Sophia Vinogradov, MD

I am the Department Head of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota Medical School and the Donald W. Hastings Endowed Chair in Psychiatry. I was previously the Vice-Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. I received my M.D. from Wayne State University School of Medicine, obtained my psychiatry residency training at Stanford University School of Medicine, where I served as Chief Resident, and completed a Psychiatric Neurosciences Research Fellowship at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center and Stanford University.

I direct a translational clinical neuroscience laboratory that focuses on cognitive dysfunction in psychotic disorders. I study the neuroplastic effects of cognitive training on the brain with the goal of understanding how to change brain system functioning and promote recovery. Our work focuses on young adults in early phases of psychosis, with the goal of providing intensive early interventions to ensure optimal outcomes. We have strong research collaborations with colleagues in the basic neurosciences and I co-facilitate a multi-disciplinary workgroup called Nuroplasticity Research in Support of Mental Health (NeuroPRSMH).

My work has contributed to a growing interest in the use of computerized “brain training” to treat brain information processing abnormalities. I was a participant at the past White House conference on “Video Games to Enhance Attention and Well-Being." Professional and public service have also been a key focus of my career. I am a member of the Senior Women’s Leadership Group at the Society of Biological Psychiatry and Deputy Editor of Schizophrenia Research Journal. Within my department, I lead the Clinical Neuroscience curriculum for the residency program.

University of Minnesota

• Dean’s Distinguished Research Lecture and Award 2018

External Sources

• NAMI Exemplary Scientist 2022
• NAMI National Scientific Research Award 2017
• Cited in Brain and Behavior’s 2012 Major Discoveries 2012
• Alexander Gralnick Award for Research in Schizophrenia, American Psychiatric Foundation 2011

• National Institute of Mental Health, National Advisory Mental Health Council 2019–present
• American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry 2017–present
• Entertainment Software and Cognitive Neurotherapeutics Society, Founder 2011–present
• American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Fellow 2009–present
• Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS) 2008–present
• Scientific Advisory Board 2013–present
• Society for Neuroscience 2003–present
• Society of Biological Psychiatry 1984–present
• Scientific Program Committee 2013–2017
• Women’s Leadership Group 2016–present

Peer-Reviewed Publication (most recent 10)

1. Vinogradov S, Fisher M, Nahum M. Social Cognitive Training Improves Measures of Reward Processing in Schizophrenia. Bio Psych. 2019 May 15. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.03.161.
2. Subramaniam K, Biagianti B, Hooker C, Fisher M, Nagarjan S, Vinogradov S. Social Cognitive Training Enhances Neural Activation Patterns Associated with Reward Processing in Schizophrenia. Bio Psych . 2019 May 15. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.03.159.
3. Morishita H, Vinogradov S . Neuroplasticity and dysplasticity processes in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2019 May 01. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.03.008 .
4. Ramsay I, Fryer S, Roach B, Boos A, Fisher M, Loewy R, Ford J, Vinogradov S, Mathalon D. Changes in frontal and temporal cortical thickness correlate with global cognitive change s following targeted cognitive training in schizophrenia. Schizo Bull. 2019 Apr 09. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbz021.233.
5. Subramaniam K, Biagianti B, Hooker C, Fisher M, Nagarajan S, Vinogradov S. Social cognitive training improves motivation to earn rewarding outcomes in psychosis. 2019 Apr 09. doi: 10.1093/schubul/sbz022.015.
6. Kambeitz-Ilankovic L, Koutsouleris N, Wenzel J, Hass S, Fisher M, Vinogradov S, Subramaniam K. Individualized prediction of functional outcomes in schizophrenia patients in response to neuro-cognitive intervention: A machine learning analysis. Schizo Bull. 2019 Apr 09. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbz022.016
7. Jahshan C, Vinogradov S, Wynn JK, Hellemann G, Green M. A randomized controlled trial comparing a “bottom-up” and “top-down” approach to cognitive training in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2019 Feb 01. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.11.027.
8. Roach BJ, Ford JM, Biagianti B, Hamilton HK, Ramsay IS, Fisher MA, Loewy R, Vinogradov S , Mathalon DH. Efference copy/corollary discharge function and targeted cognitive training in patients with schizophrenia. International Journal of Psychophysiology . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.12.015.
9. Sathianathen NJ, Fan Y, Jarosek SL, Konety I, Weight CJ, Vinogradov S , & Konety BR. (2019). Disparities in Bladder Cancer Treatment and Survival Amongst Elderly Patients with a Pre-existing Mental Illness. European Urology Focus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euf.2019.02.007
10. Biagianti B, Fisher MA, Brandrett B, Schlosser D, Loewy R, Nahum M, Vinogradov, S. (2019). Development and testing of a web-based battery to remotely assess cognitive 10 August 2020 health in individuals with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.01.047