John Wemmie, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa, is interested in the role of brain pH and acid-sensing ion channels in brain function and behavior. This work has led to the discovery of critical roles for brain pH in synaptic plasticity, anxiety, and depression-related behaviors in mice. Current projects include investigating the synaptic mechanisms for acid-sensing ion channel action and also translating these discoveries to human behavior and brain function. For example, his laboratory is using non-invasive pH-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the roles of brain pH in psychiatric illnesses such as panic disorder and bipolar affective disorder.

The Michaelson lab investigates how variation in the genome affects the development and function of the mind. Our experience in genome informatics and statistical learning enables us to develop predictive models of gene-phenotype relationships based on high-throughput biological data sets. These models serve a dual purpose: 1) they improve our diagnostic/prognostic capabilities and 2) they illuminate the biological mechanisms that underlie psychiatric conditions. We have a particular interest in conditions that manifest themselves in childhood, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specific language impairment (SLI), and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). These and other related conditions show striking comorbidity, and investigating their interrelationships will accelerate our understanding of their roots and potential treatments. 

Krystal Parker's long-term goal is to understand the cerebellar contribution to cognition. In pursuit of this goal, her lab works to combine neurophysiology, pharmacology and optogenetics in animals performing cognitive tasks to dissect cerebellar neural circuitry. They study the potential for cerebellar stimulation to rescue cognitive impairments in humans with schizophrenia using EEG but also in animals with pharmacologically induced or genetically modified phenotypes of schizophrenia, and autism. Their training in psychology, systems neurophysiology, and clinical psychiatry allows us to target the cerebellum for novel treatments of diseases of cognitive dysfunction.

Allan Andersen, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa, is a Child and Adolescent psychiatrist interested in understanding and modifying risk factors for immune-related disease in individuals with substance use disorders. Current projects include a study tracking immunological changes in adolescents and young adults as they initiate tobacco and marijuana use.

The Williams Lab is interested in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which genetic risk factors contribute to psychiatric disease from a developmental perspective. Their current projects focus on voltage-gated calcium channel genes, which have been linked to the risk of developing bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and autism. They use induced pluripotent stem cells and transgenic mouse models to study how calcium channel gene SNPs alter neuronal development, neural circuit function, and affective behavior.

The Niciu Lab is broadly interested in the pathophysiology and experimental therapeutics of major mood disorders, particularly glutamate and subanesthetic-dose ketamine in treatment-resistant major depression. Another major aim is the identification, replication and dissemination of antidepressant response biomarkers. On the translational front, they use human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based models to study genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease and pharmacological response to racemic ketamine, bioactive ketamine metabolites and other compounds in the future.

The Shen lab seeks to bridge basic science and health services research by exploring the intersection of nature and nurture in mental health. We draw upon tools and perspectives from diverse fields (including neuroscience, genomics, and environmental health) to dissect the complex interplay between genes and the environment. We are especially interested in how early-life and cumulative exposures influence later-life outcomes for mood disorders, psychosis, substance use, and neurodegenerative disorders. By identifying cellular endophenotypes and their molecular correlates, we aim to advance the detection and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.