The New York Genome Center (NYGC) announced today that internationally renowned geneticist Mary-Claire King, PhD, has joined the NYGC faculty on a consulting basis as Senior Associate Core Member. Dr. King will provide scientific leadership in the genetics of neuropsychiatric disease.

"We are delighted that Mary-Claire King is joining the Center to support our efforts to understand the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders. Dr.King's exceptional vision and pioneering leadership in genetics will advance our collaborative, inter-institutional genetic and genomic research in neuropsychiatric diseases," said Tom Maniatis, PhD, Evnin Family Scientific Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NYGC.

Dr. King is the American Cancer Society Professor in the Departments of Genome Sciences and Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. She was the first to show that breast and ovarian cancer is inherited in some families as the result of mutations in the gene that she named BRCA1. This discovery has transformed the diagnosis, drug development and treatment of this inherited form of breast cancer.

More recently, Dr. King has focused on the genetics of schizophrenia, contributing to the understanding of complex disease inheritance. In 2014, Dr. King received the Lasker Special Achievement Award for Medical Research and in 2016, the United States National Medal of Science. Dr. King is also recognized as a pioneer in the development of DNA sequencing for human rights investigations.

"I am excited to join the Center at this transformative time in its evolution," said Dr. King. "I look forward to working with the interdisciplinary team of scientists who collaborate and convene at the NYGC."

Dr. King will work closely with Dr. Thomas Lehner, the recently appointed Scientific Director of Neuropsychiatric Disease Genomics at the NYGC, and serve as a senior advisor to both Dr. Lehner and Dr. Maniatis.

About Mary-Claire King, PhD

Dr. King is the American Cancer Society Professor in the Departments of Genome Sciences and Medicine at the University of Washington. She studies the genetics of complex, common human conditions. Her primary areas of interest are breast and ovarian cancer and genetic influences on major mental illness, especially schizophrenia. She was the first scientist to show that breast cancer is inherited in some families as the result of mutations in the BRCA1 gene. This discovery and her subsequent research on the genetics of schizophrenia and of hearing loss have helped transform the understanding of complex disease inheritance. Recognized as a pioneer in the development of DNA sequencing for human rights investigations, Dr. King has carried out identification of victims of human rights violations for the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal. She has served as consultant to the Commission on the Disappearance of Persons of the Republic of Argentina.