The Department welcomes Leanne Williams, PhD as part of its Distinguished Scientist lecture series on October 21st. Dr. Williams completed her PhD in 1996 with a British Council scholarship for study at Oxford University. Prior to joining the Stanford University faculty in 2013 she served as a Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry at the Sydney Medical School and Director of the interdisciplinary Sydney Brain Dynamics Center. Dr. Williams is the founding Director of the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness that connects researchers across the campus to advance high definition imaging biotypes for mental health, sensor technology, machine learning approaches, targeted therapeutics and the world's first biotype-guided trials. As the leader of the PanLab for Precision Psychiatry and Translational Neuroscience, Dr. Williams and her team have developed a radical new way to understand and treat mental health disorders based on a personalized approach to neuroscience. She also leads department-wide initiatives in precision mental health as Associate Chair of Translational Neuroscience. She has a joint position at the Palo Alto VA Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center where she is Director of Education and Precision Medicine. Her translational programs integrate advanced neuroimaging, technology and digital innovation to transform the way we detect mental disorders, predict mental states, tailor interventions and promote wellness. Data-driven computational approaches are used to refine this transformative approach. Her experience is that a neuroscience-informed model empowers each person with an understanding of their own brain function and can reduce stigma. Dr. Williams has as contributed over 400 scientific papers to the field. her research forms the foundation of the first patented taxonomy for depression and anxiety that quantifies brain circuits for diagnostic precision and prediction.
This is a virtual lecture streamed via Zoom. Please click on this link and enter the following:
Meeting ID: 988 7171 5234
Passcode: 302593
For More Information. Please contact Frances Patrick at patrickfm@upmc.edu.