Phil Skolnick

Phil Skolnick, PhD, DSc (hon) (born 26 February 1947) is an American neuroscientist and pharmacologist most widely known for his work on the psychopharmacology of depression and anxiety, as well as on addiction medicine. Author of more than 500 published papers, Skolnick's most notable accomplishments include elucidating the role of the NMDA system in depression therapeutics, demonstrating the existence of endogenous benzodiazepine receptor ligands, and spearheading the National Institute on Drug Abuse's partnership to develop a naloxone atomizer for reversal of acute opioid overdose. Skolnick's work also laid the foundation for the development of ketamine as a rapid-acting antidepressant.

Raised in a Manhattan tenement, Skolnick attended Stuyvesant High School, one of New York City's most selective specialized high schools. Graduating at the age of 16, he began attending Long Island University in 1964. After graduating summa cum laude in 1968, he attended George Washington University's school of medicine in Washington, D.C. receiving a PhD in pharmacology.