Danielle Dick Appointed the Inaugural Gregory Q. Brown Chair in Cell Biology and Neuroscience by Rutgers Board of Governors

The Rutgers University Board of Governors has appointed Robert Wood Johnson Medical School psychiatry professor Danielle Dick as the inaugural holder of the Gregory Q. Brown Chair in Cell Biology and Neuroscience.

Dick is an internationally-recognized academic leader in substance use, addiction and mental health research. In January 2022, she became the inaugural director of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC), the only comprehensive addiction center in the state that integrates precision medicine research, training, treatment and care of individuals and families coping with addiction, and public policy innovation and reform to prevent drug use and improve access to treatment.

“I am honored to hold the Greg Brown Endowed Chair and lead the development of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center. With award-winning researchers, training programs, and clinical services, Rutgers is well on its way to becoming a national leader in tackling addiction, and I am excited to work with the community to propel our growth,” Dick said.

Dick’s research looks to identify and characterize the risk associated with genes that influence addiction and substance use disorders to help inform both prevention and intervention. She has published more than 350 peer-reviewed journal articles and has led or contributed to more than 20 National Institutes of Health research grants totaling over $30 million—earning her the distinction of being one of the top 1.5 percent most highly cited researchers across all fields of science.

While she is most highly cited in scientific arenas, Dick also frequently brings her expertise out of clinical settings and directly to the public. She often speaks with parents, families, and school groups about substance use disorders, and how to prevent or address problems in children and family members. She is the author of The Child Code: Understanding your child’s unique nature for happier, more effective parenting (2021, Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House).

The Gregory Q. Brown Chair in Cell Biology and Neuroscience was established with a generous gift from the board of directors of Motorola Solutions, Inc., in honor of the company’s chairman and CEO, Gregory Q. Brown, along with a matching gift by an anonymous donor.