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OMB No. 0925-0001/0002 (Rev. 08/12 Approved Through 8/31/2015)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Provide the following information for the Senior/key personnel and other significant contributors in the order listed on Form Page 2.
Follow this format for each person. DO NOT EXCEED FIVE PAGES.
NAME:
Consuelo Walss-Bass
eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login):
walssbass
POSITION TITLE:
Associate Professor
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing,
include postdoctoral training and residency training if applicable. Add/delete rows as necessary.)
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
Instituto Tecnologico de la Laguna
Torreon, MX
University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
University of Texas Health Science Center
San Antonio, TX
University of Texas Health Science Center
San Antonio, TX
DEGREE
(if
applicable)
Completion
Date
MM/YYYY
B.S.
1992
Chemical Engineering
M.S.
1995
Chemistry
Ph.D.
2001
Biochemistry
Post
doctoral
2005
Psychiatric Genetics
FIELD OF STUDY
A. Personal Statement
My research focuses on the understanding of psychiatric disorders at the molecular level. For the past 12
years I have been involved in the identification of genes and genetic variants associated with psychiatric
disorders. I have successfully identified novel variants in several genes that play important roles in
neurobiological pathways and are promising schizophrenia candidate genes. I now utilize genomic and
proteomic approaches in human and animal models to correlate genetic variants with cellular and brain
function in order to understand the molecular mechanisms that are involved in development and expression of
mental illnesses, as well as in regulation of treatment response. With the aid of NIMH awards I identified a
novel schizophrenia-associated neuregulin 1 (NRG1) missense mutation and have used genomic and
proteomic approaches to determine how it disrupts gene expression and cell signaling. I recently joined the
Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston as the Director of the
Psychiatric Genetics Program. I have extensive experience with genomic and proteomic methodologies and
genotype-phenotype correlations.
B. Positions and Honors
Positions and Employment
Mar 1996-Jan 2001: Graduate Research Associate, Dept. of Biochemistry, UTHSCSA
Mentor: Richard F. Ludueña, Ph. D.
Sep 2001-Mar 2002. Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Psychiatry, UTHSCSA
Mentor: Marty Javors, Ph.D.
Sep 2001-Aug 2005: Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Psychiatry, UTHSCSA
Mentor: Michael Escamilla, M.D.
Sep 2005-Aug 2010: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UTHSCSA
Sep 2011-Present: Associate Professor, with tenure, Department of Psychiatry, UTHSCSA
Sep 2011-May 2014: Director, Functional Genomics Program, Department of Psychiatry, UTHSCSA
May 2014-Present: Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UTHSCH
OMB No. 0925-0001/0002 (Rev. 08/12 Approved Through 8/31/2015)
May 2014-Present: Director, Psychiatric Genetics Program, Department of Psychiatry, UTHSCH
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
2008-present Member, Society of Biological Psychiatry
2010-present Member, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
2009
NIMH Genomic Technologies in Mental Disorders, Grant Reviewer
2013
NIMH Biobehavioral Research Award for Innovative New Scientists (BRAINS), Grant Reviewer
2013
NIH Behavioral Genetics and Epidemiology Study Section, ad hoc reviewer
2013
NIH Behavioral Genetics and Epidemiology Study Section, ad hoc reviewer
2013
Veterans Affair Neurobiology Scientific Review Study, ad hoc reviewer
2013
NIH NICHD Fragile X Centers Grant Reviewer
2013
NIMH K99/R00 grant reviewer
2013
Veterans Affair Neurobiology Scientific Review Study, ad hoc reviewer
2014
NIH NICHD Fragile X Centers Grant Reviewer
2014
NIMH BRAIN Initiative Grant Reviewer
2014-2018
Editor, PLoS One
2014-2018
Regular member NIH Behavioral Genetics and Epidemiology Study Section (BGES)
Honors and Awards
1999 Les Societe de Secours de Amis des Sciences Research Fellowship, a 2 month award to do research
in Paris, France awarded by nobel laureate Jean Dausset.
2002 NIMH Minority Investigator Research Supplement, 3 year award
2002 Travel Fellowship to attend the Xth World Congress on Psychiatric Genetics, Brussels
2004 Travel Fellowship to attend the XIIth World Congress on Psychiatric Genetics, Dublin
2004 NARSAD Young Investigator research award
2005 Stanley Medical Research Institute, 2 year research award
2005 San Antonio Area Foundation Research Award, 18 months award
2007 NARSAD Young Investigator research award
2007 Stanley Medical Research Institute, 2 year research award
2008 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Early Career Development Fellowship Award (3 year
award to attend the ACNP meetings)
2008 International Congress of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress, Best Poster Award, Munich 2008
2008 NIMH K01 Career Development Award, 5 year research award
2009 BRAINS NIMH award for Innovative New Scientists in Biobehavioral Research, a 5 year R01 grant.
2009 National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Scientist of the Year Award: Award given by NAMI, San
Antonio Chapter, to honor efforts of scientists who work in the field of psychiatric disorders and are
involved in educating the community.
