Our Bureau
New Haven, CT
Deepak Cyril D’Souza, a leading expert on the pharmacology of cannabinoids, and the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia, has been appointed the inaugural Vikram Sodhi Professor of Psychiatry. This appointment is for a term of 10 years, renewable by the dean of the Yale School of Medicine (YSM).
Established by Vikram Sodhi, managing partner of Sun Valley Investments and founder of the Sodhi Foundation, the inaugural professorship is the first at the Yale School of Medicine to be provided by or named after a person from India.
“Dr. D’Souza has made significant contributions to exploring the therapeutic potential of different drugs for several neuropsychiatric conditions,” Sodhi said.
D’Souza is also the inaugural director of the Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids, and director of the Schizophrenia Neurobiology Research Group at Yale (SNRGY). He was previously the Albert E. Kent Professor of Psychiatry at YSM.
“Neuropsychiatric disorders account for a significant cause of global disease burden,” D’Souza said. “While many treatments for these conditions exist, there remains a great need to develop treatments that work faster, better, last longer and are safe.”
D’Souza said he is “deeply honored” to receive the endowed professorship.
The generous support from Sodhi, he said, “will allow me to devote more time and effort toward studying psychedelics and other drugs. On a more personal note, that this endowed chair position is the first in the school of medicine to be supported and named after someone from India, my country of origin, makes it even more special.”
D’Souza received his medical degree (M.B.B.S.) from St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore, India, before completing his residency in psychiatry at State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn and his postdoctoral fellowship in the Schizophrenia Biological Research Program at Yale School of Medicine.
D’Souza is a board member of the Schizophrenia International Research Society, a Principal Editor of the journal Psychopharmacology, and serves on the Physician’s Advisory Board for the State of Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana Program.
