Lorrin Koran, M.D. was born in Los Angeles and was educated at Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, graduating from both with honors. He received his training in psychiatry at Stanford University Medical Center, returning there after working at the National Institute of Mental Health, the Maudsley Psychiatric Institute in London, and SUNY at Stony Brook.

He is now Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford and Director of the Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders Clinic and its Research Program.

He has authored and edited more than 100 scientific publications on psychiatric topics that include obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depression, dysthymia and the cost-effectiveness of treatments. He has received grants and awards from the National Institute of Mental Health, the State of California, and the American Psychiatric Association.

He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Boards for the OC Foundation, the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association and the Anxiety Knowledge Center sponsored by the World Federation of Mental Health.