Genomind Press

Genomind Inc. Recruits Group of World-Renowned Experts in Psychiatry and Neurology to Advance its Commitment to Mental Health Innovation

Distinguished group of scientific advisors to create the foremost authority on mental health treatment in support of Genomind’s mission: leveraging genetic testing and other scientific advances to improve mental health outcomes

Ruth Benca (University of California, Irvine), Kathleen Brady (Medical University of South Carolina) and Naomi Simon (NYU School of Medicine) join the team of esteemed mental health thought leaders on Genomind’s Scientific Advisory Board

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.— May 13, 2019— Genomind, a leader in genetics-based mental healthcare, today announced that it has strengthened its leadership position in mental health innovations by adding three thought leaders in psychiatry and neurology to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB):

  • Ruth Benca, MD, PhD, an expert on the connections between sleep and brain health, is the Chair of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of California Irvine (UCI)
  • Kathleen Brady, MD, PhD, a renowned addiction specialist, who is the Vice President for Research at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
  • Naomi Simon, MD, MSc, a prominent authority in complicated grief and posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), is a Professor of Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine, Vice Chair for Research Faculty Development and Mentorship, and Director of the Anxiety and Complicated Grief Program in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health

Drs. Benca, Brady, and Simon join a distinguished group of clinicians on Genomind’s Scientific Advisory Board, all known for their work at the forefront of psychiatric and neurologic research and clinical practice. Additional board members include:

  • Maurizio Fava, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
  • Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
  • Stephen M. Stahl, MD, PhD, University of California, San Diego
  • Rudolph E. Tanzi, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
  • Scott T. Aaronson, MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine
  • Stephen V. Faraone, PhD, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
  • Anil Malhotra, MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
  • Mark A. Stein, Ph.D., ABPP, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington

“We have been able to assemble a powerhouse of thought leadership on mental health issues – among the best in the world –  to support our goal of advancing clinical innovations that evolve mental health,” said David Krause, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer of Genomind Inc. “We are honored to have Drs. Benca, Brady, and Simonwho share our sense of urgency in expanding the tools available for improving outcomes for mental health, join our advisory board. We look forward to working with them and our other advisors to continue our important work in this field.”

As members of Genomind’s Scientific Advisory Board, Drs. Benca, Brady, and Simon will provide clinical and patient perspective to guide development and utilization of Genomind’s innovative mental health pharmacogenomics tests. In addition, they will add their particular areas of expertise, alongside the other members of the Genomind SAB, to steer Genomind’s future innovations in the mental health treatment landscape.

Ruth Benca MD, PhD

Dr. Ruth Benca is an internationally recognized authority on the relationship between sleep and brain health, including neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to chairing the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at UCI, she has built a comprehensive sleep medicine center focused on providing clinical care for sleep disorders and developing a world-class translational research program. She has a broad background in basic and clinical sleep research and has served as principal or co-investigator on numerous projects funded by NIH and the Department of Defense. She is the former Director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at the University of Wisconsin, a past president of the Sleep Research Society (SRS), former board member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Benca received her undergraduate education at Harvard University and her MD degree and a PhD in Pathology from the University of Chicago. She completed a residency in Psychiatry and a fellowship in Sleep Medicine, also at the University of Chicago

Kathleen Brady, MD, PhD

Dr. Kathleen Brady has been conducting scientific investigations and clinical work in the field of addictions and psychiatric disorders for over 30 years. Her research focuses on pharmacotherapy of substance use disorders, comorbidity of psychiatric disorders and addictions, gender differences and women’s issues in addictions, and the neurobiological connections between stress and addictions. She has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles and co-edited 10 books. In addition to her role as Vice President of Research at MUSC, she is the principal Investigator of MUSC’s Clinical and Translational Science Award, Principal Investigator of the Southern Consortium Node of the NIDA-funded Clinical Trials Network and Director of MUSC’s Women’s Research Center. She is also President of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM). Dr. Brady received her bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, a doctorate in pharmacology from the Medical College of Virginia, and her medical degree with a residency in psychiatry from MUSC.

Naomi M. Simon, MD, MSc

In addition to her roles at NYU Langone Health, Dr. Naomi Simon’s work includes serving as a Senior Advisor to NYU’s Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic. She has over 20 years of experience conducting clinical and translational research in anxiety, depression, complicated grief and stress related disorders. She is the former Director of the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and former Chief Medical Officer at Home Base. In this role, she guided development of a novel clinical care model and the Home Base Training Institute to address the unmet needs of returning veterans and their families impacted by deployment related stress, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Simon received an MD from Harvard Medical School and completed a medical internship and residency in psychiatry at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital/ New York State Psychiatric Institute. She completed fellowship training in consultation psychiatry at MGH and has a Masters in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.

“Drs. Benca, Brady, and Simon bring key expertise in sleep, substance abuse, and PTSD to our accomplished advisory team,” said Shawn Patrick O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer, Genomind Inc. “As a leading mental health care company, we are fortunate to have earned the dedication of many renowned researchers and clinicians to support our product development, and reaffirm our commitment to engage with clinical innovators in psychiatric medicine to continue addressing patient needs.”

About Genomind

Genomind is a leading mental health care company, delivering the genetic testing tools that empower clinicians to optimize treatment decisions and create better outcomes for patients with mental illnesses. As the scientific leader in genetic testing, Genomind offers the most comprehensive mental health genetic test and services available. Supported by a world-class genetics lab and unique consultative approach, Genomind is advancing a new paradigm of personalized medicine in mental health care. Learn more at www.genomind.com.

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