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Exceptional research requires an exceptional team

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Uptown Research Institute was founded in 2001 by John Sonnenberg, PhD, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with recognized expertise in schizophrenia and psychedelic research. Uptown Research Institute is a free-standing clinical trials research site specializing in new treatments for psychiatric and metabolic disorders.

The Institute, located in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, has successfully completed over 150 clinical trials and has partnered with clients ranging from large pharmaceutical companies to biotechnology startups. Uptown Research Institute is committed to advancing mental health therapies through the highest quality clinical research.

Participant enjoying the outdoors

Clinical trials benefit the local community and the world at large.

Uptown Research Institute provides patients access to emerging treatments while providing data to regulatory bodies across the globe to help determine if new medications are safe and effective.

Uptown Research Institute studied the following medications now on market:

  • Abilify, Abilify Maintena
  • Austedo
  • Aristada
  • Clozaril
  • Clozapine
  • Cobenfy
  • Cymbalta
  • Erzofri
  • Ingrezza
  • Invega, Invega Sustenna, Invega Trinza
  • Latuda
  • Luvox
  • Nuplazid
  • Rexulti
  • Spravato
  • Symbyax
  • Syphris
  • Vraylar
  • Zyprexa Relprevv

Meet the Team

John G. Sonnenberg, PhD
President & Investigator
Michael Jutovsky, MD
Medical Director
Tapan Parikh, MD, MPH
Psychiatrist
Diane Cohen, JD
Chief Operating Officer
Stephen J. Schneider, LCPC
Recruitment & Regulatory Manager
Gwen Jacobs, RN, MS, CCRC
Senior Clinical Research Nurse
Alecia E. Halstead, MD, MBA
Sub-Investigator | Rater | Clinical Research Coordinator
Jennifer Rohde
Clinical Research Coordinator
Melissa Schiffman
Director of Finance & Analytics
Kenneth T. Alferes
Facilities Manager
April Easley
Inpatient Unit Manager
Deborah Jones-Miller
Recruitment Coordinator