ISBD Officers & Staff

The ISBD Board of Councilors is a globally diverse group currently made up of members from 12 countries. We appreciate the support of our Board and hope that all current and past members will continue to play an active role in the leadership of ISBD.

Please click on the names below for member profiles and statements of intent.

"I believe in the mission of the ISBD and that it has been an instrumental organisation in increasing the profile of bipolar disorder. The ISBD has been most effective recently in increasing the global reach of the organisation, and in providing effective advocacy. Recent projects that I have been involved in include establishing a governance structure for the organisation and for regional chapters, including revising the constitution have contributed to its growth. The safely and monitoring committee should be on the cusp of producing guidelines for safety monitoring that should be globally applicable. I wish to continue to serve to develop further initiatives, to continue to be engaged in the lobbying process for DSM-IV, growing the global reach of the organisation, and increasing the size and number of regional meetings, which will increase the financial security of ISBD."

"It is a great honor and pleasure for me to be elected as Vice President-Global of ISBD. Many thanks for this kind invitation.

I have been committed to the field of bipolar disorder during last 15 years in a range of different aspects from research to specialized clinical services, from founding associations in collaboration with the patients, families and professionals to promoting and leading educational projects for the psychiatry residents. I had started with research in the lab, continued being actively engaged in research and specialized services in the bipolar outpatient unit that I had founded in my department. My research areas of interest are clinical and neurobiological aspects, brain imaging/electrophysiology and neurocognitive functioning in bipolar illness and clinical trials. Further, I contributed to seeding a number of other specialized clinics throughout Turkey in collaboration with my colleagues who had been operating similarly. These clinics are ready for collaborative nationwide studies under the umbrella of Standardized Registration and Follow-up Program (SKIP-TURK) for which I am the coordinator. Lithium Society that I presided for seven years is the first and until very recently had been the only civil movement by and for bipolar patients and their families in Turkey. I have actively worked in establishment of the Society for Bipolar Disorders in Turkey which recently affiliated to ISBD and I am now the secretary for research and publications of the society. I enjoyed and developed a full appreciation of collaborative work all throughout these years and observed how it promotes the awareness and standard approach to the illness and contributes to innovative research in the field. Expanding from one to a number of clinics and civil movements, from local to national level followed its inevitable course of further expansion to the international level.

Given the presented background, my goals for ISBD include: 1. promoting and encouraging further international collaborations and networking both at professional and non-professional levels; 2. encouraging programs to reach out professionals and patients as well as their families in countries with limited available resources to increase recognition, research and treatment possibilities in bipolar disorder; 3. working in realization of programs to understand the impact of cultural differences and different health policies on the management of bipolar disorder in different parts of the world and coming up with new and organized possibilities to include richness of diversity into ISBD and overcome the obstacles caused by adverse medical and social applications; 4. encouraging and helping our colleagues from different parts of the world who are feeling ready in forming their own societies and establishing institutional connections between them and ISBD; 5. promoting and contributing to standardized educational programs for young clinicians and future researchers from different parts of the world and encouraging them for future and further collaborations."

"I have dedicated my research and teaching activities to the field of Bipolar Disorders, in Brazil. This has been done by means of scientific studies and, more recently, by means of the launching of the BSBD (Brazilian Society for Bipolar Disorders), of which I am currently secretary. We have done some important work in order to understand the Disorder and better treat our patients. However, there is much left to be done. Our understanding of Bipolar Disorder is incomplete and the available treatments are still unable to satisfactorily help many of our patients. I intend to keep my activities in the field of BD and help to strengthen the actions of ISBD in Brazil and help translating such actions in better care for patients."

"It is with pleasure that I accept the position of VP Global Outreach. The ISBD continues to mature as the preeminent international group with a mandate to advance the neurobiology, diagnostic assessment, treatment intervention, and public health awareness of bipolar disorder. I feel the Global Outreach division of ISBD will have two roles in the immediate future: to further our mission through the ongoing establishment of regional societies and coordinating collaborative international forums to address and communicate timely topics in the field. I am happy to work for the ISBD in this goal of global outreach."

