Background

Jonathan Sebat is a leader in the field of psychiatric genetics and an expert in the genomic characterization of autism, schizophrenia and related mental health conditions by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). His research has made substantial contributions to our current knowledge of the contribution of rare and de novo genetic variants to neuropsychiatric disorders including, autism, schizophrenia and mood disorders. His early work led to the initial discovery of the widespread abundance of structural variation (SV) in the human genome. His research on the application of genome sequencing to autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia has served to elucidate the role of rare and de novo mutations in these conditions. Genome-wide analysis of de novo mutations in trio families has since become the predominant approach for mapping autism genes. The field has now implicated >250 genes, many of which are now routinely reported through clinical genetic testing. His whole-genome studies of autism and other complex traits have also made new advances in understanding the interplay of rare variants, polygenic risk and environmental factors. 

Jonathan Sebat is also the Director of The Verge Center at UCSDwhich brings together a broad team of data scientists, neuroscientists and clinicians. The goal of the Verge Center is to apply molecular and cell-based assays of autism genes at scale and to apply integrative data science approaches to these data to understand the molecular, cellular and neuroanatomic pathways through which genes influence brain function and long-term clinical outcomes. 

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