ISBD Fellowship Award

Tae Hyon Ha, MD, PhD

The 2010 ISBD Research Fellowship has been awarded to Tae Hyon Ha, MD, PhD, for his proposed research on the effects of the serum BDNF level on regional brain morphology in bipolar disorder. Under the fellowship, Dr. Ha will travel to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, to undergo training in neruoimaging and the assay of biomarkers. During his training at UBC, Dr. Ha hopes to learn both new brain imaging techniques and data analysis methods. In addition, he intends to become proficient in administration of rating instruments and research methodology.

Dorothy Sit, MD

The winner of the 2008 Fellowship Award was Dorothy Sit MD, for her work using Bright Light Therapy for bipolar depression. This research includes a randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of a novel antidepressant treatment modality, bright light therapy, compared to placebo (inactive dim red light) for bipolar depression. Dr. Sit will undergo career development training to develop expertise in 1) treatment trial research methodology, study design, statistical management of longitudinal data, and ethical conduct in research patients with BD; 2) the efficacy of bright light therapy for BD; 3) chronobiological rhythms and their relationship to the expression of symptomatology in BD.

“I feel extremely grateful to be a recipient of the ISBD Fellowship Award. This Award will allow to me the opportunity to further my research training in the chronobiology of patients with bipolar disorders. Thanks so much for making this Award available to junior investigators.”
- Dr. Dorothy Sit, 2008 Fellowship Award Recipient

David Kemp, MD

“I believe the research fellowship award is a forthright demonstration of the Society’s commitment to developing the next cadre of investigators in bipolar disorder. Funding from this award will aid in my career development as I attempt to study presentations of bipolar disorder complicated by general medical comorbidities, including obesity, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome.”
- David Kemp, MD, 2007 Fellowship Award Recipient