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At the intersection of medicine, psychedelics, and social impact stands Fayzan Rab, an MD Candidate at Emory University School of Medicine who brings a fascinating blend of experiences to his current role as a clinical researcher at the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality. His research explores crucial questions surrounding the emerging psychedelic therapy landscape, from understanding minority communities' perspectives to examining the broader public health and economic implications of these groundbreaking treatments. Before pursuing medicine, Fayzan carved out a distinctive path that included leading product development at tech giants Google and Mindstrong Health, followed by grassroots political organizing in the Bay Area. Today, alongside his research, he channels his leadership experience into executive coaching, helping entrepreneurs refine their communication skills and presence. When he is not exploring the frontiers of psychedelic medicine, Fayzan enjoys life in Atlanta with his fiancée Shua and their cat Bella, where you might find them hunting for fresh produce at their neighborhood farmer's market or hosting spirited game nights with friends. In this Genomic Press Interview, he shares his insights on the transformative potential of psychedelic therapy in modern healthcare.

Dr. Alaina M. Jaster is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University. She currently serves on the trainee editorial board of Psychedelic Medicine, the journal for the International Society for Research on Psychedelics (ISRP), and is part of the Society's Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility committee. Jaster is also part of the Science Policy Committee of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and co-founded a scientific communication website and podcast, Psychedelic Brain Science. Her research aims to understand the underlying molecular targets and mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. Her PhD dissertation focused on the serotonin 2A receptor's modulatory role in rewarding aspects of opioids and neuroplasticity across sexes. Most of her work uses translational methodology related to Pavlovian conditioning combined with techniques to measure and manipulate pharmacological factors involved in these diseases. Her current work focuses on the involvement of endocannabinoids in fear extinction, biomarkers of familial risk of depression, and psychedelic use among adolescent populations. Dr. Jaster is excited to engage in the Genomic Press Interview, looking deeper into her life inside and outside the lab.

Dr. Munir “Gunes” Kutlu, Assistant Professor at the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CSAR) and the Department of Neural Sciences at Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, investigates the neural mechanisms underlying associative learning, mainly focusing on reward, fear, and social interaction. Drawing from his computational neuroscience training at Duke University and postdoctoral work at Temple and Vanderbilt Universities, Dr. Kutlu combines systems neuroscience, computational approaches, and behavioral analysis to understand how our brains process environmental associations and how these processes can become maladaptive in disease states. His laboratory, dedicated to “bridging the brain-behavior gap,” fosters a collaborative environment that nurtures the next generation of neuroscientists while pursuing innovative neural circuit analysis approaches in reward and aversive learning contexts. In this Genomic Press interview, Dr. Kutlu shares his insights on these fascinating aspects of behavioral neuroscience and his laboratory's mission to advance our understanding of neural circuit function in health and disease.

Dr. Natalia Acosta-Baena embodies the rare confluence of clinical and basic science expertise that modern neuroscience demands. As a physician-scientist at the University of Antioquia's Neurosciences Group, she combines her medical training with a master's in clinical epidemiology and doctoral studies in basic biomedical sciences, specializing in Genetics. Her groundbreaking work began with contributing to characterize the world's largest population affected by autosomal dominant genetic Alzheimer's disease (mutation E280A in PSEN1), establishing a foundation for numerous studies on biomarkers, clinical trial design, and genetic modifiers in this pivotal cohort. In a landmark discovery, Dr. Acosta-Baena's research revealed a novel syndrome linked to a SPAG9 variant, demonstrating how a single gene involved in neuronal retrograde transport can drive neurodevelopmental problems and neurodegeneration in affected patients. This finding challenges the traditional separation between these processes and suggests shared biological pathways. Through her continued work with families affected by neurodevelopmental disorders, she has uncovered genetic networks that reshape our understanding of rare brain diseases. Her current translational medicine and genetic epidemiology research focuses on further exploring these unexpected connections between neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. In a Genomic Press Interview, Dr. Acosta-Baena shared her life beyond the laboratory – from her early fascination with the human brain to finding joy in Colombia's mountain sunsets with her husband and son and drawing inspiration from Latin American writers like Cortázar and García Márquez. Her dedication to scientific rigor and human connection is reflected in her philosophy that each failure teaches something essential as she works toward translating genetic discoveries into meaningful healthcare policies and personalized medicine approaches.

