Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus, PhD

Each year the Child Mind Institute’s Scientific Research Council selects an exceptional researcher for the Sarah Gund Prize, in recognition of an outstanding contribution to child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology or developmental neuroscience. The award honors contributions either to clinical science or basic science. The award carries a prize of $25,000 and is presented at the Child Mind Institute’s Annual Child Advocacy Award Dinner. The award recipient, along with several other scientists selected because they have been influenced by recipient’s work, are featured presenters at our next On the Shoulders of Giants scientific symposium.

Dr. Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus is a clinical psychologist who designs, develops, and implements groundbreaking programs to prevent a range of negative outcomes for children and families. She was trained at the University of Southern California and was a faculty member at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute for many years. Dr. Rotheram was also a professor in child psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA. During her time there, she served as the director of both the UCLA Global Center for Children and Families, and the Center for HIV Prevention, Identification, and Treatment Services (CHIPTS). She is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA.

Dr. Rotheram has secured more than $270 million in grants during her tenure at UCLA and was twice listed in Science as one of the top receivers of federal grants in the U.S., the only woman or behavioral scientist listed as such. She has conducted 22 federally funded, randomized controlled trials for persons at risk of or affected by suicide, depression, HIV, or diabetes, and a many of her evidence-based interventions serve as national models. She founded the UCLA Family Commons, and is aiming to take the model for selecting, training, and monitoring paraprofessional intervention staff national. She also has worked for the last 20 years in Asian and African countries.

Dr. Rotheram has resided on the National Scientific Advisory councils for the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Research. Currently, she is recognized for her work on disruptive innovations in behavioral science and mental health.