John Tiller is a Life Member of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. He is chair of the Education Committee and is a member of the Governance Committee of ISBD. He is the Foundation Chairman of the Australasian Society for Bipolar Disorders which has just been established to advance the cause of bipolar disorders, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, and is affiliated with ISBD. This affiliation will advance the position of ISBD in the Australasian region. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, Melbourne Australia, where he is head of the Professorial Unit at Albert Road Clinic. That is an 80 bed private psychiatric hospital owned by Ramsay Healthcare, and as well as offering inpatient and outpatient facilities is a centre for undergraduate and postgraduate medical, nursing and psychology teaching. John Tiller has been active in supporting ISBD and its international affiliates. He has a long history of conducting research on affective disorders, and in fostering community support organisations. He is currently chair of the editorial committee of the independent drug bulletin "Australian Prescriber" and is a director of the independent, not-for-profit organisation "Therapeutic Guidelines".

"I have devoted the past nineteen years of my career as a clinician-scientist to the study and treatment of mood disorders in Israel, especially bipolar affective disorder. I currently conduct a public specialty clinic for bipolar patients and am interested in promoting interdisciplinary models of treatment for bipolar disorder. I am also the associate director of an acute inpatient psychiatric ward and direct the electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) service of the hospital. My research interests cover investigator-initiated controlled clinical trials, laboratory studies of animal behavior, and in vivo neurochemistry studies of psychiatric patients. While much pharmaceutical company sponsored research is being conducted, I would like to promote investigator initiated studies of additional treatments. I would like to have a part in helping our Society become an independent leader in developing and disseminating new knowledge in the field of bipolar disorders."

"I appreciate the chance to serve ISBD again for a second term. My main goals are to continue to expand ISBD's international appeal as well as its connection to the larger body of non-academic clinicians interested in bipolar  isorder. I hope to serve as long as I continue to be useful to the board and am happy to step aside should others with more time or energy step forward to move along the international and clinical missions of ISBD. In the meantime, if I can continue to help along those lines, I am willing to do so."

"It is my great pleasure and honor to be elected to the ISBD Board of Councilors. Bipolar disorder has been my major clinical and research area. I opened the Bipolar Disorders Clinic in 1998, one of the first in East Asia. I have developed and customized various tools for screening and diagnosing as well as measuring various aspects of bipolar disorders in Korea. I’m one of the founding members of the Korean Society for Depression and Bipolar Disorders in 2001, and the Korean Bipolar Disorders Forum in 2005. I’ve also tried to enhance the general awareness of bipolar disorders including establishment of Nationwide Bipolar Disorder Screening Day from 2005. If elected, I will try to promote clinical and research collaboration on bipolar disorders among East Asian countries including a plan to organize the East Asian Bipolar Disorders Forum, which will eventually develop into a regional society of ISBD. I will also try to raise awareness and knowledge of bipolar disorders among physicians and  general public in Asian countries."

Dr. Shingenobu Kanba holds many titles, including roles as a member of the executive boards of the Japanese Society of Neurology and Psychiatry and the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry.  As a member of various national and international Societies, Dr. Kanba is an important link in the chain of information necessary to raise the profile of bipolar disorder research throughout Asia.   In his role as chairman of the Bipolar Committee of Japanese Society of Mood Disorders, Dr. Kanba will promote the active involvement of the group with ISBD in furtherance of a potential future chapter of ISBD. 

"My recommendations for the society would be to continue working on implementing the current strategies, and in particular that the society in various ways should maximize its contributions to the creation of relevant international networks for exchanging research ideas and for collaborative, industry independent research, e.g. large investigator driven randomized trials focusing on objectives beyond drug approval."

