Dr. Desmond Oathes - September 9th, 2025

​
"Combining TMS with fMRI for Causal Brain Mapping and
​Personalized Treatment"

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

Dr. Oathes is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. He has secondary faculty appointments in Neuroscience, Neurosurgery, Neurology and Bioengineering. Dr. Oathes is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and has a small clinical practice at the Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety. He has been on the Penn faculty since 2015 before which he was on faculty at Stanford University.  (CV). He is also Associate Director of the CNDS and Co-Director of brainSTIM at Penn.

Learning objectives:  

1. Describe promising personalized targets for TMS therapy in depression and PTSD.
2. Explain how TMS can be delivered in an MRI environment.
3. Identify brain circuits related to depression improvement with TMS.

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 recognizes AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA.
 
For Social Workers: Saint Francis Health System is an approved CE Provider for the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers. This event is approved for 1 hour, Category 1 Clinical. (CEP Number - 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) (Provider Number - 20250008)
 
The LPC/LMFT Saint Francis Health System is a Board approved CE Provider for the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL). This course is approved for 1 hour of CE.

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

New Publication Alert! 🎉
Congratulations to Dr. Savitz and team on their publication in the American Journal of Psychiatry: “Systemic Inflammation and Anhedonic Responses to an Inflammatory Challenge in Adults With Major Depressive Disorder.”

🧬 The accompanying editorial highlights, “This work may inform the development of diagnostic, preventive, and intervention tools targeting brain immune interactions and psychiatric disorders.”
A proud moment for LIBR and an example of the cutting-edge research happening here every day! Read the full editorial here: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250261

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. 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]

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]

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.