Neurogenomics of childhood psychiatric conditions
Emily Olfson’s research focuses on understanding the neurogenomic underpinnings of childhood-onset psychiatric conditions. This work is directly relevant to the goals of the WTI Center for Neurocognition and Behavior by applying multidisciplinary approaches to identify novel genetic risk factors and biologic pathways that impact neurodevelopment and behaviors. Specifically, current projects in the Olfson laboratory use large-scale genomic techniques to identify risk genes and specific mechanisms that contribute to the development of trichotillomania, excoriation disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety disorders. This work seeks to address fundamental questions about the neurobiology of these conditions, with the ultimate goal of informing clinical care and treatment for children and families.
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Biography
Olfson received her BA in Biology and Mathematics from Oberlin College, MD-PhD in Human and Statistical Genetics from Washington University in St. Louis, and residency and fellowship training in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry in the Yale Solnit Integrated Program. She joined the Yale faculty in 2022 as an Assistant Professor in the Child Study Center and is affiliated with the Program in Translational Biomedicine. Her partner is a clinical informatics fellow at Yale, and they enjoy spending time outdoors with their two young children.