Dr. Ebrahim Haroon is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University,and serves as an Attending Psychiatrist at Emory Healthcare. Dr. Haroon’s clinical focus is on treating mood disorders in middle-aged and older adults and addressing behavioral dysfunctions resulting from major medical conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and cancer. Dr. Haroon holds board certification in Psychiatry. In addition to his clinical roles, Dr. Haroon is the Associate Director of the Emory Behavioral Immunology Program, a scientific investigator at Winship Cancer Institute, and until recently, an adjunct faculty member at Emory-Georgia Tech's Wallace H. Coulter Biomedical Engineering Center.

Dr. Haroon’s research explores the neuroinflammatory processes underlying mood disorders, particularly the impact of inflammation on glutamate neurotransmission, and how it contributes to cognitive and affective dysfunction. Over the years, his work has been instrumental in identifying inflammation as a key player in depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions, reshaping traditional approaches for diagnosis and treatment. His pioneering psychoneuroimmunology research has advanced our understanding of how inflammatory molecules disrupt glutamate homeostasis, impair glial function, and alter neural connectivity.

Dr. Haroon was among the first to use Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) to demonstrate how inflammation-induced changes in glutamate are linked to depressive symptoms and motivational deficits. His work has also highlighted the role of kynurenine pathways as mediators of immune-brain signaling, linking peripheral immune markers to brain dysfunction.

Throughout Dr. Haroon’s career, he has held various prestigious appointments, including as a core research faculty member at the Winship Cancer Institute in Emory. He has been recognized with numerous awards such as the NARSAD Young Investigator Award and the Emory Healthcare Diamond Provider (ranking me among the top 1% of providers at my institution). His research has been continually funded by NIMH since 2010. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP). His contributions have earned him highly cited publications, invitations to speak at major national and international conferences, and leadership roles in organizations such as the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society and ACNP.

In addition to Dr. Haroon’s research, he is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of psychiatric leaders, and has guided numerous medical students, residents, and postdoctoral researchers, helping them to advance their careers. His dedication to education is evident in his role in teaching and clinical training at Emory, UCLA, and Yale. Dr. Haroon also serves on editorial boards and reviews grant applications for agencies such as the NIH and contributes to conference organization and scientific committees, all aimed at advancing the fields of psychiatry and neuroscience. Furthermore, his involvement in promoting international psychoneuroimmunology research underscores his dedication to advancing science on a global scale.