2010 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Associate Membership: By invitation only.
2014 CAPES grant from the Brazilian government. Invited as visiting professor to PUCRS University in Porto
Alegre, Brazil. November-December 2014.
C. Contribution to Science
•
My early work focused on identification of genes involved in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the
population isolate of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. I initially used genetic markers to narrow down
chromosomal regions that showed evidence of association, and then sequenced individuals who had
evidence of association of haplotypes in the regions of interest. I was very fortunate to identify previously
unknown variants associated with schizophrenia.
1. Walss-Bass C, Liu W, Lew DF, Montero AP, Dassori A, Leach R, Almasy L, Escamilla MA, Raventos H.
(2006) A novel misense mutation in the transmembrane domain of neuregulin 1 is associated with
schizophrenia. Biological Psychiatry 60(6):548-53.
2. Chavarría-Siles I, Walss-Bass C, Quezada P, Dassori A, Contreras S, Medina R, Ramírez M, Armas R,
Salazar S, Leach RJ, Raventos H, Escamilla MA. (2007). TGFB-induced factor (TGIF): a Candidate gene for
psychosis on chromosome 18p. Molecular Psychiatry 12(11):1033-41.
OMB No. 0925-0001/0002 (Rev. 08/12 Approved Through 8/31/2015)
3. Walss-Bass C. Soto-Bernardini MC, Johnson-Pais T, Leach RJ, Ontiveros A, Nicolini H, Mendoza R,
Jerez A, Dassori A, Chavarria-Siles I, Escamilla MA, Raventos H. (2009) Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase: A
Novel Schizophrenia Candidate Gene. Am. J. Med. Genet. B Neuropsychiatr Genet 150B(2):219-25.
•
In addition to the contributions described above, I have performed studies involving genotype-brain
phenotype correlations, such as those proposed in the current study. Also, I have performed functional
studies using genomic and proteomic approaches to correlate genetic variants with disruption of cellular
function. These studies contribute to further our understanding of how identified genetic variants modulate
cell and brain function, and how this may lead to development of psychiatric disorders.
4. Frey BN, Walss-Bass C, Stanley JA, Nery FG, Matsuo K, Nicoletti MA, Hatch JP, Bowden CL, Escamilla
MA, Soares JC (2007). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor val66met polymorphism affects prefrontal energy
metabolism in bipolar disorder. Neuroreport 18(15):1567-70.
5. Matsuo K, Walss-Bass C, Nery FG, Nicoletti MA, Hatch JP, Frey BN, Monkul ES, Zunta GB, Bowden CL,
Escamilla MA, Soares JC (2009) Neuronal Correlates of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met
Polymorphism and Morphometric Abnormalities in Bipolar Disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 34(8):1904-13.
6. Marballi K, Quinones MP, Jimenez F, Escamilla MA, Raventos H, Soto-Bernardini MC, Ahuja SS, WalssBass C (2010). In Vivo and In Vitro Genetic Evidence of Involvement of Neuregulin 1 in Immune System
Dysregulation. J. Mol. Med. 88(11):1133-41.
7. Moskovitz J, Walss-Bass C, Cruz DA, Thompson PM, Hairston J, Bortolato M (2015). The enzymatic
activities of brain COMT and methionine sulfoxide reductase are correlated in a COMT Val/Met alleledependent fashion. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. [Epub ahead of print].
8. Marballi KK, McCullumsmith RE, Yates S, Escamilla ME, Leach RJ, Raventos H, Walss-Bass C. (2014)
Global signaling effects of a schizophrenia-associated missense mutation in neuregulin 1: an exploratory
study using whole genome and novel kinome approaches. Journal of Neural Transmission 121(5):479-90.
•
Atypical (or second generation) antipsychotics are the most common and effective type of medication
currently used to treat schizophrenia. However, treatment with atypical antipsychotics is known to cause
metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients, and my work has led to identification of alterations mitochondrial
energy metabolism as a possible cause for these effects.
9. Walss-Bass C, Weintraub ST, Hatch J, Mintz J, Chaudhuri AR (2008). Clozapine causes oxidation of
proteins involved in energy metabolism: a possible mechanism for antipsychotic-induced metabolic
alterations. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2008 Dec;11(8):1097-104. doi: 10.1017/S1461145708008882.
