The 2024 Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) Annual Report is now available to download via the link below. The report provides an overview of last year’s happenings at LIBR, including a letter from the President and Scientific Director, Dr. Martin Paulus, current areas of research, events and lectures, awards, individual laboratories, select publications and opportunities to participate in research. We hope you enjoy the publication and look forward to continuing our goal to improve mental health through neuroscience in 2025 and beyond. ​

If you missed out on catching the interview live, it can be found on Channel 9's website below!
To view the interview, please navigate here.

Dr. Tomáš Paus - April 22, 2025

"Population Neuroscience of the Growing Brain"

William K. Warren, Jr.  Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm     Program in the LPCH auditorium  

​Dr. Tomáš Paus is Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the University of Montreal, and Scientist at the Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine.
During the first 20 years of his scientific pursuits, he worked on functional and structural organization of the human brain using a variety of approaches including studies of patients with brain lesions, functional and structural neuroimaging, and brain stimulation.
In the last 20 years, his work integrates epidemiology, neuroscience and genetics – through a new discipline of population neuroscience - in the pursuit of knowledge relevant for brain health. This research draws on data acquired in a number of cohorts based in North and South America and Europe.
The work published by Dr. Paus and his colleagues has been well received by peers, being cited in over 80,000 publications. In 2013, Springer published his book “Population Neuroscience”, with its new edition published in 2024.
Dr. Paus received the Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award, Gold Medal of the Masaryk University, is an elected member of the International Neuropsychology Symposium and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He serves as Associate Editor of the Human Brain Mapping and Social Neuroscience, and is a member of several Scientific Advisory Boards in Europe and North America.
https://recherche.umontreal.ca/nos-chercheurs/repertoire-des-professeurs/chercheur/is/in34310/

Learning objectives:  

1. Genetics of cortical growth.
2. Cortical growth and mental illness.
3. Cortical maturation and mental illness.

​
For Physicians: Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the Oklahoma State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and the Oklahoma Psychological Association recognize AMA PRA Category 1  credit™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA
 
For Social Workers: The Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers has approved this event for 1 hour Category 1 Clinical. (20250007)

For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors.      (1 hour)
 
The LPC/LMFT This event as been approved by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) for 1 hour of CE.  

For questions, email:  Ally Deatherage at [email protected]

Dr. Sabine Wilhelm - April 1, 2025

"Transforming Healthcare with Digital Tools and Artificial Intelligence:  Opportunities and Challenges"

William K. Warren, Jr.  Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm  THIS LECTURE IS VIA ZOOM (link below)

Sabine Wilhelm, Ph.D., is the Donovan-Chien Family Endowed Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, Chief of Psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Director of the Center for Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders (CORD) at MGH, and Director of the Center for Digital Mental Health in Psychiatry at MGH. 
 
To address the increasing rates of psychiatric disorders in the context of a global mental health service provider shortage, her recent work has focused on the development of scalable digital approaches to treatment. Dr. Wilhelm has developed smartphone-based treatments for OCD, depression, and body dysmorphic disorder. She is currently working on AI and other cutting-edge approaches to enhance the detection and treatment of a wide range of mental health concerns.
 
Her work has been supported by the NIMH, the International OCD foundation and many other funding agencies. She has published over 350 papers and chapters, as well as nine books and has received numerous awards for her work, including the Aaron T. Beck Award from the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, the Peter K. Ranney Innovation Award from the World Medical Innovation Forum, and the NAMI Scientific Research Award.
 
Learning objectives:  

1. Explain why technology-based or AI-enhanced treatments are promising for expanding care to underserved populations.
2. Describe the status of technology-based treatments and their efficacy.
3. Identify the challenges associated with technology-based research and treatment.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://laureateinstitute-org.zoom.us/j/87982248899
Meeting ID: 879 8224 8899
Passcode: 201016
 
For Physicians: Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the Oklahoma State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and the Oklahoma Psychological Association recognize AMA PRA Category 1  credit™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA
 
For Social Workers: The Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers has approved this event for 1 hour Category 1 Clinical. (20250007)

For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors.      (1 hour)
 
The LPC/LMFT This event as been approved by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) for 1 hour of CE.  

