Who We Are
Alexander Bystritsky, MD, PhD — President
Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at UCLA and founder/former director of the UCLA Anxiety Disorders Program, Dr. Bystritsky has dedicated over three decades to advancing psychiatric and neurological research. At PIMR, he oversees scientific direction and serves as President, helping evaluate the merit of donations and awards while administering their distribution. He previously used PIMR’s services and served on its board before stepping into his current role in 2018. He does not derive any salary from PIMR, reflecting his commitment to advancing science through philanthropy..
Tanya Vapnik, PhD — Vice President; Investigator & Study Rater
Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, Dr. Vapnik has dedicated over three decades to advancing clinical research and patient care. At PIMR, she serves as Vice President, where she oversees study operations, supports safety documentation and data quality, and contributes as both PI and co-PI on numerous industry-sponsored trials and grants. Her leadership ensures that PIMR’s research meets the highest scientific and ethical standards while driving innovation in psychiatric and neurological studies. With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Vapnik brings deep expertise in advancing clinical research and patient care.