Lieber Institute for Brain Development

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Lieber Institute for Brain Development

Translating genetic insights into next generation treatments. LIBD partners with academic, pharmaceutical, foundation, and government agencies world-wide.

The Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) was established in 2010 through the historic gift of Constance & Stephen Lieber and Milton & Tamar Maltz as an independent, not-for-profit medical research institute with end-to-end capabilities under one roof. LIBD translates genetic insights into breakthrough treatments utilizing unparalleled resources in human brain tissue and human cell lines to understand the developmental origins of schizophrenia and related brain disorders. Affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, LIBD is led by Dr. Daniel Weinberger, formerly the head of the Genes, Cognition and Psychosis Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, and includes a world-class team of scientists with over 200 years’ cumulative experience and 2,500 published scientific papers. The Institute is committed to a collaborative approach and invests in building research networks and partnerships to accelerate scientific discovery.

03/17/2026

Some patterns in brain data are so complex, humans could spend years trying to untangle them.

AI can spot them in minutes.

Lieber researchers like Michael Nagle are using machine learning to analyze biological data in ways that were not previously possible. By uncovering patterns across many interacting factors, AI is helping scientists better understand brain disorders and move closer to developing new treatments.

03/16/2026

Designing new medicines is a little like searching for a needle in a molecular haystack.

At the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, our researchers are developing an AI tool called GRAPE. No, not the fruit. This GRAPE stands for Generative Reinforcement Alignment of Predicted Expression, and it helps scientists design new chemical structures that could become future treatments for brain disorders like schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is incredibly complex and involves hundreds of genes, which makes finding effective treatments a major challenge. GRAPE helps scientists analyze those complex patterns and identify promising drug candidates much more quickly.

It is one more way Lieber researchers are combining neuroscience, genetics, and AI to move closer to better treatments for patients and families.

03/12/2026

Imagine your brain trying to sort through thoughts, sounds, and emotions, but the signals keep getting crossed.

Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and experiences the world. Someone living with schizophrenia may hear voices others cannot hear, believe things that are not true, or struggle to organize their thoughts. Everyday tasks, conversations, and relationships can become overwhelming.

It is not a personality flaw or a lack of willpower. Schizophrenia is a medical condition linked to complex changes in the brain and hundreds of interacting genes.

At the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, our scientists are working every day to better understand the biology behind this disease and develop more effective treatments. Every discovery brings us closer to answers.

Learn more about our research:
https://www.libd.org

03/10/2026

For many families, schizophrenia can change life overnight. It is a debilitating brain disorder, and many patients struggle with treatments that do not work well or come with difficult side effects.

That is why researchers at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development are exploring new approaches.

In this video, Michael Nagle, Ph.D., shares how he uses generative AI to design new chemical structures that could become future treatments for schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.

By uncovering patterns in massive biological datasets, AI is helping scientists move closer to better options for patients and their families.

03/06/2026

In a recent feature by BrainFacts.org the story of Larry Agnew reminds us why our work matters so deeply. After losing her son to an overdose, Larry’s mother, Priscilla Agnew-Hines, made the courageous decision to donate his brain to science so researchers could better understand the conditions that affected his life.

Today, Larry’s gift is helping scientists study the biology of brain disorders like schizophrenia, addiction, and depression. His donation is also part of the African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative (AANRI), which is working to ensure that brain research includes communities that have historically been left out of scientific studies.

Stories like Larry’s remind us that understanding these illnesses begins with building trust and the willingness to ask difficult questions about how the brain works. Those conversations are leading the way to understanding more about difficult brain disorders.

Every donation carries a legacy. Every discovery brings us closer to answers that could change millions of lives.

Read the full story from BrainFacts.org: https://www.brainfacts.org/neuroscience-in-society/supporting-research/2026/how-the-african-ancestry-neuroscience-research-initiative-boosts-inclusion-022626

03/05/2026

What if understanding schizophrenia starts with decoding hundreds of genes?

Meet Michael Nagle, Ph.D., Staff Scientist at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development. His work focuses on untangling the complex genetic patterns behind schizophrenia using advanced data tools and AI. By turning massive datasets into meaningful insight, he helps move research closer to more precise and effective treatments.

