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 Biography  President Emeritus of NARSAD  Constance E. Lieber led NARSAD during 18 formative years, from 1989 to 2007, helping grow the organization into the world’s largest and most prominent mental health research charity. Today she serves as the president emeritus of NARSAD. Mrs. Lieber was joined by her husband, Steve, in her dedication to psychiatric research. From the outset, they focused their energies and resources on the study on schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder (aka manic-depressive illness), in the belief that medical breakthroughs could be unearthed to overcome the tragic consequences of these mental illnesses. Their motivation began when they realized that their daughter’s psychological breakdown in her graduate school years was the result of schizophrenia. They began a search for better treatments and cures. In 1985, Constance and Steve Lieber were introduced to NARSAD, when the organization was at its nascent stage, and clearly held great potential. They decided to try to help make it grow. The Liebers’ participation and generosity initially included hiring NARSAD’s first fundraising firm, supporting the creation of organizational literature and providing grants for ongoing overhead and fundraising operations. Constance Lieber was invited to join NARSAD’s board of directors in 1986 and soon expanded her responsibilities to a full-time commitment. From the inception of her work with NARSAD, Mrs. Lieber saw the need to recognize and encourage excellence in psychiatric research and established the Lieber Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Schizophrenia Research in 1987. This research prize is the largest annual and perpetual psychiatric research award in the United States and the premier award for research in schizophrenia. The Liebers’ commitment to research both within and outside NARSAD grew over the years. Starting in 1992, they have provided major annual support for the Williams College Neuroscience Program through their Essel Foundation. This program aims to prepare students for post-graduate education and research careers in neuroscience. It is generally regarded as one of the strongest neuroscience programs in the nation. In the late 1990s, the couple initiated the Lieber Schizophrenia Research Center at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. Earlier this year, with major support from the Liebers, Columbia was able to expand the scope of the Lieber Center by establishing a clinic and day treatment center in midtown Manhattan. Mrs. Lieber’s tireless work in the field has been recognized widely through her service in many organizations including on the National Advisory Council of the National Institute of Mental Health, serving as a board member of the World Federation for Psychosocial Rehabilitation, the National Mental Health Leadership Forum, the Advisory Council of Rockefeller University, and the Advisory Council of Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry. She also serves on the National Advisory Council for Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. She has received many awards from organizations active in the mental health and research fields. Since 1987, under Mrs.Lieber’s hard work and leadership, NARSAD has distributed over $219 million in 3,238 research grants to 2,502 scientists based at 415 universities, medical centers and research institutions throughout the United States and in 25 other countries. In July 2007, she stepped down as president of NARSAD to become president emeritus. |
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