Epub 2008 May 9
10. Contreras-Shannon V, Heart DL, Paredes RM, Navaira E, Catano G, Maffi SK, Walss-Bass C
(2013). Clozapine-induced mitochondria alterations and inflammation in brain and insulin-responsive
cells. PLoS One. 2013; 8(3):e59012.
11. Paredes RM, Quinones MP, Marballi KK, Gao X, Valdez C, Ahuja SS, Velligan DI, Walss-Bass C. (2014)
Metabolomic Profiling of Schizophrenia Patients at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome. International Journal of
Neuropsychopharmacology Feb 25:1-10.
•
Much of my current work focuses on identification of biological markers in psychiatric disorders, both at the
gene and protein level, in both animal and human models.
12. Marballi K, Cruz D, Thompson P, Walss-Bass C. Differential Neuregulin 1 Cleavage in the Prefrontal
Cortex and Hippocampus in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: Preliminary Findings. PLoS ONE (2012)
7(5):E36431.
13. Dimitrov DH, Lee S, Yantis J, Valdez C, Paredes RM, Braida N, Velligan D, Walss-Bass C. (2013).
Differential correlations between inflammatory cytokines and psychopathology in veterans with schizophrenia:
Potential role for IL-17 pathway. Schizophr Res. 151(1-3):29-35.
14. Walss-Bass C, Fernandes JM, Service H, Velligan D, Roberts DL (2013). Differential correlations between
plasma oxytocin and social cognitive capacity and bias in schizophrenia. Schizophr. Res. 147(2-3):387-92.
15. Moskovitz J, Walss-Bass C, Cruz DA, Thompson PM, Bortolato M. (2014) Methionine sulfoxide reductase
regulates brain catechol-O-methyl transferase activity. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 15:1-7.
OMB No. 0925-0001/0002 (Rev. 08/12 Approved Through 8/31/2015)
D. Research Support (Active)
NIMH 5P30MH086045-2 (Bowden, PI) 9/20/11-6/30/16
Optimizing Outcomes in Bipolar Illness Interventions in Hispanic Communities
An Advanced Center for Interventions and/or Service Research was established to conduct research that will
personalize community based treatment of bipolar disorders to improve outcomes. We will investigate
interactions of cultural factors, adherence and engagement, behavioral domains and biological factors with
outcomes, thereby providing a model that can transform current diagnostic and treatment paradigms for bipolar
disorder. A major aim of this proposal is to better develop our understanding of bipolar disorder in the Hispanic
American population, in particular the impact of acculturation on adherence to treatment programs.
Role: Sub-contract PI
Completed
NIMH R01 MH087493. Period 09/17/09-05/14/14 $2,413,068
Immune System & Genetic Modulation of Brain Development & Behavior in Adolescence. Aims: To investigate
genes involved in regulation of the inflammatory response during the adolescent developmental period, in
order to detect early signs of abnormal brain development and behavior.
Role: Principal Investigator
NIMH R01 MH087493-S1 Period 05/16/12-05/14/14
$90,819
Immune System & Genetic Modulation of Brain Development & Behavior in Adolescence
The goal of the study is to investigate telomere length in adolescents at risk for depression
Role: Principal Investigator
NIMH K01 MH077777. Period 02/28/2008-12/31/012 $745,196.
Aims: To correlate allelic variations with functionality in schizophrenia.
Role: Principal Investigator
NARSAD Young Investigator Award. Period 07/01/2007-07/31/2010 $60,000. Aims: To correlate a novel
neuregulin 1 missense mutation with functionality.
Role: Principal Investigator
The Stanley Medical Research Institute. Period 08/01/2007-08/31/2010 $149,638. Aims: To investigate geneenvironment interactions in schizophrenia in the population of Costa Rica.
Role: Principal Investigator
Stanley Medical Research Institute: Period 07/01/05-07/01/07. $150,000. Aims: Proteomic analysis to identify
protein oxidation in schizophrenia.
Role: Principal Investigator
NARSAD Young Investigator Award. Period 07/01/04-07-31-06. $60,000.
Aims: Association of Neuregulin 1 and G72 Genes with Schizophrenia in the Hispanic Populate Isolate of
Costa Rica.
Roel: Principal Investigator
NIH/Fogarty International Center, US/Costa Rica Psychiatric Genetics Research Training Program, Period
09/19/2002-08/31/2007 $400,000. Aims: to develop a core of researchers in the area of psychiatric genetics
research, from the country of Costa Rica.
Role: Co-investigator/mentor