Brian Theyel

Brian Theyel, M.D., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School. His primary academic appointment is in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, where he conducts research on the cellular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders and provides clinical services in the psychiatric emergency room at Butler Hospital.

Dr. Theyel earned both his MD and PhD from the University of Chicago in 2012, completing a rigorous dual-degree program that prepared him for his career as a physician-scientist. His educational background reflects a strong foundation in both clinical medicine and basic neuroscience research.

Dr. Theyel's research centers on understanding how unique properties of interneurons relate to neuropsychiatric disease, with a particular focus on how inhibitory interneurons regulate brain activity. His laboratory employs advanced techniques including whole-cell patch-clamp recording, local field potential measurements, in vitro neuroimaging, cell-specific gene knockout strategies, and sophisticated neuroanatomical methods. His most significant discovery involves how a specific inhibitory interneuron puts 'the brakes' on brain activity by firing repeatedly in the 'backward' direction during periods of elevated neural activity.

Analysis of Dr. Theyel's publication record reveals a consistent focus on neural circuit mechanisms, particularly examining ectopic action potentials in interneurons and their implications for neuropsychiatric disorders. His work bridges basic neuroscience with clinical psychiatry, exploring how cellular and microcircuit dysfunctions contribute to conditions like epilepsy and other neurological disorders. Recent publications show an increasing emphasis on neurodevelopmental disorders and the application of circuit-based approaches to understanding psychiatric disease.

• Brown University General Psychiatry Residency Education Committee Award (2021)
• Excellence in Triple Board Training Award - Brown University (2021)
• Psychiatry Research Mentoring Award – Brown University (2019)
• Martin Keller Outstanding Resident Award (2016)
• Chief Resident, Brown University Psychiatry Residency Training Program (2015-2016)
• Brown Mind-Brain Research day Poster award – 2nd place among residents/fellows (2015)
• NIMH Outstanding Resident Award (ORAP) (2014)

Dr. Theyel is actively involved in teaching and mentoring, supervising residents in the Residency Continuity Clinic and teaching courses including a longitudinal seminar series on 'Evidence-Based Medicine' for psychiatry residents. He co-directs the Brain & Behavior course for first-year medical students at Brown. His research is supported by multiple prestigious funding sources including the Brown Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, NINDS, the Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute, the Carney Foundation, and the Simons Foundation. His collaborative network includes prominent researchers in neuroscience, particularly Barry Connors with whom he has published multiple papers.

Dr. Theyel maintains an active laboratory dedicated to determining the underpinnings of neuropsychiatric disease at the cellular and microcircuit levels, with the goal of uncovering potential novel treatment targets. His work bridges the gap between basic neuroscience and clinical psychiatry, making significant contributions to understanding how neural circuit dysfunctions contribute to psychiatric disorders.