[2] Lerer's research focuses on understanding the biological basis of severe psychiatric disorders and developing safer, more effective treatments, particularly through novel pharmacological approaches and brain stimulation, and investigating the mechanisms of electroconvulsive therapy for depression.

[2] Lerer served as Academic Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Hebrew University and as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine from 2000 to 2002.

[3] Lerer's work led to several findings in the genetics and pharmacogenetics of psychiatric disorders, including the identification of Ahi1 as a gene contributing to schizophrenia susceptibility.

[12] Lerer analyzed the potential role of thyroid hormone in augmenting antidepressant action, conducting preclinical studies on this topic.

His efforts have yielded several original papers including one that explored the pharmacology of the head twitch response, a rodent correlate of the psychedelic trip in humans,[14] one that analyzed the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the anti-obsessive effects of psychedelics[15] and a study that differentiated the effect of psilocybin and psilocybin-containing mushroom extract on neuroplasticity.