In the news
What is Clinical Research?
Clinical research refers to the study of human health and disease. We can study medicine at many levels. For example, the bacteria that cause disease can be viewed through a microscope and studied, or researchers can use mice to study a disease process that affects humans. The key feature of clinical research is that it involves the study of humans.
What are the different types of Clinical Research?
Human studies can vary depending on what the researchers are interested in learning. Types of clinical research include:
- Treatment studies – evaluating which medical interventions work best for a disease
- Prevention studies – evaluating how to prevent a disease from starting or progressing
- Diagnostic studies – evaluating how best to reach a medical diagnosis
- Genetic studies – evaluating which gene(s) cause, or increase risk for, a disease
- Epidemiological studies – identifying patterns, causes, and control of a disease
WBMA's Contribution to Clinical Research
At Washington Behavioral Medicine Associates, we don't just follow evidence-based practices - we help create them. Under the leadership of Dr. Gonzalo Laje, our team has contributed to groundbreaking research that advances the field of psychiatry and directly informs the innovative treatments we offer our patients.
Dr. Laje's extensive research portfolio includes 57+ peer-reviewed publications in leading psychiatric and genetics journals, with work that has been cited extensively in the scientific literature and featured in major media outlets including The New York Times.
Our Research Focus Areas
WBMA's research contributions span multiple critical areas of psychiatric care:
- Pharmacogenetics & Personalized Medicine - Understanding how genetic variations affect medication response to optimize treatment outcomes
- Ketamine & Novel Therapeutics - Investigating ketamine's mechanisms and efficacy for treatment-resistant depression
- Neuroimaging & Brain Structure - Large-scale collaborative studies examining brain structure and psychiatric conditions
- Treatment Response Prediction - Developing genetic and clinical markers to predict which treatments will work best for individual patients
- Rare Genetic Disorders - Advancing diagnostic precision for complex neuropsychiatric conditions
Key Research Publications
Below are select publications that directly inform the evidence-based treatments available at WBMA. Each represents a contribution to understanding and improving mental health care.
- Relationship of ketamine's plasma metabolites with response, diagnosis, and side effects in major depression
Biological Psychiatry, 2012 - This groundbreaking research on ketamine therapy directly supports WBMA's ketamine-assisted treatment protocols and helps predict which patients are most likely to benefit from this innovative treatment. | View Publication - The DISC locus and schizophrenia: evidence from an association study in a central European sample and from a meta-analysis across different European populations
Human Molecular Genetics, 2009 - Pharmacogenetics research that informs WBMA's genetic testing approach to psychiatric medication optimization. | View Publication - The International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen): an initiative by the NIMH and IGSLI to study the genetic basis of response to lithium treatment
Neuropsychobiology, 2010 - Multi-institutional collaboration studying the genetic basis of lithium treatment response in bipolar disorder, advancing precision psychiatry and treatment personalization. | View Publication - Delayed diagnosis in a house of correction: Smith-Magenis syndrome due to a de novo nonsense RAI1 variant
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 2016 - Case study demonstrating the importance of comprehensive genetic testing in reaching accurate diagnoses for complex neuropsychiatric presentations. | View Publication - Identification of common variants associated with human hippocampal and intracranial volumes
Nature Genetics, 2012 - Large-scale genome-wide association study identifying genetic variants associated with brain structure, advancing understanding of how genetics influence brain development and psychiatric vulnerability. | View Publication - The ENIGMA Consortium: large-scale collaborative analyses of neuroimaging and genetic data
Brain Imaging and Behavior, 2014 - Multi-site collaborative research examining relationships between brain structure, genetics, and psychiatric disorders through advanced neuroimaging techniques. | View Publication - Combining schizophrenia and depression polygenic risk scores improves the genetic prediction of lithium response in bipolar disorder patients
Translational Psychiatry, 2021 - Recent research demonstrating how combining genetic risk scores can improve prediction of lithium treatment response, supporting precision psychiatry approaches. | View Publication - Pathway-Specific Polygenic Scores for Predicting Clinical Lithium Treatment Response in Patients With Bipolar Disorder
Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 2025 - Latest research advancing personalized treatment approaches by identifying specific biological pathways that predict lithium response in bipolar disorder. | View Publication
From Research to Practice: Evidence-Based Care at WBMA
The research conducted by Dr. Laje and collaborating institutions doesn't remain in academic journals - it directly informs the treatment protocols, diagnostic approaches, and innovative therapies we offer at WBMA. When you choose our practice, you benefit from:
- Cutting-edge treatments informed by the latest research, including ketamine therapy and neuromodulation
- Genetic testing services that personalize medication selection based on pharmacogenetic research
- Precision psychiatry approaches that predict treatment response before starting therapy
- Comprehensive diagnostic expertise for complex and treatment-resistant conditions
- Evidence-based protocols validated through rigorous clinical research
This commitment to research excellence ensures that WBMA patients receive care grounded in the most current scientific understanding of mental health treatment.
Collaborative Research Excellence
Dr. Laje's research portfolio includes collaborations with leading institutions worldwide:
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - Former Associate Clinical Investigator conducting research on psychiatric genetics and clinical trials
- Nature Genetics - Contributions to high-impact genetic research in major scientific journals
- International Consortia - Participation in global research efforts like ConLiGen and ENIGMA
- Major Academic Medical Centers - Collaborative studies with Columbia University, NYU, and other leading institutions
These collaborations ensure that WBMA remains at the forefront of psychiatric innovation and evidence-based care.
Research Impact: Dr. Laje's work has been cited extensively in psychiatric literature and covered by major media outlets including The New York Times. As a co-inventor on two patents, his contributions extend beyond academic research to practical clinical applications that benefit patient care.
