President's New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health

Richard K. Nakamura, Ph.D.

Biography

Richard K. Nakamura, Ph.D. currently serves as Acting Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Previously, he was the Institute's Deputy Director, where he played a key role in revamping NIMH's extramural as well as intramural research programs.

Dr. Nakamura began his NIMH career in the Laboratory of Neuropsychology and, later, the Laboratory of Psychology and Psychopathology in the Intramural Research Program. Following that, he joined the extramural research program staff and rose to become Chief of the Behavioral and Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch. He then led the Institute's Office of Science Policy and Program as its Director.

Dr. Nakamura received his Ph.D. in psychology from SUNY Stony Brook and has special expertise in several areas including cognitive, behavioral, and comparative neuroscience. He has been involved in several projects with the U.S. Surgeon General, including the landmark mental health report released in 1999. In 2000, Dr. Nakamura received the Health and Human Services Secretary's Award for distinguished service.