Wendy R Kates, PhD

3012 Institute For Human Performance
505 Irving Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13210

315 464-3270

Current Appointments

• Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Hospital Campus

• Downtown

Web Resources

• Professional Site

Education & Fellowships

• BS: University of Chicago
• PhD: University of Chicago

Web Resources

• Professional Site

Publications

Link to PubMed (Opens new window. Close the PubMed window to return to this page.)

Research Abstract

Our laboratory studies the brain and behavioral development of children with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS). VCFS is caused by a microdeletion in the long arm of chromosome 22 (22q.11) and is associated with craniofacial anomalies, cardiac defects, learning disabilities, and psychiatric disorders. Up to 30% of adults with VCFS develop schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Study participants are administered a battery of neuropsychological and psychiatric testing, smooth pursuit eye tracking tasks, as well as a brain MRI scan. Subjects are evaluated at Time 1 and again three years later, at Time 2. Our aim is to determine 1) the phenomenology and natural history of child psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with VCFS, and 2) whether abnormalities in brain morphology and putative biomarkers of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (which include eye tracking performance, sustained attention, and working memory), are present and co-occur in children and adolescents with VCFS. Ultimately, we hope to determine whether subjects who display brain abnormalities and putative biomarkers for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder deteriorate in adaptive/psychosocial function or mood regulation between Time 1 and Time 2.