Episode #12 - Dr. Bertha Madras gripping discussion about the Addicted Brain

It can be confusing…. parents tell kids not to use drugs, but we also teach that we should not stigmatize drugs… are sending mixed messages? Listen to the discussion between Dr. Lev and Harvard Professor and former ONDCP Deputy Director Dr. Bertha Madras, expert in the addicted brain.

About Dr. Bertha Madras

Current position. Professor of Psychobiology, Harvard Medical School (34 years) with office based at McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA; cross-appointment at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Educated at McGill University, Montreal with post-doctoral fellowships, MIT, Cambridge, MA. 

Translational Research. Addictive and therapeutic drugs: behavioral, molecular responses. Drug discovery: Novel brain probes, candidate therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders. Drug Policy

Authorship.  Author of over 200 scientific manuscripts, articles, book chapters, co-editor of books “The Cell Biology of Addiction”, “Effects of Drug Abuse on the Human Nervous System”, “Imaging of the Human Brain in Health and Disease”  

Inventions.  19 U.S. and 27 international issued patents, with collaborators 

Government service and public policy. Numerous NIH committees and other advisory boards 

• White House, 2006-2008: Deputy Director for Demand Reduction in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Executive Office of the President, a presidential appointment confirmed unanimously (99-0) by U.S. Senate 
• White House, 2017:  Appointed by the President, as one of six members of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis (Governors C. Christie, C. Baker, R. Cooper, Cong. P. Kennedy, AG P. Bondi). At request of Commission Chair Gov. Christie, she shepherded and wrote major portions of the final Commission report 
• World Health Organization: Sole author of a commissioned report, “Update of Cannabis and its Medical Use”; co-author of “The Health and Social Effects of Nonmedical Cannabis Use”
• U.S. Department of Justice: Sole expert witness for the U.S. Dept. of Justice in a landmark CA Federal Court decision on marijuana re-, or de-scheduling, which sustained DoJ position
• Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Narcotics Panel: Co-author and edited final statement 
• National Academy of Medicine: Current member, National Academy of Medicine Collaborative on the Opioid Crisis

Educator, Public Service 

• Course: Developed the first course (ABS elective) on addictions at Harvard Medical School
• Course: Developed first NIDA-sponsored international course on “Cell Biology of Addiction” at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 
• Museum exhibition: Project Director, PI of NIDA-sponsored grant for exhibit, CD, play at Museum of Science, Boston “Changing your Mind: Drugs in the Brain”. Disney Corp. licensed the CD.
• Presentations: More than 750 public and professional presentations nationally, globally

Recognition

• Research Awards: NIH MERIT award, CPDD Innovator Award, Fishman Award, McLean Mendelson award, The Better World Report cited her brain imaging invention as “one of 25 technology transfer innovations (university to industry) that changed the world” 
• Public Service Awards: NIDA, CADCA, CPDD, Sweden, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry Founders’ Award, others

Her experiences in research, brain biology, education, government and public service offer her a unique perspective on public policy, brain science and public education.