Neuropsychopharmacology Award

This award recognises exceptional research achievements in applied and translational neuroscience. The award is granted each year, alternating between preclinical and clinical research. The 2025 award is in pre-clinical research.

It is no longer possible to nominate a candidate.
The deadline was 13 February 2025 .

The winner is awarded with a cash prize of EUR 10,000 which is conferred upon the acceptance for publication of a review article in European Neuropsychopharmacology.

The winner is also honoured with a commemorative statuette and certificate and an invitation to present the award plenary lecture during the ECNP Congress.

In addition, the winner of the award is asked to join the Award Committee for the year when the next winner of his/her area (i.e. preclinical or clinical research) is selected. The winner may also be asked for an interview, to be published in ECNP communication channels.

Who is eligible?

Residents of European countries* who are affiliated with a university, research institution or hospital, and whose research originates primarily in Europe.

Members of the ECNP Executive Committee, the chair of the Scientific Programme Committee and the members of the Award Committee are not eligible until three years after their term.

*The 46 countries of the Council of Europe, plus Israel.

How to nominate a candidate

The following electronic documents were requested to be submitted:

1

A short statement (one page), explaining the significance, innovative value and core theme(s) of the applicant’s contribution to neuropsychopharmacology

2

A summary curriculum vitae, including personal details, education and academic degrees, appointments, research experience, prizes, awards and honours, membership of professional organisations, editorial boards, publication lists, etc.

3

Total number of peer-reviewed publications

4

Five best papers

5

H-index

6

Number of citations 

7

Self-nominations are also welcome  

Selection of the winner

The award winner is selected by the ECNP Award Committee. The award cannot be shared and cannot be won more than once by the same individual.

Award ceremony

The award will be presented at the 38th ECNP Congress 2025

Previous winners

View below previous ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award winners.

Basic science research
Year Winner
2023 Oscar Marín, United Kingdom
2021 Valery Grinevich, Germany
2019 Inga Neumann, Germany
2017 Michel Hamon, France
2015 Francesc Artigas, Spain
2013 Anders Björklund, Sweden
2011 Bertil Fredholm, Sweden
2009  Jean-Pol Tassin, France
2007   E. Ron de Kloet, The Netherlands
2005  Michel Le Moal, France 
2003 Kjell Fuxe, Sweden
2001/2002  Hanns Möhler, Switzerland
2000  Torgny Svensson, Sweden
1999 Jean-Pierre Changeux, France 
1998 Eric A. Barnard, United Kingdom
1997 Peter Seeburg, Germany
1996   Hans Thoenen, Germany
1995 Joël Bockaert, France
1994 Jean-Charles Schwartz, France
1993 Salomon Z. Langer, France
1992  John Pinnington-Hughes, United Kingdom
1991  Thomas Hökfelt, Sweden
1989 Ole Rafaelsen (posthumously), Denmark
Clinical research
Year Winner
2024 Elias Eriksson, Sweden
2022 Marie Åsberg, Sweden
2020 Markus Heilig, Sweden
2018 Marion Leboyer, France
2016 John Geddes, United Kingdom
2014 Rene Kahn, The Netherlands
2012 (joint-winners)
Paul Harrison, United Kingdom
Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Germany
2010 Kaj Blennow, Sweden
2008 Klaus-Peter Lesch, Germany
2006 Florian Holsboer, Germany
2004 Michael Davidson, Israel 
2001/2002  Eugene Paykel, United Kingdom
2000  Giovanni Cassano, Italy
1999 Stuart A. Montgomery, United Kingdom
1998 Joseph Zohar, Israel
1997 Hanns Hippius, Germany 
1996   Robert H. Belmaker, Israel 
1995 Herman van Praag, The Netherlands 
1994 Göran Sedvall, Sweden
1993 Carl-Gerhard Gottfries, Sweden
1992  Julien Mendlewicz, Belgium
1991  Alec Coppen, United Kingdom
1989 Max Hamilton (posthumously), United Kingdom