Tova Fuller

Tova Fuller, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and the School of Medicine. She serves as a transplant psychiatrist working with liver, lung, heart, and kidney recipients as well as living liver and kidney donors, and provides psychiatric consultation in the Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Program.

Education:

• BS in Cybernetics, University of California, Los Angeles
• MS in Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
• PhD in Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles
• MD in Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
• Internal Medicine Residency, Columbia University, New York City
• Psychiatry Residency, University of Washington, Seattle

Dr. Fuller's research spans the intersection of psychiatry, genetics, and bioinformatics, with particular focus on gene co-expression network analysis and its applications to psychiatric disorders. Her work explores how genetic factors contribute to mental health conditions, with emphasis on schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. She has pioneered approaches to using peripheral blood as a surrogate for brain tissue in genetic studies, enabling less invasive research methods. Her research also extends into disaster medicine and conflict epidemiology, as evidenced by her work analyzing civilian casualties in the Iraq War.

Dr. Fuller's publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory of innovative work in systems genetics and psychiatric neuroscience. Her most influential contributions center around weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), a methodology she has helped advance and apply to various neurological and psychiatric conditions. Her research bridges computational biology with clinical psychiatry, creating translational pathways from genetic discovery to clinical application, particularly in the context of organ transplantation where mental health considerations are critical.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Department of Cybernetics, UCLA Highest Departmental Honors (2002)
• University of California, Los Angeles Biomedical Engineering Fellowship (2003)
• National Institutes of Health Genomic Analysis Training Grant (2007-2008)
• Nobel Peace Laureates Summit Delegate (2009)
• University of California, Los Angeles Marilyn Bersch MSTP Fellowship (2010)
• Physicians for Social Responsibility Lown-Alexander-Sidel Award for Medical Advocacy (2011)
• University of Washington Outstanding Teaching Scholar (2018)
• University of California, San Francisco Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award (2000)

Dr. Fuller maintains an active research program focused on the genetic underpinnings of psychiatric disorders, with particular emphasis on how these relate to patients undergoing organ transplantation. Her work has received significant attention, with multiple publications accumulating hundreds of citations. She contributes to both clinical care and research mentorship within the UCSF Department of Psychiatry, integrating her dual expertise in medicine and genetics to advance understanding of mental health conditions.