Carlos A. Zarate, M.D. is Chief, Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders and Chief of Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch (ETPB) at the National Institute of Mental Health, and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, at The George Washington University.

Dr. Zarate completed a Fellowship in Clinical Psychopharmacology at McLean Hospital from 1992-1993, after which he remained as a staff member until 1998. At the McLean Hospital Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Dr. Zarate was the Director of the Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Outpatient Services, Chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee, and Director of the New and Experimental Clinic. From 1998 to 2000, Dr. Zarate was the Chief of the Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Program, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and Chair of the Grand Rounds Committee at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In January 2001, he joined the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the NIMH as Chief of the Mood Disorders Research Unit.  In 2009, Dr. Zarate formed the Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch at the NIMH.

His achievements and awards include the Ethel-DuPont Warren Award and Livingston Awards, Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 1993-1994; NIH-NIMH Travel Award, 1994; American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Travel Awards, 1994 and 1995;  Program for Minority Research Training in Psychiatry, American Psychiatric Association, 1996; the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression Young Investigator Award, 1996-1998;  Outstanding Psychiatrist Research Award, Massachusetts Psychiatric Association, 1997; the Diversity and Advocacy Award, Hispanic Research Initiative Committee, NIMH, 2002; the Mentor of the Year, Intramural Research Program, NIMH, 2004; the Supervisor of the Year, NIMH,2005; the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression Independent Investigator Award, 2005; the NIH Director’s Award-Scientific/Medical, 2007;  NIMH Directors Award, 2009; and, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Award for Bipolar Mood Disorder Research (NARSAD), 2011

• Ibrahim L, DiazGranados N, Jolkovsky L, Luckenbaugh DA, Herring J, Potter WZ, Zarate CA Jr. A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot trial of the oral selective NR2B antagonist MK-0657 in patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacology, 2012. <link>
• Zarate CA Jr, Brutsche N, Ibrahim L, Franco-Chaves J, Diazgranados N, Cravchik A, Selter J, Marquardt C, Liberty V, Luckenbaugh L. Replication of ketamine’s antidepressant efficacy in bipolar depression: a randomized controlled add-on trial. Biol Psychiatry, 2012. <link>
• Salvadore G, Cornwell BR, Sambataro F, Latov D, Colon-Rosario V, Carver F, Holroyd T, Machado-Vieira R, Grillon C, Drevets WC, Zarate CA Jr. Anterior cingulate desynchronization and functional connectivity with the amygdala during a working memory task predict rapid antidepressant response to ketamine. Neuropsychopharmacology, 35:1415-1422, 2010. <link>
• Diazgranados N, Ibrahim L, Brutsche NE, Newberg A, Kronstein P, Khalife S, Kammerer WA, Quezado Z, Luckenbaugh DA, Salvadore G, Machado-Vieira R, Manji HK, Zarate CA Jr. A randomized add-on trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist in treatment-resistant bipolar depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 67:793-802, 2010. <link>
• Diazgranados, Ibrahim L, Brutsche N, Ameli R, Henter I, Luckenbaugh D, Machado-Vieira R, Zarate CA Jr. Rapid resolution of suicidal ideation after a single ketamine infusion in patients with treatment-resistant major depression. J Clin Psychiatry, 71:1605-11, 2010. <link>
• Salvadore, G, Cornwell BR, Colon-Rosario V, Coppola R, Grillon C, Zarate CA Jr, Manji HK. Increased anterior cingulate cortical activity in response to fearful faces: a neurophysiological biomarker that predicts rapid antidepressant response to ketamine. Biol Psychiatry, 65:289-295, 2009. <link>
• Zarate CA, Jr, Singh J, Carlson P, Brutsche N, Ameli R, Luckenbaugh D, Charney DS, Manji HK: A Randomized Trial of an NMDA Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 63:856-64, 2006.
• Ibrahim L, Diazgranados N, Jolkovsky L, Luckenbaugh DA, Herring J, Potter WZ, Zarate CA Jr. A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot trial of the oral selective NR2B antagonist MK-0657 in patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacology, 2012.