Recent senior-author studies led by Thomas Karikari, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), highlight advances in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease using blood biomarkers. Dr. Karikari’s research aims to further understand the molecular and biochemical basis of pathological brain changes that occur in Alzheimer’s patients, and to apply this knowledge to develop new biofluid-based diagnostic tools for clinical...

Circadian rhythms are critical for human health and are highly conserved across species, controlling physiological processes and behavior across the light/dark cycle. In addition to regulating basic physiological processes and brain function, disrupted circadian genes are linked to altered mood and substance use vulnerability. Circadian genes modulate behavior through specific cell types in the nucleus accumbens...

Congratulations to Cynthia Felix, MD, MPH, and Shalini Sivathasan, PhD, who received Best Poster Presentation Awards at the University of Pittsburgh Postdoctoral Association 2024 Postdoctoral Data & Dine Symposium. Dr. Felix is a postdoctoral associate focusing on advanced Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in the lab of Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology). Her award-winning...

The Services for Teens at Risk (STAR)-Center is a nationally recognized suicide prevention program that combines clinical and outreach services designed to combat the problem of child and adolescent suicide. The STAR-Center provides outpatient assessment and treatment for depressed and anxious children and teens, and offers acute treatment to depressed and suicidal youth through the Center’s intensive outpatient...

The 2024 Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP) Annual Meeting was held in Austin, TX. Pitt Psychiatry faculty and trainees gathered for a program that explored whether the translational medicine approach is living up to its promise in psychiatry. The conference additionally presented the opportunity to network and meet up with Pitt Psychiatry friends and alums! Gold Medal Award Mary Phillips, MD, MD (Cantab)...

Congratulations to Daniel Buysse, MD (Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, and Clinical and Translational Science, and UPMC Endowed Chair in Sleep Medicine), who recently received the University of Oxford Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute Academic Medal. Dr. Buysse’s research focuses on sleep assessment and patient-reported outcomes; evaluation and treatment of insomnia; and sleep in aging. He...

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), characterized by inattention and/or impulsivity/hyperactivity, can include emotional dysregulation (such as affect lability), especially when symptoms persist into adulthood. Some individuals with ADHD have trouble with modulating attention in the context of goal-directed behavior. They may perform significantly worse on cognitive tasks, relative to those without...

Please join us in congratulating H. Nur Eken, MD (PGY2 psychiatry resident) who has been selected as one of six recipients of the Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award/“Little Apple” Award from the Pitt School of Medicine! The Little Apple awards recognize outstanding residents who have demonstrated excellence in student teaching, team leadership, fund of knowledge, compassionate and humanistic...

We are delighted to congratulate Tiffany Lach (Associate IT Project Manager), who has received a 2023 UPMC Award for Commitment to Excellence in Service (ACES) for her outstanding work in the Department’s Project Management Office. The prestigious ACES award, received by less than 1% of UPMC staff annually, honors individuals who routinely go above and beyond. Tiffany’s nominators note that she brings “the highest...

We are delighted to congratulate Kristen Eckstrand, MD, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), who has received a 2023 UMPC Award for Commitment to Excellence in Service (ACES) for her outstanding achievement in increasing inclusivity for LGBTQIA+ people at UPMC. The prestigious ACES award, received by less than 1% of UPMC staff annually, honors individuals who routinely go above and beyond. Dr. Eckstrand is...