"I am honored to be elected as a member of the ISBD Board of Councilors. I plan to vigorously and energetically promote the mission of ISBD nationally and internationally. As a member of the editorial board of Bipolar Disorders, a member of the ISBD training and education committee, and as an attendee  and presenter at the ICBD Conferences in Pittsburgh, I am committed to the work of the ISBD toward improving the lives of people with bipolar disorder. As director and PI of the NIMH Bipolar Trials Network, I am interested in working with the ISBD to foster inter-network collaborations to find novel ways that researchers can conduct research that informs clinical care. As for the governance of ISBD, I believe that we need to give careful thought and consideration to how we collaborate with industry to achieve the mutual goal of helping patients and their families. All of our business dealings need to be consistent with this goal, above reproach, and consistent with our highest ethical standards. We can then serve as an effective voice to advocate for adequate funding for research and clinical care. Finally, we need to constantly improve how ISBD can serve its members by finding out how we can best support and advance their goals."

"I am honored to be elected to the ISBD Board of Councilors.  I am a researcher and clinician who has been particularly interested in examining the topics of geriatric bipolar disorder and in adherence with bipolar treatments.  Unfortunately, in spite of the growing number of effective treatments for bipolar illness, many individuals still fail to derive benefit because of non-adherence with treatment or because the treatment evidence base does not adequately inform illness management for many sub-populations with bipolar disorder.  In my recent involvement with planning an upcoming biennial ISBD meeting, I have been impressed with ISBD efforts to organize symposia and presentations that feature the newest research in the context of clinical relevance. I believe it is important for ISBD to promote research that involves “real-world” patients typically seen by clinicians the world over.   If elected I will work to ensure that ISBD remains a leader in the dissemination of research that informs clinical treatment of individuals across the life-span, and incorporates the important issues of culture, ethnicity and gender."

"I am honored to be elected as an ISBD Councilor. During the last ten years I have been involved in different research and educational projects about bipolar disorders. Last year with a group of colleagues, I founded and currently preside the ISBD Mexican Chapter, which at the present time holds around 40 active members. Besides being involved in the chapter development and organization, I am currently participating in the creation of a national bipolar research network and coordinating a bipolar regional conference. I am interested to contribute in the development of other Latin American regional chapters. I believe that that there is a need to unify forces and visions to create a strong psychiatric community interested in bipolar disorders. It is important for Latin America to step up and participate in an active role in the ISBD. The progress we have witnessed in the field, demands us to work together and stay in current communication."

"It is an honor to be elected to the ISBD Board of Councilors.  I have seen the tremendous development of ISBD over the past decade and would be delighted to be involved more closely with its activities.  Having seen it from its inception (I served as secretary-treasurer for a couple of years upon its foundation!), it would be an honor to come back and contribute.  I was also the Bipolar Disorders journal founding co-editor and served as co-editor-in-chief for its first 5 years of publication.  It is now a very different organization than when I was more closely involved, several times bigger and truly international.  In my new capacity as Director of the UNC Center of Excellence for Research and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder, in Chapel Hill, NC, I will be in good position to represent colleagues from the Southeast region of the USA at the ISBD board.  I look forward to the opportunity of serving as a board member."

"As a member of the ISBD Board of Councilors, my main goals are to:

• Expand our organization, become more global and increase the membership beyond North America and the European Union
• Encourage the participation of members outside the US and the EU in ISBD leadership roles.
• Create regional networks such as the IberoAmerican and East Asian networks to enable research and training across regions with similar cultural backgrounds
• Create a Global Network for young investigators
• Foster ethical collaborations between industry and academia that focus on benefits to patient
• Develop ISBD Centers of Excellence to facilitate training and development of key research priorities"

