Rainer Spanagel

Rainer Spanagel is a German scientist, born June 24, 1961.^[1] He is a professor of psychopharmacology at the Central Institute of Mental Health (Mannheim) of Heidelberg University, where he is director of the Institute of Psychopharmacology.^[2][3] His main research interest is drug abuse, especially alcohol dependence.^[3][4] His work has been published in multiple publications across prestigious scientific journals.^[1]

Based on preclinical findings, he pursues three objectives along with other faculty at the Central Institute of Mental Health:^[1]

1) The development of new behavioral therapies, pharmacological interventions, and neuromodulatory approaches in addicted patients.

2) To clarify the neurobiological long-term consequences of drug abuse and binge drinking in adolescents

3) The identification of risk factors for addictive disorders and development of preventive strategies.

General field of study: Psychopharmacology, Addiction Research, Alcohol Abuse

Education

Spanagel completed his undergraduate studies in Biology at the Universities of Tübingen and Munich (1983-1989) and his Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology from the Max Planck Institute of Neuropharmacology (Martinsried, Germany), working under Prof. Albert Herz (1991).^[1] In 1989, he obtained his Diploma in Neuropharmacology from the Max Planck Institute of Neuropharmacology (Martinsried, Germany).^[1] He followed up with his post-doctoral training with Prof. Wolfgang Forth in the Habilitation, Pharmacology & Toxicology Department at the University of Munich (Munich, Germany) in 1996.^[1]

Awards and honors

Spanagel is highly accomplished and has received multiple awards and honors:^[1]

• 2024 - Animal Research and Ethics Committee (AREC) Annual Award, Research Society of America
• 2019 - H. David Archibald Lectureship Award from CAMH, Toronto
• 2018 - IBANGS Distinguished Investigator Award
• 2017 - European Alcohol Research Award, ESBRA
• 2015 - NEATOR Award from American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
• 2011 - AGNP Award for Excellence in Psychopharmacology
• 2010 - Reinhart-Koselleck-Award from the DFG
• 2008 - James B. Isaacson Award
• 2005 - Albrecht-Ludwig-Berblinger Award
• 2003 - Sir Hans Krebs Award
• 1998 - Wilhelm Feuerlein Award for Alcohol Research