Russell Louis Margolis, M.D.

My research interests revolve around the interface of psychiatry, neurology, and genetics. A major focus is on the etiology, pathogenesis, and psychiatric aspects of neurodegenerative disorders affecting the cerebellum and basal ganglia, including Huntington’s disease and Huntington’s disease-like 2 and spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 (both discovered by our group). We are particularly interested in the etiologic and pathogenic properties of unstable DNA, RNA toxicity, and bidirectional transcription. A second emphasis is on the genetic etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenia, particularly the role of rare mutations of major effect, using cell and mouse models. A third interest, the focus of the Schizoaffective Disorder Precision Medicine Center of Excellence, is in understanding different subtypes of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder as defined by treatment responsiveness. Approaches include cognitive and clinical assessments, advanced MRI and EEG measures, biochemical analysis of patient-derived cells, and mining of large data sets.  Related projects include the development of new MRI and EEG methodology.  A fourth area of research, facilitated by our participation in a consortium of recent onset psychosis clinics in Maryland and Pennsylvania, focuses on diagnosis and care delivery to individuals with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Please visit my lab website, the Schizoaffective Disorder Precision Medicine Center of Excellence, and Connection Learning Health System (recent onset psychosis clinic consortium) for more information.