Emily Brooke DeFraites

Emily Brooke DeFraites is a Health Sciences Clinical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She maintains an active research profile with publications spanning over five decades, demonstrating a career that bridges early genetic research with contemporary mental health interventions.

Her research interests encompass psychiatry, veterans' mental health, schizophrenia treatment, pain management in psychiatric conditions, and the intersection of homelessness with mental health services. Earlier in her career, she conducted significant research on genetic disorders including Prader-Willi syndrome, mucopolysaccharidoses, and skeletal dysplasias, with a particular focus on familial patterns and population genetics.

Her recent publications demonstrate a shift toward practical interventions for vulnerable populations, particularly her 2024 work on improving homeless encampments for veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her publication history reveals a consistent focus on understanding complex medical conditions through both genetic and social determinants of health perspectives.

Dr. DeFraites collaborates extensively with researchers at UCLA and other institutions, particularly with Dr. Sonya Gabrielian and colleagues working on veterans' health issues. Her network includes specialists in public health, psychiatry, and social determinants of health, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of her current work.