Understanding Resilience to Schizophrenia through Genetics
Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 2:00 pm EST
Over the past decade, the field of psychiatric genetics has undergone significant advancements, particularly in our understanding of schizophrenia. These genetics studies have not only expanded our knowledge, but also sparked many new questions. One question that we are eagerly exploring is: What factors allow some individuals to evade schizophrenia despite having inherited a substantial burden of risk genes for the disorder? In this talk, Dr. Hess will discuss his latest research aimed at uncovering genes behind resilience to schizophrenia, underscoring the burgeoning field within psychiatric genetics dedicated to this phenomenon.
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Jonathan Hess, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He specializes in computational neuroscience, dedicating his research to developing and applying novel computational genomics methods with the objective of uncovering factors contributing to the risk for and resilience against neuropsychiatric disorders and dementia, with a specific emphasis on schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Hess currently holds the role of principal investigator on several projects encompassing both federal and non-federal funding sources. His laboratory was established after receiving a 2020 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant.
Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., serves as the President & CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, the largest private funder of mental health research grants. Dr. Borenstein developed the Emmy-nominated public television program “Healthy Minds,” and serves as host and executive producer of the series. The program, broadcast nationwide, is available online, and focuses on topics in psychiatry in order to educate the public, reduce stigma and offer a message of hope. Dr. Borenstein served as Editor-in-Chief of Psychiatric News, the newspaper of the American Psychiatric Association from 2012 - 2023.
Dr. Borenstein is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and serves as the Chair of the Section of Psychiatry at the Academy. He also has served as the President of the New York State Psychiatric Association. Dr. Borenstein earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard and his medical degree at New York University.
