Dr. Frank Vocci, President of Friends Research Institute for the past 15 years, will be stepping down on August 31, 2024.  Dr. Steven Carswell, a Friends Research Institute employee for over 27 years and the current Vice-President, has been selected as the new President and will begin his tenure on September 1, 2024. In a previous statement Dr. Vocci said: “Let me be the first to congratulate Steve for being selected as the new President and wish him well in his new role. I feel confident he will do a fantastic job to continue the tradition of research excellence that Friends is known for.”

Dr. Vocci plans to stay on as a Senior Research Scientist working on funded research projects, developing new research projects, continuing as a Co-Editor for the Journal of Addiction Medicine, and consulting with the pharmaceutical industry on drug development projects in addiction and mental health.