Jehannine Austin

Jehannine Austin

Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience and Translational Psychiatry and UBC Department of Medical Genetics

Researcher, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Head

Director, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services’ Research Institute

Canada Research Chair in Translational Psychiatric Genomics

Email: jehannine.austin@ubc.ca

Short Biography

Dr. Jehannine Austin is the Executive director of the BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute and Professor in Psychiatry & Medical Genetics. They are a board-certified genetic counselor and their research work involves studying the impact of genetic counseling for people with psychiatric disorders and their families. Dr. Austin heads the Translational Psychiatric Genetics Group which includes the world’s first specialist psychiatric genetic counselling service. They are a member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Research Focus

Dr. Austin’s work aims to make psychiatric genetics relevant to people with mental illness and their families by developing new counseling-based and biologically-based treatments.

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications

How to Talk with Families About Genetics and Psychiatric Illness, Holly Landrum Peay & Jehannine Claire Austin, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 2011

Significant Accomplishments & Professional Contribution

Digital Media