For questions, email:  Ally Deatherage at [email protected]

LIBR congratulates Dr. Evan White on being recognized an 2025 Distinguished American Indian Psychology Alumnus of Oklahoma State University!​

Findings Published in JAMA Psychiatry Highlight the Role of Genetic Traits in Treatment Resistance
A groundbreaking study published in JAMA Psychiatry sheds new light on the genetic factors contributing to treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a severe form of major depressive disorder that does not respond to standard treatments. Researchers from the Laureate Institute for Brain Research and collaborating institutions analyzed data from nearly 300,000 participants in the All of Us Research Program to identify genetic traits associated with TRD.

Key Findings:

• Genetic Risk Factors for TRD: Individuals with a genetic predisposition for neuroticism, insomnia, and negative emotional temperament were more likely to develop TRD.
• Protective Genetic Traits: Higher genetic scores for educational attainment and cognitive function were linked to a lower likelihood of developing TRD.
• Consistent Across Populations: The results were replicated across different groups, reinforcing the role of these genetic factors in depression treatment outcomes.
• Potential for Improved Treatments: These insights highlight the need to integrate genetic and psychological factors into personalized treatment strategies for depression.

Why This Matters
TRD affects millions of people worldwide, leading to prolonged suffering, increased healthcare costs, and higher suicide risk. While depression treatments work for many, about one-third of patients experience TRD, making it crucial to understand why some individuals do not respond to standard therapies. This study suggests that genetic predispositions influence treatment resistance, paving the way for more targeted interventions.

Expert Quotes
"Our findings emphasize that TRD is not just an extension of major depressive disorder but may have distinct biological underpinnings," said Dr. Chun Chieh Fan, the study’s senior author. "Recognizing the role of genetic factors could help refine treatment approaches and improve outcomes for those who struggle with depression."

What’s Next?
The researchers hope that these findings will inspire further studies on integrating genetics with clinical and environmental factors to develop personalized treatment plans for individuals with depression. Future research may also explore how interventions targeting neuroticism and sleep patterns could help prevent or mitigate TRD.

About the Study
The study analyzed 292,663 participants from the All of Us Research Program, a nationwide initiative collecting diverse health and genetic data. The researchers examined 61 genetic traits across various domains, including personality, cognition, sleep, and psychiatric conditions, to identify their associations with TRD.
​
For more information, access the full study in JAMA Psychiatry  here. 

Dr. Nicolas Crossley - March 4, 2025

"Psychosis, Social Determinants, and Neural Correlates:  Bridging Mental Health, Society, and the Brain"

William K. Warren, Jr.  Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm     Program in the LPCH auditorium  

Dr. Crossley is an academic psychiatrist with an interest in understanding brain function in health and disease through neuroimaging, particularly in psychotic disorders. After completing his training in the UK, he returned to his native Chile in 2016 where he continues his imaging research, including on treatment resistance and the 22q11 deletion syndrome. In 2017 he established the ANDES network, a collaboration of Latin American researchers in psychosis, comprising members from six Latin American countries. The focus of this network has been the impact of the social determinants of health—such as poverty, violence, and gender inequality—on the clinical trajectories of psychosis and brain structure and function, issues that are particularly pertinent to the Global South.

Learning objectives:  

1. Identify the importance of specific social determinants of health in the trajectories of psychosis.
2. Identify the impact of specific social determinants of health in brain anatomy.
3. Identify the importance of including the social determinants in studies developing brain biomarkers in psychosis.

For Physicians: Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the Oklahoma State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and the Oklahoma Psychological Association recognize AMA PRA Category 1  credit™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA
 
For Social Workers: The Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers has approved this event for 1 hour Category 1 Clinical. (20250007)

For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors.      (1 hour)
 
The LPC/LMFT This event as been approved by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) for 1 hour of CE.  

