Kristen Brennand

Kristen Brennand is the Elizabeth Mears and House Jameson Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Genetics at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Her mission is to unravel the mysteries of the human genome within a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive training environment. Her research combines expertise in human stem cell models, genomic engineering, and neuroscience to identify the mechanisms that underlie brain development, traits, and disease. Understanding the basic biology governing the complex interplay between genetic variants and the environment will springboard the development of novel, personalized approaches to improve health and prevent disease. She is committed to achieving more equitable training for the next generation of rigorous scientists, compassionate physicians, and collaborative teams of cross-disciplinary researchers. Toward this, she is spearheading the Yale School of Medicine Science Fellows Program, a recruitment and training pathway for the structured promotion to faculty of recent graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds.