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Introducing Neuropsychiatrist Christine Konradi - Pushing Ahead One of the Last Big Frontiers of Science

bridges vol. 23, October 2009 / News from the Network: Austrian Researchers Abroad

By Bianca Haderer

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Since the time of ancient Egypt, societies have struggled to understand mental illness and to care for those affected by it. It was only in the mid-twentieth century that several medical breakthroughs led to the understanding that mental illnesses are diseases of the brain. Since then, a set of systematic criteria for diagnosis has been developed, and together with pharmaceutical and psychological therapies they are still central to modern psychiatry.

Christine Konradi in her laboratory.

One of the scientists searching for new breakthroughs in the field of neuropsychiatry is Christine Konradi. Konradi studied biology in Vienna, where she was awarded a Ph. D. in 1987. In addition to her core biology courses and in accordance with her personal interests, Konradi was always eager to attend as many courses as possible at the Medical University of Vienna. Shortly after her graduation, Konradi accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in neurochemistry in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Würzburg, Germany. Although she describes her time in the laboratory in Würzburg as interesting and challenging, Konradi never lost sight of her dream about being a scientist in the US: "I took a six week trip to the US in order to visit different laboratories and find out which laboratory was the best fit for me professionally and personally." She remembers her careful preparations before the big relocation from Europe to the United States.

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