About

Founding of the Molecular Psychiatry Association

The Molecular Psychiatry Association was co-founded in 2013 by Robert Malenka, M.D., Ph.D. (Stanford University) and William Byerley, M.D., UCSF following a discussion recognizing the need for a West Coast–based scientific meeting in psychiatry. At the time, most major conferences were centered on the East Coast, leaving a geographic and intellectual gap for researchers in the western United States. The founders envisioned a forum that would bring together scientists exploring the molecular and genetic bases of psychiatric disorders, reflecting the field’s shift toward understanding the molecular mechanisms through which genetic variation contributes to mental illness. The resulting annual meeting has since become a leading venue for sharing cutting-edge advances in psychiatric genetics and neuroscience.

Founded to promote research and communication of research findings that may lead to a better understanding of the molecular basis of psychiatric disorders. Varying approaches are being applied and include neurobiology, genetics, brain imaging, biomarkers, brain expression, neural stem cells, animal models and novel drug development.

The primary mission of the association is to hold a biennial meeting. Currently the MPA meeting is rotating every two years in Hawaii.

The association – as well as its biennial meeting – is open to all professionals who are interested in molecular foundations of psychiatric disorders.   Registration fees for the meeting includes a two year membership to the society. By bringing together investigators with varied molecular approaches it is hoped that cross-fertilization and collaborations will take place.

The society is affiliated with the journal, Complex Psychiatry, which was formerly Molecular Neuropsychiatry from 2017 – 2019.    

2026 Organizing Board:

  • Tracey Petryshen, President
  • Bill Byerley*, Treasurer
  • Erin Calipari
  • Zach Freyberg
  • Jens Hjerling Leffler
  • Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy
  • Conor Liston
  • Rob Malenka*
  • Katherine Roche

*Founding organizers