Neuroscientist Marco Venniro, PhD, Receives Prestigious Award from Society for Neuroscience

Marco Venniro, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurobiology and Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), was awarded today with $30,000 from the Society for Neuroscience for their prestigious Jacob P. Waletzky Award. The annual award is given to an early career scientist (within 15 years of his/her PhD or MD degree) whose independent research has led to significant conceptual and empirical contributions to the understanding of drug addiction.

The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) represents nearly 35,000 scientists and clinicians worldwide, and this annual award is considered one of their most prestigious. Dr. Venniro will deliver his award lecture at SfN’s annual meeting in San Diego this month.

Dr. Venniro’s pioneering research has transformed scientists’ understanding of how social behavior and environmental factors influence addiction and recovery. His work explores how social connection, a fundamental human need, can serve as a powerful force against drug-seeking behavior.

“My research has always been guided by a simple but powerful question of why some individuals recover while others continue to struggle,” said Dr. Venniro. “Understanding the psychosocial mechanisms behind substance use disorder has been, and will continue to be, my lifelong goal. None of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication of my lab, the support of my family, and the encouragement of my colleagues. This award is a recognition of teamwork, perseverance, and the belief that science can bring us closer to connection and healing.”

Born and raised in Sicily, Dr. Venniro is the first in his family to pursue higher education, an experience that continues to inspire his dedication to mentoring young scientists from diverse backgrounds.

“Marco’s work exemplifies the power of harnessing behavioral neuroscience to treat neuropsychiatric disorders, including addiction,” said Asaf Keller, PhD, the Donald E. Wilson Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurobiology. “We are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and of the recognition he brings to our department. Marco is the third faculty member from our department to receive this distinguished award, which speaks volumes about the strength of our addiction neuroscience program at UMSOM.”