Dr. Sarah Fineberg is one of the stellar young investigators in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) research who was funded in 2014 through our research partnership with the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF).

We had a great visit with Sarah at Yale University this past December 8th. We met her for lunch at one of her favorite New Haven, CT spots, Atticus, a busy and fun bookstore/café. Then we spent the afternoon with some members of her research team (see photo below), and heard from each about their exciting projects. Rightly so, Sarah called this meeting “a data blitz!” We left feeling invigorated about their research that concerns social behavior in those with BPD, and in turn how insights could help lessen their difficulties with interpersonal relationships. One project specifically aims at building rapport between doctors and patients with BPD, a much-needed area.

In November, we held a Parlor Meeting in New York City where 40 guests heard presentations by two cutting-edge researchers from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Dr. Hyun-Jae Pi* is investigating neural circuits involved in impulsivity, one of the key symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). He is specifically studying what happens in the brain of mice when they engage in impulsive behaviors. Dr. Adam Kepecs is head of the lab where Jae works. He gave an overview of the research projects in his lab, as well as a glimpse of what psychiatry might look like in 20 years, given the impact of new neurologically-based treatments.

This year - for the first time - the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) has added borderline personality disorder (BPD) as a priority illness. This is really great news, coming at a time when lack of funding has lead many new scientists to turn their attention from BPD to other illnesses.
 
We at Families for BPD Research applaud the Foundation’s decision. BBRF supports the most promising ground-breaking mental illness research. We are greatly encouraged about possible research advances and how these advances could brighten the future of our loved ones.