For questions , email:  Ally Deatherage at [email protected]

Dr. Helen Blair Simpson - February 4, 2025

"Bridging the Research to Practice Gap for Individuals with OCD"

William K. Warren, Jr.  Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm     Program in the LPCH auditorium  

Helen Blair Simpson, MD, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center and Director of Center for Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (columbia-ocd.org). She is also the Director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Simpson's research program focuses on how to improve treatments for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders so that these people can live productive lives. Her research is interdisciplinary. It ranges from treatment development studies to clinical trials examining the effects of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy to brain imaging studies exploring the brain mechanisms of OCD to animal studies in collaboration with basic scientists. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health and private foundations like the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation and NARSAD. She was a member of the workgroup that developed the first Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with OCD for the American Psychiatric Association. She is an advisor to the World Health Organization for OCD and related disorder.
Dr. Simpson graduated from Yale College with a BS in biology. She then completed the MD-PhD program at The Rockefeller University/Cornell University Medical College. Her PhD focused on the brain pathways underlying learned versus unlearned vocalizations in songbirds. She then completed the internship and residency in psychiatry at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center/New York State Psychiatric Institute.

Learning objectives:  

1. Describe signs and symptoms of OCD.
2. Describe brain circuits implicated in OCD.
3. Describe evidence-based treatment for OCD.

For Physicians: Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the Oklahoma State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and the Oklahoma Psychological Association recognize AMA PRA Category 1  credit™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA
 
For Social Workers: The Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers has approved this event for 1 hour Category 1 Clinical. (20240007)

For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors.      (1 hour)
 
The LPC/LMFT This event as been approved by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) for 1 hour of CE.  

For questions, email:  Ally Deatherage at [email protected]

Dr. David Tolin - January 30, 2025

"Hoarding:  Chasing a New Diagnosis Through Brain, Body, and Behavior"

William K. Warren, Jr.  Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm     Program in the LPCH auditorium  

Dr. David Tolin is the Founder and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living, and an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. 
He is the Past-President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the Past-President of the Clinical Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association. He received the Award for Lifetime Contribution to Psychology from the Connecticut Psychological Association, as well as the Clinical Science Visionary Award from the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology.
Dr. Tolin is the author of over 250 scientific journal articles, as well as several books, including Doing CBT: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Behaviors, Thoughts, and Emotions and Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding.
Dr. Tolin has been featured on the reality TV series Hoarders and The OCD Project, and has been a recurring guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Learning objectives:  

1. Describe the biphasic pathophysiology of hoarding disorder
2. Discuss the relationship between neurobiological findings and treatment response in hoarding disorder
3. Discuss the strengths and limitations of current treatment approaches for hoarding disorder

For Physicians: Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the Oklahoma State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and the Oklahoma Psychological Association recognize AMA PRA Category 1  credit™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA
 
For Social Workers: The Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers has approved this event for 1 hour Category 1 Clinical. (20240007)

For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors.      (1 hour)
 
The LPC/LMFT This event as been approved by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) for 1 hour of CE.  

For questions , email:  Ally Deatherage at [email protected]

Dr. Nick Obradovich of LIBR is at the forefront of research showing how rising temperatures are disrupting our sleep. With warmer nights becoming more frequent, climate change isn’t just about the environment—it’s also impacting our health on a personal level. 🛌

This year, Dr. Obradovich ​introduced a new sleep indicator in the Lancet Countdown, a global initiative tracking the health impacts of climate change. The addition is already drawing global attention, helping people recognize that climate change’s effects aren’t just long-term—they’re affecting us now, night by night. 🌡️

Explore the latest coverage:
🔗 Time
🔗 Bloomberg
🔗 The Guardian
​
How well did you sleep last night? 🌙
​
#ClimateChange #LancetCountdown #SleepHealth #GlobalWarming #LIBR