Named after Nathan Kline, M.D. (1916-1983), best known for his pioneering work with psychopharmacologic drugs, the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research was established in 1952, when Dr. Kline and associates opened a research unit at the then Rockland State Hospital, now Rockland Psychiatric Center. This developed into the freestanding Rockland Research Institute, and upon Kline’s death in 1983, the Institute was renamed in memory of Dr. Kline. Kline’s work, utilizing reserpine and iproniazid to treat psychiatric disorders, has been acknowledged as a major factor in opening a new era in psychiatry.

For his studies with tranquilizers and antidepressants, he was twice awarded the prestigious Albert Lasker Medical Research Award. Dr. Kline’s reputation drew biomedical researchers from around the world.

Psychopharmacology was emphasized and many new drugs were given clinical trials, as well as investigations of the safety and utility of long-term drug use. Laboratory techniques were developed to determine safe, effective doses of frequently used medications. Kline foresaw the potential of applying computer technology to psychiatry, believing that it could be used in large scale epidemiological studies and could streamline the administration of complex health facilities. He oversaw the installation at Rockland in 1968 of a major computer center, funded by the Federal government, and guided the development of computerized medical systems, many of which led to improvements in the quality of patient care.

As an advisor to international health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and CARE-Medco, Kline was aware of the dearth of medical treatment for mental disorders in developing countries. He traveled widely and devoted much time to establishing and visiting mental health clinics and programs in other parts of the world.