Lieber Institute for Brain Development

Lieber Institute for Brain Development Translating genetic insights into next generation treatments. LIBD partners with academic, pharmaceutical, foundation, and government agencies world-wide.

The Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) was established in 2010 through the historic gift of Constance & Stephen Lieber and Milton & Tamar Maltz as an independent, not-for-profit medical research institute with end-to-end capabilities under one roof. LIBD translates genetic insights into breakthrough treatments utilizing unparalleled resources in human brain tissue and human cell lines to understand the developmental origins of schizophrenia and related brain disorders. Affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, LIBD is led by Dr. Daniel Weinberger, formerly the head of the Genes, Cognition and Psychosis Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, and includes a world-class team of scientists with over 200 years’ cumulative experience and 2,500 published scientific papers. The Institute is committed to a collaborative approach and invests in building research networks and partnerships to accelerate scientific discovery.

03/10/2026

For many families, schizophrenia can change life overnight. It is a debilitating brain disorder, and many patients struggle with treatments that do not work well or come with difficult side effects.

That is why researchers at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development are exploring new approaches.

In this video, Michael Nagle, Ph.D., shares how he uses generative AI to design new chemical structures that could become future treatments for schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.

By uncovering patterns in massive biological datasets, AI is helping scientists move closer to better options for patients and their families.

In a recent feature by BrainFacts.org the story of Larry Agnew reminds us why our work matters so deeply. After losing ...
03/06/2026

In a recent feature by BrainFacts.org the story of Larry Agnew reminds us why our work matters so deeply. After losing her son to an overdose, Larry’s mother, Priscilla Agnew-Hines, made the courageous decision to donate his brain to science so researchers could better understand the conditions that affected his life.

Today, Larry’s gift is helping scientists study the biology of brain disorders like schizophrenia, addiction, and depression. His donation is also part of the African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative (AANRI), which is working to ensure that brain research includes communities that have historically been left out of scientific studies.

Stories like Larry’s remind us that understanding these illnesses begins with building trust and the willingness to ask difficult questions about how the brain works. Those conversations are leading the way to understanding more about difficult brain disorders.

Every donation carries a legacy. Every discovery brings us closer to answers that could change millions of lives.

Read the full story from BrainFacts.org: https://www.brainfacts.org/neuroscience-in-society/supporting-research/2026/how-the-african-ancestry-neuroscience-research-initiative-boosts-inclusion-022626

03/05/2026

What if understanding schizophrenia starts with decoding hundreds of genes?

Meet Michael Nagle, Ph.D., Staff Scientist at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development. His work focuses on untangling the complex genetic patterns behind schizophrenia using advanced data tools and AI. By turning massive datasets into meaningful insight, he helps move research closer to more precise and effective treatments.

Stay tuned this month as we share more about Dr. Nagle’s fascinating work and how AI is helping researchers unlock new insights into the brain.

Just a light little reading corner over here… nothing too intense.Ever wonder what brain scientists read in their spare ...
03/03/2026

Just a light little reading corner over here… nothing too intense.

Ever wonder what brain scientists read in their spare time? Apparently, more brain science. Shockingly on brand.

Between the genetics textbooks, neuroscience deep dives, and research volumes that make us feel like we need a dictionary nearby, this shelf is a reminder that curiosity never clocks out. Luckily for all of us, neither do the people trying to understand the most complex organ we know.

02/23/2026

A few of our scientists have banded together (literally!) to create "Freezer Farm." What started as a creative outlet to help researchers process some of the more challenging cases we deal with, has slowly evolved into a way to promote conversations about mental health.

Learn more about the motivation behind the music. 🎵 You can listen to one of their original songs by clicking on the YouTube link in the first comment.

We are excited to announce that Dr. Brady and his team have been awarded a grant from the G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers F...
02/21/2026

We are excited to announce that Dr. Brady and his team have been awarded a grant from the G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation!

The Mathers Foundation is "dedicated to advancing knowledge in the life sciences by funding bold, basic scientific research with the potential to transform human health." Dr. Brady's team will use this funding to explore innovative approaches to uncovering new treatment targets for schizophrenia by using advanced human neuron models.

