Luminaries in the study of psychiatric genomics joined the Mount Sinai community in celebrating the work of the late Pamela Sklar, MD, PhD, a groundbreaking psychiatrist and neuroscientist who made major discoveries that established the genetic roots of mental illness.
In her honor, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai launched the annual “Advances in Psychiatric Genomics” lecture, held on Monday, April 16, in Goldwurm Auditorium, and renamed the division she created—now one of the best in the nation—the Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics. Dr. Sklar was Chair of the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences.
Celebrating her trailblazing research—and presenting their own—were scientists from the National Institute of Mental Health, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, and the Icahn School of Medicine, among others. Attendees also included Dr. Sklar’s husband, Andrew Chess, MD, Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences; Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology; and Neuroscience; and their children, Michael and Isabel. The day after the event, the inaugural “Get Psyched” 5k Run/ Walk was held in Central Park to benefit the newly named division.
“Pamela was perhaps one of the bravest people I’ve ever met,” said Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System. “She led a revolution in the study of the genetic basis of mental illness, showing that hundreds of genes are implicated, not just a handful as was previously believed. It took courage to challenge the prevailing point of view.”
“With a keen intellect and an unusual force of personality, Dr. Sklar was both an outstanding scientist who changed the field of psychiatric disease and a beloved mentor to students and young scientists,” said Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience; Director of The Friedman Brain Institute; and Dean for Academic and Scientific Affairs.
Kristen Brennand, PhD, Associate Professor, Genetics and Genomics, Neuroscience and Psychiatry, added: “In memory of Pamela Sklar, it was incredibly meaningful to spend a day surrounded by her closest friends and collaborators, hearing stories of the psychiatric genetics of lore as well as the newest insights from cutting-edge genetic research.”
At the inaugural “Advances in Psychiatric Genomics” lecture in honor of Pamela Sklar, MD, PhD, were, from left: Dennis S. Charney, MD; Isabel Sklar Chess; Andrew Chess, MD; Michael Sklar Chess; and Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD.
Participants in the “Get Psyched” 5k Run/Walk.