معرفی
Joel Gelernter, MD, is the Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at the Yale University School of Medicine. He is the Director of the Division of Human Genetics within the Department of Psychiatry and leads a highly productive research program focused on the genetic basis of psychiatric and substance use disorders. He holds secondary appointments in the Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience and is affiliated with numerous interdisciplinary centers, including the Yale Center for Genomic Health, the Wu Tsai Institute, the Center for Biomedical Data Science, and the VA-Yale Clinical Neurosciences PTSD Research Program.
- Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry
- Professor of Genetics
- Professor of Neuroscience
- Director, Division of Human Genetics (Psychiatry)
Dr. Gelernter's research is centered on the genetics of psychiatric illnesses such as cocaine, opioid, nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol dependence, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety disorders. His laboratory employs genome-wide association studies (GWAS), pharmacogenomics, and population genetics to identify novel risk loci and understand the biological mechanisms underlying these conditions. His work leverages large datasets, including the Million Veteran Program, to conduct multi-ancestry analyses that enhance discovery and generalizability.
His recent publications in top-tier journals like Nature Genetics, Nature Neuroscience, and Molecular Psychiatry reflect a strong trend toward large-scale, collaborative genomics with a focus on substance use disorders, depression, and PTSD. These studies consistently emphasize cross-population meta-analyses, the identification of novel genetic loci, and the translation of findings into insights about disease biology and public health.
Dr. Gelernter has made seminal contributions to the field of psychiatric genetics, with his research frequently highlighted in media outlets and informing both clinical understanding and future therapeutic development. He mentors a broad network of collaborators and junior scientists, although specific student names are not listed in the provided text. His laboratory is actively involved in ongoing research and clinical trials, including studies related to mental health and the long-term effects of conditions like COVID-19.
- Multi-ancestry GWAS of cannabis use disorder
- Genetics of problematic alcohol use in over 1 million individuals
- Bi-ancestral depression GWAS highlighting therapeutic targets
- Genome-wide analyses of PTSD in the Million Veteran Program
He is a principal or co-investigator on multiple research projects and clinical trials, demonstrating a sustained and impactful research program. His laboratory, the Gelernter Lab, is a hub for genomic research in psychiatry and is integrated within several major research initiatives at Yale, including the Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol and the Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. His work exemplifies the integration of clinical psychiatry, human genetics, and computational biology to address complex mental health challenges.