Katherine Scangos

Katherine Scangos is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and serves as Director of the Brain Circuit Therapeutics Clinic. She is affiliated with multiple research centers including the Center for Brain Imaging and Stimulation, Center for Neuromodulation of Depression and Stress, and the Penn Brain Science, Translation, Innovation, and Modulation Center.

Education

• B.A. in Biology from Amherst College (2002)
• MD and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from John Hopkins School of Medicine (2012)

Dr. Scangos specializes in neuromodulation techniques for psychiatric disorders, particularly through deep brain stimulation (DBS). Her research focuses on developing personalized DBS approaches for treatment-resistant depression, OCD, and opioid use disorder by integrating electrophysiological mapping, tractography, and causal circuit analysis. Recent work examines hypothesis-driven network probing and multi-lead DBS optimization.

Research TrendsHer publications from 2024-2025 reveal a strong emphasis on combining stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) with DBS for psychiatric applications, targeting specific neural circuits with precision. Key themes include:

• Personalized neuromodulation protocols
• Electrophysiological biomarkers for psychiatric disorders
• Connectome-based surgical targeting
• Inpatient neurostimulation workups
• Accreditation standards for brain stimulation