Lieber Institute for Brain Development

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Lieber Institute for Brain Development

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

o 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.

04/22/2026

More than 5,000 families have made an extraordinary choice to donate their loved one’s brain to science, turning loss into hope.

Their generosity makes it possible to advance research aimed at understanding, treating, and one day preventing mental illness. Each donation helps move science forward and brings us closer to better outcomes for future generations.

We are deeply grateful for their courage and the lasting impact of their gift.

04/21/2026

We ❤️ seeing Lieber research being shared on a global stage.

Bailey Spiegelberg, MPH recently presented her work at the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) 2026 Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Her research on Trisomy 21 (T21) and the placenta secretome is helping advance our understanding of early development and maternal-fetal health.

We’re beyond excited to see this important work contributing to conversations across the scientific community.

04/20/2026

Congratulations to Beau Oster, winner of the March LIBD Lens! 📸🧠

Winning Image: Between the Nerves

This striking image shows a detailed map of a small but important area deep in the brain called the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The VTA plays a key role in motivation, reward, and behavior.

In the image, this region sits between two bundles of nerve fibers, creating a shape that looks like a hidden valley between two rivers.

A powerful reminder of how science helps us visualize and better understand the complexity of the brain.

04/14/2026

Exciting news for Lieber!

Congratulations to Gregory Carr, PhD, Lead Investigator at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, on being selected as a Principal Investigator in the SPARK NS 2026 Cohort.

His project, focused on developing a treatment for tactile defensiveness in autism, is part of a growing global effort to turn research into meaningful therapies.

04/13/2026

New here? Start here.

At the Lieber, our mission is simple but powerful: to understand the genetic and molecular causes of schizophrenia and related brain disorders, and turn that knowledge into real treatments that change lives.

In this video, you’ll hear how our researchers are using cutting-edge tools to study the human brain at an unprecedented level, uncovering new insights into how these disorders develop and where future therapies may begin.

It’s a new model of science, bringing together experts from different fields with one shared goal: better outcomes for patients and families.

Watch to learn more about the work driving that mission forward.

04/09/2026

Autism isn’t one experience. It’s a spectrum.

That means individuals can have very different strengths, challenges, and levels of support needs.

Some people with autism live independently, attend college, and build careers. Others may have more significant communication or cognitive challenges and need ongoing, lifelong support.

You may have heard terms like Asperger’s syndrome in the past. Today, these presentations are understood as part of autism spectrum disorder, reflecting a broader and more inclusive understanding.

Recognizing this range matters. It helps clinicians, families, and communities create more personalized support, therapies, and educational approaches. Because when we understand the spectrum, we can better support every individual on it.

04/07/2026

It’s one of the most common questions families ask… and one of the most complex to answer.

Right now, scientists don’t point to a single cause. Instead, research shows that autism develops from a combination of factors working together.

Some of the biggest areas researchers are exploring:

🧬 Genetics
Certain gene variations may increase the likelihood of autism by influencing how the brain develops and functions.

🧠 Brain Development
Early differences in how brain cells communicate can shape how individuals experience and interact with the world.

🌍 Environmental Influences
Factors during early development may also play a role alongside genetics.

What matters most is this: autism is not caused by one thing, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone.

Understanding how these pieces fit together is one of the most important goals in autism research today. Every discovery brings us closer to better support, earlier understanding, and more personalized care.

04/06/2026

For many families, it starts with questions. It might start with a missed milestone, a change in behavior, or a moment that just feels uncertain.

An autism diagnosis can bring both clarity and new challenges. It can mean navigating therapies, medical care, and wondering what the future will look like.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) begins early in development and affects people in very different ways. Some individuals may live independently, while others may need lifelong support.

• About 1 in 44 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with ASD
• ASD is more than 4 times more common in boys

At the LIBD, our scientists are working to better understand what autism is, what causes it, and how it affects the brain because understanding is the first step toward better outcomes for individuals and families.

04/02/2026

Big congratulations to Jason Rehg, a Research Assistant in the Circuits Group, on being accepted into the Neuroscience PhD program at Johns Hopkins University!

We’re excited to see him take this next step and continue his work in neuroscience. Wishing him all the best in this exciting new chapter.

03/31/2026

We remember Steve Lieber, whose vision, generosity, and humanity helped shape the future of mental health research.

Alongside his late wife, Connie, Steve was driven by a singular purpose: to bring hope to individuals living with serious mental illness, especially those too often overlooked by medicine. Together, they built a legacy rooted in compassion, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to understanding complex brain disorders.

Steve was not only a visionary, but a deeply kind and genuine person. He had a calm presence, a thoughtful perspective, and a quiet resilience that left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Those who knew him remember his warmth, his sense of humor, and the way he spoke about Connie with such joy and love. His optimism, even in the face of adversity, was steady and inspiring.

Through the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Steve helped create opportunities for discovery, collaboration, and mentorship that have touched scientists and clinicians around the world. His impact lives on in the research he championed, the careers he helped shape, and the countless lives that stand to benefit from this work.

As we continue to move this mission forward, we remain inspired by Steve’s life of service and his belief in what science can achieve. His legacy endures in every step we take toward better understanding and treating brain disorders.

03/30/2026

We’ve got a lot to smile about.

This month, our team from the Lieber Institute for Brain Development attended the AWS (Amazon Web Services) Imagine for Nonprofits Conference, joining leaders across nonprofit, education, and government sectors.

From conversations around AI and cloud technology to exploring new ways to accelerate research, it was an inspiring opportunity to connect, learn, and think about what’s next.

03/26/2026

Not your average science project.

Staff Scientist Jiyun Zhou recently attended the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) conference in Orlando, Florida, where he presented a poster titled “Deep Learning Reveals Distinct Epigenetic Mechanisms for Common and Rare Genetic Variation in Brain Disorders.”

We are proud to see Lieber Institute researchers sharing their work and contributing to conversations advancing genomics and brain science.

Address

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

Telephone

+14109551000

Website

http://www.libd.org/, https://www.libd.org/endmentalillness

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Our Story

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.