The Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior, and Society held its first Lunchtime Lab event on February 27, kicking off a series designed to foster interdisciplinary research on mental health. The inaugural session focused on schizotypy, featuring Dr. Thomas Kwapil (psychology) and Dr. Uwe Rudolph (comparative biosciences).

Schizotypy refers to personality traits and cognitive tendencies linked to schizophrenia but present in the general population. Studying schizotypy helps researchers understand risk factors and potential interventions. Dr. Thomas Kwapil researches schizotypy and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, focusing on early identification and treatment. Dr. Uwe Rudolph studies cognitive function and neuropsychiatric disorders, using genetic mouse models to explore brain signaling pathways.

“Our first lunchtime lab event was a great success," Kellner Center Director Alison Bell commented. "It exemplifies the types of interdisciplinary interactions the Kellner Center is aiming to facilitate. The meeting included presentations from two researchers on campus who approach this important and challenging problem from distinct perspectives followed by animated discussion from members of the campus community. We look forward to the next event!”

The series provides a platform for interdisciplinary research across human and animal models, aiming to spark new collaborations and seed opportunities in Fall 2025. Each event explores the connections between genes, brain function, behavior, and mental health.

Through these events and other research support, the Kellner Center integrates genomic biology, neuroscience, and social sciences to examine mental health within biological and social contexts. Stay tuned to Kellner Center news for more information on the next event. We hope you join for these interdisciplinary discussions as we explore novel collaborations on mental health research.

If you would like to attend the next event on March 24, please register by Thursday, March 20.