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Kafui Dzirasa

A. Eugene and Marie Washington Presidential Distinguished Professor
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences
Box 3209 Medctr, Durham, NC 27710
Bryan Research Bldg, Room 361, Durham, NC 27710

Current Appointments & Affiliations


A. Eugene and Marie Washington Presidential Distinguished Professor · 2023 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2023 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering · 2014 - Present Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering
Professor in Neurosurgery · 2023 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery
Professor in Neurobiology · 2023 - Present Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments
Investigator in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences · 2013 - Present Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published August 26, 2024
Duke 100 Trailblazer: Kafui Dzirasa
Published March 19, 2024
Duke Awards 32 New Distinguished Professorships for 2024
Published June 15, 2023
First Presidential Distinguished Chair Named in Honor of Chancellor Washington, Awarded to Dzirasa

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Recent Publications


Developing algorithmic psychiatry via multi-level spanning computational models.

Journal Article Cell Rep Med · May 20, 2025 Modern psychiatry faces challenges in translating neurobiological insights into treatments for severe illnesses. The mid-20th century witnessed the rise of molecular mechanisms as pathophysiological and treatment models, with recent holistic proposals keep ... Full text Link to item Cite

Sex-specific regulation of microglial MyD88 in HMGB1-Induced anxiety phenotype in mice.

Journal Article Neurobiol Stress · May 2025 Stress is a significant risk factor for the development and recurrence of anxiety disorders. Stress can profoundly impact the immune system, and lead to microglial functional alterations in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a brain region involved in th ... Full text Link to item Cite

The neuroscience of mental illness: Building toward the future.

Journal Article Cell · October 17, 2024 Mental illnesses arise from dysfunction in the brain. Although numerous extraneural factors influence these illnesses, ultimately, it is the science of the brain that will lead to novel therapies. Meanwhile, our understanding of this complex organ is incom ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Neurobiology Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Duke-NCCU Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Training Program in Child Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Conditions Program (DN-IPT)

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Duke University Psychiatry Physician-Scientist Residency Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMECo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health · 2024 - 2029

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University, School of Medicine · 2009 M.D.
Duke University · 2007 Ph.D.