bankole johnson

Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson, DSc, MD, MBChB, MPhil, FRCPsych, DFAPA, ABDA, FACFEI

Professor Dr. Bankole A. Johnson is recognized globally as one of the most accomplished and influential physician-scientists of our time. A distinguished psychiatrist and neuroscientist, he is widely regarded as a world leader in the fields of addiction medicine, neuropsychiatry, and translational brain science. His pioneering research has redefined the medical understanding and clinical treatment of addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.

From his studies at the Universities of Glasgow, London, and Oxford, culminating in a medical degree plus 2 doctoral degrees in medicine and neuroscience as well as a master of philosophy degree involving neurological mechanisms in children and computational mathematics, and over three decades of high-impact research, Professor Johnson has been at the forefront of developing novel, evidence-based pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder and related brain diseases. His groundbreaking discovery and leadership of the first large-scale randomized trial demonstrating the efficacy of topiramate in treating alcohol dependence marked a watershed moment in addiction science—fundamentally altering treatment paradigms and inspiring global clinical adoption.

Professor Johnson is currently the CEO and Founder of Casa Privée, a world-leading center for the treatment of brain disorders, addiction, neuropsychiatric disorders, and the use of regenerative medicine to treat complex diseases and prolong life. He has held Professorships in Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences, Neurology, Neuroscience, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, and Pharmacology. He has held multiple prestigious academic centers, including the Brain Sciences Consortium at the University of Maryland, and advisory, and board appointments both in the United States and internationally. Professor was the Wurzbach Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas, former Chairman of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, and the Alumni Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland. His expertise is routinely sought by leading scientific bodies, including the National Institutes of Health, where he has chaired and contributed to numerous landmark panels shaping national research and clinical policy. He is the Founder of Adial Pharmaceuticals, a NASDAQ listed company.

Beyond the laboratory, Professor Johnson is one of the foremost forensic psychiatric consultants in the world. His deep understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of behavior has positioned him as an expert witness in some of the most complex and high-profile legal cases involving mental illness, addiction, criminal culpability, and neurocognitive impairment.

Professor Johnson is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Solomon Carter Fuller Award, the NIH Jack Mendelson Award, and the R. Brinkley Smithers Distinguished Scientist Award for advancing our understanding of brain mechanisms in health and disease. He is the recipient of a Governor’s citation award in Maryland for chairing the development of approaches to address the Opiate Crisis. A sought-after media expert, Professor Johnson’s work has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, PBS, the Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, and in the double Emmy Award Winning Addiction series on HBO. As a member of the American Academy of Stem Cell Physicians, his work is at the forefront of applying cellular therapies to restore brain health and cognitive function.

A prolific scholar and thought leader, Professor Johnson has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications and continues to shape global standards in neuroscience and neurobehavioral health through his clinical innovation, scientific leadership, and unwavering commitment to advancing the neuroscience of human behavior. He continues to champion science-driven solutions that bridge medicine, technology, and hope for patients worldwide.