VCU Researcher Recognized as One of Virginia’s Outstanding Scientists for 2012

By Sathya Achia Abraham

Gov. Bob McDonnell has named Kenneth Kendler, M.D., professor of psychiatry, and human and molecular genetics in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, as one of the state’s Outstanding Scientists of 2012 for his contributions to the field of psychiatric genetics.

The Virginia’s Outstanding Scientist program honors scientists who excel in research and their commitment to science. The honorees have shown a recent contribution to scientific research that extends the boundaries of any field in science or a technological development.

Kendler is recognized as “one of the top psychiatric geneticists in the world and is one of the most internationally cited researchers in behavioral medicine,” according to a press release from the governor’s office.

This year, in addition to Kendler, Richard L. Guerrant, M.D., the Thomas H. Hunter professor of International Medicine and director for the Center of Global Health at the University of Virginia, and John D. Milliman, Ph.D., a Chancellor Professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at the College of William and Mary, were also selected. They will be honored during the Science Museum of Virginia’s General Assembly Reception on Jan. 19.

Since the early 1980s, Kendler has studied the genetics of psychiatric and substance use disorders including schizophrenia, major depression, alcoholism, personality disorders and nicotine dependence. His work has focused both on large-scale twin studies, clarifying the developmental pathways through which genes and environment contribute to risk of illness, and on molecular studies, identifying the nature of specific genes that influence vulnerability to schizophrenia, alcoholism and nicotine dependence.

In recent years, Kendler has written a range of papers examining key conceptual and philosophical issues in psychiatry. These include the relationship of mind and brain, the limitations of reductionist models of psychiatric illness and the need, given the highly multifactorial nature of psychiatric illness, to integrate scientific approaches that include genetic, biological, psychological and social-environmental perspectives.

In 1984, Kendler, together with VCU colleague Lindon Eaves, M.D., distinguished professor of human genetics and co-director of VCU’s Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, initiated the largest, most comprehensive twin study of psychiatric and drug use disorders conducted in the United States based on 20,000 interviews with twins and their parents.

As the director of the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics at VCU, Kendler leads a world-renowned team of behavioral scientists who are attempting to more clearly understand the genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Working with key colleagues at VCU, especially Michael Neale, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, psychology, and human and molecular genetics in the VCU School of Medicine, and Lindon Eaves, Kendler has played an important role in the development of a number of statistical and developmental models used by both the academic and scientific communities to understand the genetic and environmental factors contributing to a range of psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. Together with Michael Miles, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the VCU Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Neurology, Kendler co-directs the VCU Alcohol Research Center.

This past summer, Kendler was honored not once, but twice as the recipient of the Ming Stung Lifetime achievement award from the International Society for Psychiatric Genetics, and with the Jean Delay Prize from the World Psychiatric Association. The latter award is sometimes regarded as the “Nobel Prize” of psychiatry. Kendler is only the second American psychiatrist to be honored with the Jean Delay Prize.

This fall, Kendler, together with Dr. Danielle Dick, also from the VCU School of Medicine, launched a project titled, “Spit for Science: The VCU Student Survey,” which provides incoming VCU freshman an opportunity to participate in a survey and DNA collection focusing on mental health and substance use.

Kendler has published more than 640 articles in peer-reviewed journals and serves on several important editorial boards. He is the editor of Psychological Medicine and is a member of the Institute of Medicine.

Throughout his career, he has been honored with many national and international awards for his research contributions. He received his medical and psychiatric training at Stanford University and Yale University, respectively.