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Yanhua Huang, PhD has focused her research on neural plasticity within the reward circuitry of the brain. She studies molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying drug abuse and addiction and sleep-mediated regulation of reward-elicited behaviors. By studying neural plasticity in rodent models, she is working to characterize pathway-specific changes in the reward circuitry of the brain following sleep disturbances...

Most studies use individual sleep characteristics to predict health outcomes. However, a recent paradigmatic shift in sleep research has led investigators to study sleep through a “sleep health” framework. Within this framework, sleep is viewed as a multidimensional pattern of sleep-wakefulness that promotes physical and mental well-being and is characterized along multiple domains including duration, continuity...

The Department’s wide variety of federally sponsored postdoctoral research training programs (T32s) offer extensive support to help trainees optimize their ability to launch and sustain a research career in psychiatry. These trainees immerse themselves in a particular area of research for a two- to three-year period of protected time prior to obtaining a K Award and entering residency. Areas of research training...

Dean F. Salisbury, PhD has conducted his extensive research career studying the pathology and pathophysiology in early psychosis—a field in which he is an international expert—with one ultimate goal in mind: early identification of the disorder. His research delves into understanding the basic dysfunctions that will lead to earlier identification, better interventions, and improved outcome in schizophrenia and...

Alexis Fertig, MD is an accomplished clinician and national expert in the area of eating disorders. She provides high-quality clinical care within the intensive outpatient, inpatient, and partial hospitalization eating disorders programs at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. She is director of the UPMC Center for Eating Disorders and is the “go to“ person for difficult consults and complex cases. Dr. Fertig...

Chronic dysfunction in social relationships is a core feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and limited research exists regarding the social networks among individuals with the disorder. Examining differences in social integration, social support, and relationship characteristics in social networks may be critical to understanding the character and costs of social difficulties experienced by these...