Sheila Nagamatsu, PhD
Associate Research Scientist in PsychiatryAbout
Titles
Associate Research Scientist in Psychiatry
Biography
As an Associate Research Sci at Yale University, I specialize in psychiatry genetics research. My primary focus is on epigenomic-wide association studies of various conditions, including smoking, opioid addiction, depression, and PTSD. I earned my Ph.D. in genetics and molecular biology from the University of Campinas in Brazil, where I focused on the bioinformatics of industrial yeasts and their application to bioethanol production.
Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- University of Campinas, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics (2019)
- Internship
- Senai Institute of Innovation in Biomass (ISI BIOMASSA) (2015)
- BSc
- Federal University of São Carlos, Biotechnology (2013)
- Internship
- University of Campinas (2013)
- Internship
- University of the Basque Country (2013)
- President and Founder Member
- Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar)/ CSB Júnior
- Non Degree Program
- Colégio Policursos, Technical School in Microcomputer Operator (2004)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Biological Evolution; Genetic Background; Mutagenesis; Psychiatry and Psychology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Publications
2025
Editorial: Methylation in the human brain
Nagamatsu ST, Navarrete F and Garcia-Gutierrez MS (2025) Editorial: Methylation in the human brain. Front. Genet. 16:1589816. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1589816Commentaries, Editorials and LettersPsychiatric genetics in the diverse landscape of Latin American populations
Bruxel, E.M., Rovaris, D.L., Belangero, S.I. et al. Psychiatric genetics in the diverse landscape of Latin American populations. Nat Genet (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02127-zPeer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus Statements
2024
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obesity, and Accelerated Epigenetic Aging Among US Military Veterans
Fischer I, Na P, Nagamatsu S, Jeste D, Cabrera-Mendoza B, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Krystal J, Polimanti R, Gelernter J, Pietrzak R. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obesity, and Accelerated Epigenetic Aging Among US Military Veterans. JAMA Psychiatry 2024, 81: 1276-1277. PMID: 39476130, PMCID: PMC11581715, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.3403.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeuronal-specific methylome and hydroxymethylome analysis reveal significant loci associated with alcohol use disorder
Andrade-Brito D, Núñez-Ríos D, Martínez-Magaña J, Nagamatsu S, Rompala G, Zillich L, Witt S, Clark S, Lattig M, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Alvarez V, Benedek D, Che A, Cruz D, Davis D, Girgenti M, Hoffman E, Holtzheimer P, Huber B, Kaye A, Keane T, Krystal J, Labadorf A, Logue M, Marx B, Mash D, McKee A, Miller M, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Noller C, Schnurr P, Scott W, Stein T, Ursano R, Williamson D, Wolf E, Young K. Neuronal-specific methylome and hydroxymethylome analysis reveal significant loci associated with alcohol use disorder. Frontiers In Genetics 2024, 15: 1345410. PMID: 38633406, PMCID: PMC11021708, DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1345410.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAssociated with alcohol use disorderAlcohol use disorderOrbitofrontal cortexEpigenome-wide association studiesUse disorderStudy of alcohol use disorderHuman orbitofrontal cortexAlcohol-related traitsHuman brainPostmortem brain samplesHuman postmortem brain samplesEnrichment analysisDifferential CpG sitesPostmortem brain tissueGenome-wide levelOxidative bisulfite sequencingAssessed 5Functional enrichment analysisBrain tissueFalse discovery rateBisulfite sequencingAssociation studiesDifferential methylationIdentified genesDNA methylationCorrection: Psychosocial moderators of polygenic risk scores of inflammatory biomarkers in relation to GrimAge
Tamman A, Koller D, Nagamatsu S, Cabrera-Mendoza B, Abdallah C, Krystal J, Gelernter J, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Polimanti R, Pietrzak R. Correction: Psychosocial moderators of polygenic risk scores of inflammatory biomarkers in relation to GrimAge. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024, 49: 764-764. PMID: 38182778, PMCID: PMC10876612, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01786-y.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Know-how of holding a Bioinformatics competition: Structure, model, overview, and perspectives
