26 February 2010. There are many heroes in the Schizophrenia Research Forum pantheon, but those who took an early interest, when SRF was just a proposal, are special. However, one notable person is missing from the account of our "prehistory"—at his own request, former NARSAD Executive Director Steve Doochin was omitted. He did not feel comfortable taking credit for helping to bring SRF into existence; he preferred to work behind the scenes. But Steve died unexpectedly last week, 16 February 2010, at the age of 60, and we take the liberty of disregarding his wishes this time and giving him his due.

First and foremost, he gets the credit for convincing the two skeptical people in the photo with him (below) to take a chance on a novel idea. We imagine that Connie and Steve Lieber—two other SRF heroes—have heard many "hot" ideas through the years, and Steve told us they weren’t sure what to make of the proposal for an online knowledge environment for researchers in schizophrenia. Although the Alzheimer Research Forum had proven successful in Alzheimer disease, we were told that it would "never work in schizophrenia." The research community was too fractured…they would never participate.

Steve Doochin with Steve and Connie Lieber at the 2006 NARSAD/Campaign for the Brain gala in Los Angeles. Image credit: Silver Ribbon Coalition

When we first talked to Steve in the summer of 2003, it was clear right away that we had found a champion. Steve had recognized the value of computing and the Internet early on—he waxed poetic about his love for early Apple computers and the Mac users group that he had started in the stone age of personal computing.

Buoyed by Steve's unflagging support and relaxed optimism, we were able to convince both NARSAD and the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health that an online forum for schizophrenia researchers would be a great asset to the field. After SRF's launch in October of 2005, he showed us how to build an efficient operation with a far-flung group of freelance science reporters and Web specialists.

In the process, Steve became our friend, and he continued to be a supportive presence even after moving on from NARSAD. We will miss him.—Hakon Heimer and Alden Bumstead.