Silvia Paddock, Ph.D.

Paddock group - Genetics

Research Focus

Research in this group focuses on the genetic basis of complex psychiatric disorders, mainly bipolar affective disorder (aka manic depression) and major depression. Additionally, we carry out pharmacogenetic studies in depression, aiming at the identification of genetic predictors of treatment response.

Identification of genetic risk factors for complex psychiatric disease will allow us to understand the molecular pathophysiology of these disorders and to develop treatment strategies that counteract underlying disease processes rather than fight symptoms.

We are members of several large consortia (e.g., STAR*D consortium for treatment response in depression; NIMH genetics initiative) and authorized users of other large-scale genetic data (Wellcome-Trust Case Control Consortium, WTCCC). We use a wide variety of computational tools for analysis of genetic data, and develop new tools for data-mining and identification of gene-gene interactions.

Once genetic risk variants are identified, we analyze the impact of the DNA sequence change on gene function in collaboration with other researchers at the Department of Neuroscience, both in human post-mortem studies as well as cell-culture and animal models.

Selected Publications