Haitham Amal is an internationally recognized expert in cell signaling and brain disorders who heads the Laboratory of Neuromics, Cell Signaling, and Translational Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research program integrates proteomics with systems biology, combining biochemical, pharmacological, and behavioral approaches. Currently a Visiting Professor at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Amal previously conducted his postdoctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he served as a Senior Postdoctoral Associate in the Biological Engineering Department and was affiliated with the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. His innovative research has been supported by numerous competitive grants, including awards from the German DFG, Israel Science Foundation, and the US Department of Defense, with his contributions recognized through the Krill Prize from the Wolf Foundation and the Eagles Autism Foundation Research Grant as its first international recipient. His research established essential connections between nitric oxide and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while also revealing significant pathological overlaps between ASD and Alzheimer's disease. Building on these discoveries, Dr. Amal has co-founded Point6 Bio Ltd, developing biological diagnostic tools for ASD, and NeuroNOS Ltd., focused on nitric oxide synthase inhibitors for treating neurological disorders. In this Genomic Press interview, Dr. Amal shares his insights on the path to these discoveries and his vision for advancing our understanding of neurological disorders.

Dr. Stephanie Knatz Peck, Ph.D., is a practicing clinical psychologist and Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Her career uniquely bridges clinical practice with innovative research, focusing on developing and evaluating novel psychiatric interventions, particularly for eating disorders. Dr. Knatz Peck's research journey began at the UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Center, where she skillfully translated complex neuroimaging and genetic findings into practical, innovative treatment approaches for anorexia nervosa (AN). This work culminated in the development and manualization of Temperament-Based Treatment with Supports (TBT-S), a groundbreaking behavioral intervention for AN. In recent years, Dr. Knatz Peck has expanded her research into the promising field of psychedelic-assisted therapies. She served as co-investigator on the first clinical trial evaluating psilocybin treatment for AN, marking a significant milestone in eating disorder research. Additionally, she contributes her expertise as a senior clinical consultant for Compass Pathways, where she leads training initiatives and plays a crucial role in developing psychological support models for psilocybin therapy across various psychiatric conditions. Beyond her academic pursuits, Dr. Knatz Peck founded and directs BrightMind Therapy, an outpatient practice providing evidence-based therapy for children and adolescents. Her comprehensive approach seamlessly integrates clinical practice with rigorous research, utilizing neuroimaging data, genetic findings, and hands-on clinical observations to develop targeted interventions for treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions. We are privileged to have Dr. Knatz Peck share her invaluable insights and experiences with our readers in this Genomic Press Interview.

Dr. Daniel Wolf grew up in Los Angeles, completed his BA at Harvard College, MD-PhD at Yale University, psychiatry residency at MGH-McLean, and neuropsychiatry fellowship at UPenn. He is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UPenn's Perelman School of Medicine. As head of the Laboratory for Motivation in Psychiatry, Dr. Wolf uses functional neuroimaging to study the neural mechanisms of amotivation and other symptom dimensions in psychosis and at-risk states, aiming to develop novel assessment biomarkers for early-stage drug development. Dr. Wolf also provides outpatient care to individuals with psychosis while supervising clinical trainees. As Director of the Clinical Neurosciences Training Program and Co-Director of the Psychosis T32, he provides seminars and mentoring to medical and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; he earned the School of Medicine's teaching awards in both Basic Science and Translational Science. He is also an ACNP Fellow and member of the Neuropsychopharmacology editorial board. Dr. Wolf answered the Genomic Press Interview, providing our readers with reflections on his life and career.

Dr Nicolas Garel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Addictology at the University of Montreal and a junior investigator at the Research Center of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal. Dr Garel did his psychiatry residency at McGill University before completing the Clinician-Investigator Program and a Master's degree at McGill University, studying the potential role of ketamine in the discontinuation of benzodiazepines and related drugs. Dr Garel then completed a clinical fellowship in Addiction Medicine at Stanford University. His research program focuses on the integration of psychoactive molecules in conjunction with psychotherapy as a unique potential treatment approach for patients with comorbid mood and alcohol/sedative use disorders. In this “Innovators & Ideas” section, we are excited to feature Dr Garel in our latest Genomic Press Interview. We are thrilled he took the time to answer our questions and share his valuable insights with our readers.

Pierre-Éric Lutz, a permanent researcher at France's CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and Strasbourg's Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, investigates epigenetic mechanisms underlying brain disorders such as addiction and depression. His lab employs genetic engineering in mice, high-throughput multiomics in mouse models and human cohorts, and bioinformatics. We are thrilled that in this Genomic Press Interview Dr Lutz shares insights into his life and career with our readers.

Dr. Nathaniel Harnett is Director of the Neurobiology of Affective and Traumatic Experiences Laboratory at McLean Hospital and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. His research investigates the neural substrates that mediate individual variability in susceptibility to trauma and stress-related disorders using a multidimensional approach that incorporates human brain imaging, psychophysiology, psychometrics, and behavior. Further, his laboratory examines how pre-, peri-, and posttraumatic environmental factors may modulate the efficacy of neural signatures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ultimately, the goal of his research is to advance our understanding of how we identify useful, effective, and generalizable neural predictors of PTSD to facilitate precision medicine approaches that might mitigate the social and emotional burdens of trauma and stress-related disorders. We are delighted that Dr. Harnett engaged in the Genomic Press Interview, enriching our readership with perspectives on his life journey and professional trajectory.