Martien Kas

Martien Kas
Born (1966-11-27) 27 November 1966
EducationPh.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience, Stanford University/University of Groningen
Known forTranslational and transdiagnostic neuroscience research
AwardsMarie Curie Fellowship, VIDI grant, Innovative Medicine Initiative
Scientific career
FieldsBehavioural Neuroscience
InstitutionsUniversity of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Martien J. H. Kas (born 27 November 1966, Uithoorn) is professor at the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands, where he leads the behavioural neuroscience research group. His research aims to develop a quantitative, transdiagnostic and translational neurobiological approach to the understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders in order to accelerate the discovery and development of better treatments. The ability to precisely link neuropsychiatric symptoms to underlying neurobiology will not only facilitate the development of better treatments, it will also allow physicians to provide people living with a neuropsychiatric condition with a better understanding of the complexities and management of their illness.

From 2022-2025, he was the President of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), the largest European organization for neuroscience applied research. ECNP provides a platform for interactions between scientists, patients and their families, pharmaceutical industry and regulators for optimizing the treatment of brain disorders, and organizes many activities, including an annual congress with 6500-7500 participants. As ECNP President he initiated the Precision Psychiatry Roadmap initiative. The outline of the Roadmap was published in 2025.