"It is a great honor for me to be elected to the Board of Councilors of ISBD. I want to thank you on behalf of Society for Bipolar Disorders of Turkey and myself. I believe that it will be an excellent opportunity both for us and ISBD. Since we newly founded the ISBD affiliated Society for Bipolar Disorders of Turkey and since ISBD decided to do the Fifth Biennial Conference 2012 in Istanbul, we need to speed up and make significant contributions to ISBD as well as to the Istanbul Conference. I will make every effort to further develop the relationship not only between ISBD and Turkey but also all the surrounding countries including many Mediterranean countries, Eastern European countries, Middle East countries, Middle Asia countries. I promise to motivate and gain many new active members for ISBD from the region. I believe I and my colleagues will activate the potential capacities of Turkish bipolar community and surrounding countries’ professionals in many ways. This will mean many new active members to almost all working committees of ISBD. This will also mean direct and indirect gains in the form of higher quality of education for all professionals working with bipolar patients and particularly higher quality of treatment and management for all bipolar patients. Some of our works in recent years give me and my colleagues hope and courage to actualize the following purposes:

• Successful organization of the International Conference on Mood Disorders, “Close Encounters of Three Seas: Building Regional Bridges” with a participation of 850 international colleagues
• Successful organization of fruitful workshops which is needed by regional countries, such as “Expanding quality: can we establish a regional collaborative network regarding education, mental health services and research in mood disorders?” “Voices from different countries: how do we treat bipolar patients in our countries? Real world experiences”
• Publishing the Treatment Guidelines for Bipolar Disorders not as a first in Turkey only, but also a first in the  region.

Some of my other purposes will be as follows: working for establishing a task force which will work to define short term and long term needs in the field of bipolar disorders; working for creating opportunities to facilitate participation of researchers from this region into international scientific field; working for finding innovative ways to enhance the communication among researchers of different regions and different cultures; working for exploring and comparing clinicians’ and patients’ perspectives from different cultures; working for finding out cheaper and easier ways to enhance the postgraduate education quality related with bipolar disorders in some regional countries with such needs. In short, I will do my best for the ISBD with the vision of a real international ISBD and with a peaceful, collaborative and creative spirit."

"It is an honor for me to be elected to the 2009-2010 Board of Councilors of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD). In the last years I was involved in different areas of bipolar disorders, such as the study of affective temperaments as potential endophenotypes for bipolar disorders and specific aspects of this fascinating illness (e.g., epidemiology, neuroimaging, diagnostic issues, prescription patterns) in our region (LatinAmerica). I have also been collaborating from the neuroscience department of University of Palermo with different international centers around Europe (Calgary University and Hospital Clinic of Barcelona) and USA (McLean Hospital).
 
As general secretary of the Argentine Society for Affective Disorders (ASATHU) we are planning to found the argentine chapter of the ISBD by the end of this year (2008) in order to contribute in the main goals of ISBD all over the world: education and investigation on bipolar disorders. We are proud of having organized two successful regional meetings on bipolar disorders in Argentina (2005 & 2007) and we are planning our next meeting in Cordoba city on August 14th and 15th  2009.
 
I am also deeply involved with the IAN-BD (IberoAmerican Network on Bipolar Disorders) that will improve our collaborative efforts in research and will support and help develop a special group of young scientists.  As the regional representative for Latinoamerica (from México to Argentina) and member of the Educational Committee of the International Society for Affective Disorders (ISAD), I could manage to provide a strong bridge between both societies that share many common areas of interests."

"As a member of the 2008-2009 ISBD Board of Councilors, I understand the expectations and responsibilities involved with becoming a member of the board and I confirm that I am willing to provide my best to the mission and goals of ISBD. It is indeed an honor to hold this position."

"I am delighted to be elected for the Board of Councilors of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. I have spent my entire professional life in clinical work and research with patients with Bipolar Disorder. Major contributions I would make to ISBD include:

• Working on ISBD committees. I am particularly interested in fellowships, training opportunities in developing junior scientists to become future researchers in the field
• I would be delighted to promote the ISBD meetings across Canada and to be an advocate for this Society amongst my colleagues
• I am also happy, as a member of the Editorial Board for Bipolar Disorders, to increase efforts to solicit publications for this excellent journal.

I am happy to work on the Board for governance issues. I have served on the Board of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, as well as on the Board of Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation and have a good deal of experience with Board procedures.