June 9, 2006 — Dr. Bankole Johnson, chairman of the University of Virginia department of psychiatric medicine, has won the highest honor of the American Psychiatric Association. Johnson received the APA Award for Distinguished Psychiatrist at the association’s recent meeting in Toronto, where he also delivered a lecture in his specialty field, addiction medicine. Johnson’s clinical-trials focus is on pharmaceutical treatments that help to curb dependence on alcohol and cocaine. These studies demonstrated dramatic improvements for some patients who had been dependent for years. (See “New Treatment for Cocaine Dependence Found,” May 4, 2006)

Johnson will soon serve as the lead principal investigator on a $5 million research study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, to curb methamphetamine dependence.

Johnson’s past honors include service on numerous NIH review and other committees, including special panels. He is the 2001 recipient of the Dan Anderson Research Award for his "distinguished contribution as a researcher who has advanced the scientific knowledge of addiction recovery." He received the Distinguished Senior Scholar of Distinction Award in 2002 from the National Medical Association. In 2003, Johnson was inducted into the Texas Hall of Fame for contributions to science, mathematics and technology.

Johnson graduated from Glasgow University in 1982 with a degree in medicine, and trained in psychiatry at the Royal London and Maudsley and Bethlem Royal Hospitals. Johnson also trained in research at the Institute of Psychiatry (University of London) and at Oxford University. In addition to his medical degree, Johnson received a doctoral degree for his research in psychopharmacology from the University of Glasgow.