Stay tuned this month as we share more about Dr. Nagle’s fascinating work and how AI is helping researchers unlock new insights into the brain.

03/03/2026

Just a light little reading corner over here… nothing too intense.

Ever wonder what brain scientists read in their spare time? Apparently, more brain science. Shockingly on brand.

Between the genetics textbooks, neuroscience deep dives, and research volumes that make us feel like we need a dictionary nearby, this shelf is a reminder that curiosity never clocks out. Luckily for all of us, neither do the people trying to understand the most complex organ we know.

02/23/2026

A few of our scientists have banded together (literally!) to create "Freezer Farm." What started as a creative outlet to help researchers process some of the more challenging cases we deal with, has slowly evolved into a way to promote conversations about mental health.

Learn more about the motivation behind the music. 🎵 You can listen to one of their original songs by clicking on the YouTube link in the first comment.

02/21/2026

We are excited to announce that Dr. Brady and his team have been awarded a grant from the G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation!

The Mathers Foundation is "dedicated to advancing knowledge in the life sciences by funding bold, basic scientific research with the potential to transform human health." Dr. Brady's team will use this funding to explore innovative approaches to uncovering new treatment targets for schizophrenia by using advanced human neuron models.

In short: our lab will be using cutting edge technology to see if there are better ways to support people with schizophrenia. ❤️

02/20/2026

Announcing the first winner of our LIBD Lens contest! Each month, we invite our scientists to submit images from their work, with one lucky person being chosen as a winner. Congratulations to Ishbel Del Rosario on being our first, inaugural winner! Fun fact: one of our donor families acted as January's judge!

Ishbel's imagery proves that neuroscience is as beautiful as it is powerful. This image shows a magnified view of a small region of the macaque brain, glowing with different colors that highlight specific genes inside brain cells.

🔴 Red, 🟡 yellow, and 🟣 magenta each mark different molecular signals within distinct areas of the amygdala, a region involved in emotion and behavior. 🟢 Green outlines the brain’s white matter, helping scientists map exactly where everything is happening.

What looks like abstract art is actually a detailed molecular map, helping researchers understand how specific cells function, communicate, and sometimes malfunction in brain disorders.

Science doesn’t just uncover answers. Sometimes, it reveals unexpected beauty along the way.

02/17/2026

The Lieber Institute Brain Repository is the LARGEST collection of postmortem human brains for the study of neuropsychiatric disorders in the world.

With more than 5,000 donated brains, this is where discovery begins. Every sample is carefully dissected, mapped, and prepared by our expert team giving researchers the precise tissue they need to understand how the brain works and what happens in mental illness.

This is the foundation of breakthroughs.

This is how we move closer to prevention, treatment, and ultimately ending mental illness.

02/05/2026

We love demonstrating how our lab brings together diverse interests, from biotech to professional athletics, highlighting the broad appeal and impact of our work.

Last week, we hosted Blackbird Laboratories and members of the Baltimore Ravens family to illustrate how our research connects technology, science, and community engagement. Their visit showed our work matters to many and sparked valuable conversations.

Grateful for our partnership with Blackbird Laboratories and Go Ravens! (Ohhhh oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhhhhh! If you know, you know. 😉)

Address

855 N. Wolfe Street, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD
21205

Telephone

+14109551000

Website

http://www.libd.org/, https://www.libd.org/endmentalillness

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The Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) was established in 2010 through the historic gift of Constance & Stephen Lieber and Milton & Tamar Maltz as an independent, not-for-profit medical research institute with end-to-end capabilities under one roof. LIBD translates genetic insights into breakthrough treatments utilizing unparalleled resources in human brain tissue and human cell lines to understand the developmental origins of schizophrenia and related brain disorders. Affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, LIBD is led by Dr. Daniel Weinberger, formerly the head of the Genes, Cognition and Psychosis Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, and includes a world-class team of scientists with over 200 years’ cumulative experience and 2,500 published scientific papers. LIBD partners with academic, pharmaceutical, foundation, and government agencies world-wide. The Institute is committed to a collaborative approach and invests in building research networks and partnerships to accelerate scientific discovery.