Horácio E, de Carvalho L, Pereira G, Abrahim M, Coelho M, De Jesus D, García G, de Melo-Minardi R, Nagamatsu S. Know-how of holding a Bioinformatics competition: Structure, model, overview, and perspectives. PLOS Computational Biology 2023, 19: e1011679. PMID: 38127831, PMCID: PMC10735175, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011679.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPsychosocial moderators of polygenic risk scores of inflammatory biomarkers in relation to GrimAge
Tamman A, Koller D, Nagamatsu S, Cabrera-Mendoza B, Abdallah C, Krystal J, Gelernter J, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Polimanti R, Pietrzak R. Psychosocial moderators of polygenic risk scores of inflammatory biomarkers in relation to GrimAge. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023, 49: 699-708. PMID: 37848731, PMCID: PMC10876568, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01747-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPolygenic risk scoresRisk scoreGenetic predispositionModifiable psychosocial variablesAge-related morbidityGamma-glutamyl transferaseInflammatory biomarkersSystemic inflammationNational HealthApolipoprotein BMale veteransPsychosocial factorsVeterans StudySaliva samplesPsychosocial moderatorsPsychosocial variablesAntihistamine drugsMilitary veteransGrimAgeGrimAge accelerationInflammationUK BiobankDrugsRepresentative samplePredispositionProfiling neuronal methylome and hydroxymethylome of opioid use disorder in the human orbitofrontal cortex
Rompala G, Nagamatsu S, Martínez-Magaña J, Nuñez-Ríos D, Wang J, Girgenti M, Krystal J, Gelernter J, Hurd Y, Montalvo-Ortiz J. Profiling neuronal methylome and hydroxymethylome of opioid use disorder in the human orbitofrontal cortex. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 4544. PMID: 37507366, PMCID: PMC10382503, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40285-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderMulti-omics findingsGene expression patternsCo-methylation analysisGene expression profilesMulti-omics profilingGene networksDNA methylationNeuronal methylomesDNA hydroxymethylationMethylomic analysisExpression patternsExpression profilesEpigenetic disturbancesUse disordersPsychiatric traitsOrbitofrontal cortexOpioid-related drugsPostmortem orbitofrontal cortexEnvironmental factorsDrug interaction analysisOUD treatmentHuman orbitofrontal cortexOpioid signalingInteraction analysisCross-Species Convergence of Brain Transcriptomic and Epigenomic Findings in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review
Núñez-Rios D, Martínez-Magaña J, Nagamatsu S, Krystal J, Martínez-González K, Giusti-Rodríguez P, Montalvo-Ortiz J. Cross-Species Convergence of Brain Transcriptomic and Epigenomic Findings in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review. Complex Psychiatry 2023, 9: 100-118. PMID: 37404872, PMCID: PMC10315001, DOI: 10.1159/000529536.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchG protein-coupled receptorsPosttraumatic stress disorderEpigenomic findingsEpigenomic studiesEpigenomic profilesTranscriptomic modificationsEpigenetic studiesBrain transcriptomicsBiological pathwaysComplex multifactorial disorderGenesBrain tissueGene-environment interplayStress disorderSpeciesHuman postmortem samplesChemical synaptic transmissionSystematic literature searchEnvironmental factorsCurrent knowledge gapsPotential roleOrexin pathwayPathwayBrain alterationsPeripheral tissues
2022
Dissecting the epigenomic differences between smoking and nicotine dependence in a veteran cohort
Nagamatsu S, Pietrzak R, Xu K, Krystal J, Gelernter J, Montalvo‐Ortiz J. Dissecting the epigenomic differences between smoking and nicotine dependence in a veteran cohort. Addiction Biology 2022, 28: e13259. PMID: 36577721, DOI: 10.1111/adb.13259.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSmoking statusNicotine dependenceVeteran cohortNon-current smokersSerious public health issueNovel treatment strategiesPublic health issueUS military veteransEpigenome-wide association studiesCurrent smokersTreatment strategiesFagerström TestNicotine addictionSmokingHealth issuesRole of epigeneticsMilitary veteransMethylationEPIC BeadChip arraySmokersContinuous variablesF2RL3 geneCohortBiomarkersBeadChip arrayPrevious findings
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Contacts
Mailing Address
Montalvo-Ortiz Lab
Errera Community Care Center-Orange Annex, 200 Edison Road, room 1342-22.
Orange, CT 06477
United States