Latest News from Fernandez Lab

Yale Child Study Center researchers emphasize that trichotillomania (repeated hair-pulling) and excoriation disorder (repeated skin-picking) are real, impairing health conditions. The two disorders are part of a group called body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and a recent study looked at what kinds of genetic factors might contribute to BFRBs.

Trichotillomania (repeated hair-pulling) and excoriation disorder (repeated skin-picking) were the focus of a recent study at Yale Child Study Center. The two disorders are part of a group called body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and the study was designed to clarify what kinds of genetic factors might contribute to BFRBs. It also looked at whether BFRBs share genetic risk with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

The Misophonia Research Fund (MRF) recently published a feature interview with Dr. Theomas Fernandez, highlighting ongoing research into the biological and genetic roots of misophonia. In the interview, Dr. Fernandez outlines foundational research aimed at moving the field from symptom management toward treating the underlying causes of misophonia. He highlights his lab's approach to mapping genetic contributions using family-based whole-genome DNA sequencing and shares early findings linking rare genetic changes to early brain development and anxiety. Additionally, the piece emphasizes how partnerships with the lived-experience community, such as advocacy group SoQuiet, profoundly shape the direction and communication of their work. Read the full interview to learn more about this evolving area of neurodevelopmental research and the collaborative efforts driving it forward.

Several internal awards recognizing outstanding contributions in various areas of service at Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) are awarded at an annual departmental event each spring. In addition, awards involving internal funding opportunities open to YCSC faculty, clinicians, or trainees are announced throughout each academic year. Recipients are announced internally on an ongoing basis, and an external announcement is typically published at the conclusion of each academic semester.

Thirty-five Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) faculty and staff members were recognized for long-term service at Yale as of fiscal year 2026. YCSC community members gather annually each spring to mark milestone work anniversaries at a departmental community meeting.

Four new research projects have been funded through a new social media pilot research award made possible through a generous donation to Yale Child Study Center. Several pilot studies have been launched to investigate the impacts of social media on child and adolescent mental health and development.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have linked rare “de novo” genetic mutations—copy number variants (CNVs)—to pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Approximately 70 members of the Yale Child Study Center community recently gathered together in a hybrid format—both in-person and by Zoom—to celebrate 46 YCSC faculty and staff members being honored for their respective years of service at Yale University, from five up to 40 years.

A genome-wide analyses in Nature Genetics identified 30 independent loci associated with obsessive–compulsive disorder, highlighting genetic overlap with other psychiatric disorders and implicating putative effector genes and cell types contributing to its etiology. Marco Galimberti, PhD, associate research scientist, is co-first author.