Five scientists who are rewiring our understanding of mental illness just won their field's top honours

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation — the world's largest private funder of mental-health research grants — has named its 2026 Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners, five scientists whose work is deepening understanding of schizophrenia and related conditions. Among them, Columbia's Joseph Gogos, honoured for uncovering the biological mechanisms of schizophrenia, and Steven Kushner, recognised for innovative early-stage research. They will present their work publicly in New York on October 30. Behind every future treatment stands work like this: slow, exact, and aimed at minds that medicine still understands too little.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: institutional program