Cathy Barr: Genetics and neurobiology of childhood psychiatric and cognitive disorders

Cathy Barr completed her Ph.D. in molecular biology at the University of Texas, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) in Houston, Texas, followed by postdoctoral training in the genetics of complex behaviors at Yale University and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Currently serving as a Senior Scientist at both the Hospital for Sick Children and the Krembil Research Institute (University Health Network) and as a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Physiology at The University of Toronto, Dr. Barr investigates the genetic foundations of behavior, cognition, and psychiatric disorders with established genetic predispositions. Her research mainly focuses on childhood-onset conditions, including depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, reading disabilities, and Tourette syndrome, with special emphasis on understanding shared risk factors across disorders – a critical area given that children with neurodevelopmental disorders face a fivefold increased risk of depression. Through innovative approaches, Dr. Barr and her research team have successfully identified risk-contributing genes. They are investigating how DNA variations in these genes influence gene function and neural cell behavior. In this Genomic Press Interview, she generously shares insights from her groundbreaking research into the genetic underpinnings of childhood psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.