Professor Dan J. Stein
(17 September 1962 – 6 December 2025)
With profound sadness, the African College of Neuropsychopharmacology (AfCNP) mourns the passing of our founding President, Professor Dan J. Stein an exceptional psychiatrist, neuroscientist, mentor, educator, and friend.
Professor Stein was a pioneer of African and international psychiatry and one of the world’s foremost leaders in neuropsychopharmacology. Throughout his distinguished career, he dedicated himself to advancing the understanding, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders, while strengthening mental health research and clinical care across Africa and globally.
As the founding President of AfCNP, Professor Stein was instrumental in establishing the College and shaping its vision of advancing neuropsychopharmacology through research, education, collaboration, and mentorship. He believed deeply in the importance of building scientific capacity within Africa and was passionate about supporting early-career researchers. His leadership helped lay the foundation for a thriving community of African neuroscientists and mental health professionals committed to excellence and collaboration.
Professor Stein served as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town, Director of the South African Medical Research Council Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, and Scientific Director of the UCT Neuroscience Institute. His pioneering research transformed the understanding of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, and global mental health. Over the course of his career, he authored more than 1,600 scientific publications and mentored countless clinicians and researchers who continue to carry forward his legacy.
Those who had the privilege of working with Professor Stein will remember not only his remarkable intellect and scientific achievements, but also his humility, kindness, generosity, and genuine commitment to helping others succeed. He inspired colleagues and trainees through his thoughtful leadership, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering belief in the power of collaboration to improve lives.
Professor Stein’s passing in December 2025, at the age of 63, leaves an immense void in African psychiatry, global neuropsychopharmacology, and in the lives of the many colleagues, mentees, students, and friends who knew him. Yet his influence endures through the institutions he helped build, the discoveries he advanced, and the generations of scientists and clinicians he mentored.
In mourning his passing, we also celebrate a life of extraordinary service and achievement. We honor his example—integrative in thought, principled in action, and generous in spirit—and remain committed to carrying forward the vision he championed for brain and mental health across Africa.
The African College of Neuropsychopharmacology extends its deepest condolences to Professor Stein’s family, friends, colleagues, and the global scientific community.
May his memory continue to inspire present and future generations dedicated to advancing neuroscience and mental health in Africa and around the world.