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. Kwapil focuses on schizotypy and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, with attention to early identification and treatment. Dr. Rudolph studies cognitive function and neuropsychiatric disorders, using genetic mouse models to explore brain signaling pathways. The research presented by Drs. Kwapil and Rudolph sparked an engaging conversation among attendees, touching on topics from behavioral phenotypes to the potential for neuroprotective strategies in the context of schizotypy.
The second Lunchtime Lab, held on March 24 at NCSA, explored autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurodivergence through a series of lightning talks from Dr. Howard Gritton (comparative biosciences, bioengineering, and neuroscience), Dr. Laura Hetrick (School of Art and Design), and Dr. Ben Richardson (director of the Pharmacology & Neuroscience Graduate Program, Southern Illinois University). Dr. Gritton discussed his use of genetic tools in animal models to investigate how neuromodulators impact learning, memory, and social behavior. Dr. Hetrick shared insights from her research on autistic identity and co-occurring conditions, informed by collaborations with geneticists and neuroscientists. Dr. Richardson presented work on the role of the cerebellum in ASD and related conditions, highlighting links between neurocircuitry and behavior.
A lively discussion followed, with attendees exploring opportunities for collaboration between researchers approaching ASD and neurodivergence from both social and biological science perspectives. As Kellner Center Director Alison Bell noted, “There was great discussion afterward about how community engagement with people along the spectrum can inform and improve studies.”
The series provides a platform to build connections across human and animal models focused on understanding the etiology of mental health, 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.
Join for the third event in Lunchtime Lab series!
Trauma and Resilience
Speakers: Joe Cohen, Clarissa Richardson, Paul Bonthuis
Monday, April 28 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm
School of Social Work, Room 2015