Matthew W. State

Matthew W. State is the Oberndorf Family Distinguished Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, and Director of the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute and Hospital. He is also affiliated with the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. As a child psychiatrist and human geneticist, Dr. State leads research focused on pediatric neuropsychiatric syndromes, particularly autism spectrum disorders and Tourette disorder.

Dr. State received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University, completed his psychiatry residency and child psychiatry fellowship at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, and earned a PhD in Genetics from Yale University. His educational background reflects a unique integration of clinical psychiatry and advanced genetics training.

Dr. State's research primarily focuses on gene discovery as a pathway to understanding the biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. His laboratory has made significant contributions to identifying genetic risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and Tourette disorder (TD), demonstrating the role of rare and de novo genetic variations in these conditions. Recent work has identified dozens of ASD risk genes and the first high-confidence TD genes. His research employs systems biology approaches to understand how autism-related genes converge spatially and temporally during human brain development. Dr. State leads several major collaborative genomics initiatives including the Simons Simplex Collection Genomics Consortium, the Autism Sequencing Consortium, and the Tourette International Collaboration on Genetics.

Analysis of Dr. State's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the genetic architecture of autism spectrum disorders, with increasing emphasis on molecular convergence, protein interactions, and the biological pathways connecting genetic risk to neurodevelopmental outcomes. His work spans from gene discovery through functional validation in model systems to translational applications. Recent publications highlight the role of chromatin regulation, sex differences in autism risk, and potential therapeutic targets emerging from genetic findings.

Dr. State has received numerous prestigious awards and honors for his contributions to the field:

• Yale Graduate School Alumni Association Wilbur Cross Medal (2020)
• National Academy of Medicine Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health (2017)
• Elected Member of the National Academy of Medicine (2014)
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Tarjan Award (2014)
• Brain and Behavior Research Foundation Ruane Prize (2012)
• Science Magazine Annual Top 10 Scientific Breakthroughs (2011)
• Science Magazine Annual Top 10 Scientific Breakthroughs (2005)

Dr. State has secured substantial research funding through multiple NIH grants as Principal Investigator, including projects on cell type-specific regulatory networks in brain development, collaborative genomic studies of Tourette Disorder, and the Autism Sequencing Consortium. His laboratory has mentored numerous students and researchers who have gone on to make their own contributions to the field of neurodevelopmental genetics. Dr. State plays a leadership role in national and international collaborative efforts, helping to shape the direction of autism and Tourette disorder research worldwide.

Dr. State leads a research team focused on neurogenetics within the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. His laboratory employs cutting-edge genomic, molecular, and systems biology approaches to understand the biological basis of neurodevelopmental disorders. The team collaborates extensively with other researchers across UCSF and internationally, contributing to large-scale consortia that have transformed our understanding of the genetic architecture of autism and related conditions.