The research focus of my laboratory is genetics of psychiatric illness. We study a range of behavioral phenotypes including opioid, cananbis, and alcohol dependence, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders. In addition we study a range of intermediate phenotypes, such as neuroimaging measures; pharmacogenomics; and basic issues in population and complex trait genetics.
The overall approach involves genomewide study of genetic polymorphism and sequence variation, on a molecular level, and from the perspective of population genetics. Current studies include multicenter studies with the goal of identifying genes predisposing to alcohol dependence (using genomewide association analysis and other approaches); a study of the genetics of methamphetamine dependence, in Thailand; studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and numerous substance use disorders in the US Million Veteran Program; and a VA study on the pharmacogenomics of antidepressant response. I also co-lead the Substance Use Disorders group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium.
Specialized Terms: Complex trait genetics; Psychiatric genetics; Population genetics; Substance dependence; Pharmacogenomics
Affective Disorders, Psychotic; Alcoholism; Anxiety Disorders; China; Genetics; Genetics, Population; Israel; Polymorphism, Genetic; Psychiatry; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Thailand; Global Health; Substance-Related Disorders