The Prechter Program is proud to announce that Sarah Sperry, Ph.D., has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Gerald L. Klerman Young Investigator Award by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). This award is a testament to Dr. Sperry's groundbreaking contributions to the understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder.
The Gerald L. Klerman Awards, named in honor of Dr. Gerald L. Klerman, a pioneering researcher in psychiatric disorders, recognize outstanding achievements in research dedicated to mood disorders. These awards are the highest honors that the DBSA gives to researchers working to improve the lives of those affected by depression and bipolar disorder. Recipients are chosen for their contributions to the field, innovative research approaches, and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge that provides hope to individuals with mood disorders.
Dr. Sarah Sperry is an Associate Director of the Prechter Program, Director of the Emotion and Temporal Dynamics (EmoTe) Lab, the Richard Tam Early Career Professor of Translational Bipolar Research in the Department of Psychiatry, and a Faculty Associate in Psychology at U-M. Her research focuses on identifying behavioral and neural indicators of affective and cognitive dysregulation in bipolar disorder, predictors of the development and clinical course of bipolar disorders (e.g., circadian dysrhythmia, alcohol and cannabis use), and how to use digital technologies to personalize assessment and treatment for individuals living with bipolar disorders.