" should be retired in favor of scientifically accurate alternatives that reduce stigma while better capturing illness complexity. His proposed dimensional model focuses on symptom profiles rather than categorical labels, offering clinicians more nuanced tools for patient assessment and treatment planning.

This diagnostic revolution extends beyond mere terminology. Dr. Cohen's research demonstrates that traditional categorical systems fail to reflect underlying biological realities or clinical presentations adequately. His dimensional approach aligns with how clinicians actually evaluate patients, globally, providing richer individual descriptions while enabling formation of more homogeneous research cohorts. Such reforms could transform psychiatric practice internationally, improving diagnostic precision and treatment outcomes across diverse healthcare systems.

The interview explores how these new models could particularly benefit regions where Western diagnostic frameworks have proven problematic. By emphasizing observable symptoms and illness trajectories rather than culturally bound categories, dimensional approaches offer universal applicability while respecting local contexts and experiences.

From Laboratory Bench to Hospital Leadership

Dr. Cohen's impact extends beyond research laboratories. As McLean Hospital President and Psychiatrist-in -Chief from 1997 to 2005, he reversed financial decline while establishing over 30 new programs advancing both clinical care and scientific investigation. His leadership philosophy emphasized supporting frontline staff and reducing bureaucracy, principles applicable to healthcare institutions worldwide facing similar challenges.

Under his guidance, McLean achieved record levels of patient care, research funding, and educational training. These accomplishments demonstrate how scientific rigor combined with compassionate leadership can transform struggling institutions into thriving centers of excellence. His experience offers valuable lessons for hospital administrators globally confronting resource constraints while striving to maintain quality care and research productivity.

Particularly noteworthy was his establishment of Waverley Place, a peer-run center supporting individuals with mental illness living in communities. This innovative model, prioritizing mission over revenue generation, demonstrates how psychiatric institutions can serve broader societal needs while maintaining financial viability.

Personal Journey Shapes Scientific Vision

The interview reveals personal experiences shaping Dr. Cohen's scientific trajectory. From early fascination with physics and mathematics to transformative encounters with psychiatric patients during medical training, his journey illustrates how diverse intellectual interests can converge to advance medical understanding. His first psychiatric patient, a young woman whose dramatic improvement on medication left lasting impressions, exemplifies psychiatry's potential to restore lives devastated by mental illness.

Dr. Cohen acknowledges anxieties and shyness that limited some professional opportunities, offering honest reflections rarely shared by prominent researchers. These admissions humanize scientific achievement while encouraging young investigators worldwide who may face similar personal challenges. His perseverance despite such obstacles demonstrates that scientific excellence emerges through dedication rather than absence of struggle.

Family influences feature prominently throughout the narrative. His father, a prominent internist, provided early models of medical dedication and research collaboration. Now married over 55 years, Dr. Cohen credits family support as fundamental to sustained career achievements. These personal dimensions remind readers that transformative science emerges from human experiences transcending laboratory walls.

Future Directions and Global Impact

Looking forward, Dr. Cohen expresses optimism about psychiatric research trajectories while acknowledging societal challenges. His current investigations focus on identifying targetable mechanisms determining illness risk, with particular emphasis on prevention strategies. Since psychotic disorders rarely manifest before adolescence and dementias typically emerge later in life, preventive interventions appear increasingly feasible.

The interview highlights how technological advances, particularly in cellular reprogramming and genomic analysis, provide unprecedented opportunities for understanding inherent determinants of psychiatric disorders. These tools, increasingly accessible to researchers worldwide through initiatives prominently including those supported by Genomic Press (https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/), democratize scientific discovery while accelerating progress toward effective treatments.

Dr. Cohen emphasizes the importance of supporting unconventional ideas and new investigators, criticizing tendencies to restrict most funding to mainstream, next step research. His vision encompasses global scientific communities where innovation thrives regardless of geographic location or institutional prestige. This perspective aligns perfectly with open-access publishing models championed by Genomic Press, ensuring research reaches audiences worldwide without financial barriers.

Dr. Bruce M. Cohen's Genomic Press interview is part of a larger series called Innovators & Ideas that highlights the people behind today's most influential scientific breakthroughs. Each interview in the series offers a blend of cutting-edge research and personal reflections, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the scientists shaping the future. By combining a focus on professional achievements with personal insights, this interview style invites a richer narrative that both engages and educates readers. This format provides an ideal starting point for profiles that explore the scientist's impact on the field, while also touching on broader human themes. More information on the research leaders and rising stars featured in our Innovators & Ideas -- Genomic Press Interview series can be found on our publications website: https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/.

The Genomic Press Interview in Genomic Psychiatry titled "Bruce M. Cohen: An eclectic life and a multidisciplinary approach to the complex determinants and diverse presentations of psychiatric disorders," is freely available via Open Access on 14 October 2025 in Genomic Psychiatry at the following hyperlink: https://doi.org/10.61373/gp025k.0104.

About Genomic Psychiatry: Genomic Psychiatry: Advancing Science from Genes to Society (ISSN: 2997-2388, online and 2997-254X, print) represents a paradigm shift in genetics journals by interweaving advances in genomics and genetics with progress in all other areas of contemporary psychiatry. Genomic Psychiatry publishes peer-reviewed medical research articles of the highest quality from any area within the continuum that goes from genes and molecules to neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, and public health.

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