In short: our lab will be using cutting edge technology to see if there are better ways to support people with schizophrenia. ❤️

Announcing the first winner of our LIBD Lens contest! Each month, we invite our scientists to submit images from their w...
02/20/2026

Announcing the first winner of our LIBD Lens contest! Each month, we invite our scientists to submit images from their work, with one lucky person being chosen as a winner. Congratulations to Ishbel Del Rosario on being our first, inaugural winner! Fun fact: one of our donor families acted as January's judge!

Ishbel's imagery proves that neuroscience is as beautiful as it is powerful. This image shows a magnified view of a small region of the macaque brain, glowing with different colors that highlight specific genes inside brain cells.

🔴 Red, 🟡 yellow, and 🟣 magenta each mark different molecular signals within distinct areas of the amygdala, a region involved in emotion and behavior. 🟢 Green outlines the brain’s white matter, helping scientists map exactly where everything is happening.

What looks like abstract art is actually a detailed molecular map, helping researchers understand how specific cells function, communicate, and sometimes malfunction in brain disorders.

Science doesn’t just uncover answers. Sometimes, it reveals unexpected beauty along the way.

02/17/2026

The Lieber Institute Brain Repository is the LARGEST collection of postmortem human brains for the study of neuropsychiatric disorders in the world.

With more than 5,000 donated brains, this is where discovery begins. Every sample is carefully dissected, mapped, and prepared by our expert team giving researchers the precise tissue they need to understand how the brain works and what happens in mental illness.

This is the foundation of breakthroughs.

This is how we move closer to prevention, treatment, and ultimately ending mental illness.

We love demonstrating how our lab brings together diverse interests, from biotech to professional athletics, highlightin...
02/05/2026

We love demonstrating how our lab brings together diverse interests, from biotech to professional athletics, highlighting the broad appeal and impact of our work.

Last week, we hosted Blackbird Laboratories and members of the Baltimore Ravens family to illustrate how our research connects technology, science, and community engagement. Their visit showed our work matters to many and sparked valuable conversations.

Grateful for our partnership with Blackbird Laboratories and Go Ravens! (Ohhhh oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhhhhh! If you know, you know. 😉)

02/03/2026

If we know so much about the brain, why don’t we have better treatments?

It’s a question we hear all the time and one that Dr. Jim Barrow understands deeply. In this video by Dragon Studio, he talks about the real challenges behind developing new drugs for mental health. From complex science to safety concerns, it’s a long, difficult road. For families who are waiting, that delay can feel unbearable.

But we’re not giving up. We’re using better data, smarter technology, and the largest human brain repository in the world to find new paths forward. We believe that people living with brain disorders deserve more than just hope.

They deserve real answers and real solutions.

01/27/2026

Famous last words: “Just one more take!” 📣

01/27/2026

"In a relatively short period of time, we have contributed more to our understanding of the brain mechanisms of serious psychiatric illness, particularly schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, maybe su***de, than any other single research enterprise in the world."
-Daniel R. Weinberger, M.D.
Director and CEO of the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience and Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine

Imagine what we will accomplish in the next decade?

Address

855 N. Wolfe Street, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD
21205

Telephone

+14109551000

Website

https://www.libd.org/endmentalillness

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The Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) was established in 2010 through the historic gift of Constance & Stephen Lieber and Milton & Tamar Maltz as an independent, not-for-profit medical research institute with end-to-end capabilities under one roof. LIBD translates genetic insights into breakthrough treatments utilizing unparalleled resources in human brain tissue and human cell lines to understand the developmental origins of schizophrenia and related brain disorders. Affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, LIBD is led by Dr. Daniel Weinberger, formerly the head of the Genes, Cognition and Psychosis Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, and includes a world-class team of scientists with over 200 years’ cumulative experience and 2,500 published scientific papers. LIBD partners with academic, pharmaceutical, foundation, and government agencies world-wide. The Institute is committed to a collaborative approach and invests in building research networks and partnerships to accelerate scientific discovery.