Nolan Williams
Nolan Williams, M.D. was an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and the Director of the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab.
Triple board-certified in general neurology, general psychiatry, and behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry, Dr. Williams brought a comprehensive clinical neuroscience background to his work as a neuropsychiatrist.
His expertise extended to the development and implementation of novel therapeutics, including devices and novel compounds, for central nervous system illnesses.
The long-term goals of Dr. Williams’ research were to develop innovative technologies and therapeutics for modulating neural circuitry disrupted in mood disorders, OCD, and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Dr. Williams and his team developed neuroimaging-based approaches to precisely target therapeutic delivery and predict treatment responses to neuromodulation and psychedelics.
Dr. Williams’ laboratory, alongside collaborators at Stanford University, pioneered multiple novel therapeutic and human neuroscience approaches. Most notably, Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT) was the world’s first non-invasive, rapid-acting neuromodulation approach for treatment-resistant depression. SAINT received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation Status (2021) and FDA Clearance (2022), becoming the first psychiatric treatment covered by Medicare New Technology Add-On Payment (NTAP). As of April 2024, SAINT has been reimbursed for patients with severe depression in inpatient psychiatric units and is being deployed clinically in laboratories and hospitals worldwide.
Dr. Williams was also at the forefront of psychedelic medicine research for neuropsychiatric illness and was the first investigator to conduct mechanistic clinical trials exploring the neurobiological effects of ibogaine.
His research has garnered international recognition through prestigious awards including:
National Institute of Mental Health (Biobehavioral Research Award for Innovative New Scientists)
Society of Biological Psychiatry (A.E. Bennett Award)
Brain Behavior Research Foundation awards (Gerald L. Klerman Award and Colvin Prize)
Top Scientific Advancements of 2024/2025, Stanford Medicine
Ad Astra Award, Foundation for the Advancement of Clinical TMS
Dr. Williams has published in high-impact journals, including Nature Medicine, Nature Mental Health, Brain, American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. His research has been featured in Science and NEJM Journal Watch, as well as major media outlets, including TIME, Newsweek, Scientific American, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, NPR All Things Considered, CBS Sunday Morning, the TODAY Show, and podcasts such as The Tim Ferriss Show, Grey Matters Now with Michael Krasney, Science Friday with Ira Flatow, and Huberman Lab.
Dr. Williams earned his M.D. and completed dual residencies in neurology and psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
Nolan Williams
Mental Health
Traumatic Brain Injury
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Depression
Psychiatry