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Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, F282/2A West Building, 2450 Riverside Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55454
I graduated from the University of Chicago with honors in psychology before completing an MD/PhD program in Neurobiology. I went to UCLA for general psychiatry training and completed an extended clinical-research child fellowship at UIC. I am board certified in general adult as well as child & adolescent psychiatry. I also serve as the Chief Medical and Sciences Officer for Fraser as they integrate biomedical services and become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.
My primary focus as a scientist and clinician is to advance our understanding of neurodevelopment. These efforts build on my PhD work in neuroscience investigating the biological mechanisms underlying social behaviors and interactions. My current research focuses on novel and data-driven approaches to elucidate developmental trajectories. I co-lead the CANlab (Converging Approaches to Neurodevelopment) with Dr. Christine Conelea. My team investigates biobehavioral differences that predict dimensional outcomes or categorical psychiatric disorders; this includes testing new measures and using alternative statistical and machine learning analyses to delineate developmental risk profiles and to follow lifespan mental health outcomes. I have also studied biopsychosocial modulators (e.g., neurohormones) and reproductive physiology during the critical pre-/post-pubertal stage in development. After post-doctoral and clinical training, I ran an independent research wet lab and subsequently led a clinical research lab. Large genetic/phenotypic studies and multisite clinical trials have increased our knowledge through national collaborations. My clinical experience and interest in using new technologies have honed my expertise in transdiagnostic research by leveraging our ability to quickly access data from large communities.
(for academic support only)
Molly Jokimaki
[email protected]
AB, Honors, The University of Chicago College
Major: Psychology
MD, The University of Chicago College, Pritzker School
Major: Medicine
PhD, The University of Chicago College, Bio Science Division
Major: Neurobiology
Jacob, S., et al., 2022. Rare coding variation provides insight into the genetic architecture and phenotypic context of autism. Nature Genetics, 54: 1320-1331.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01104-0
PubMed ID: 35982158
Hollander, E., Jacob, S., Jou, R., McNamara, N., Sikich, L., Tobe, R., Smith, J., Saunders, K., Squassante, L., Murtagh, L., Gleissl, T., Wandel, C., Veenstra-Vanderweele, J., 2022. Balovaptan vs Placebo for Social Communication in Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 79 (8): 760-769.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.1717
PubMed ID: 35793101
Di Donato, N., Guerrini, R., Billington, C.J., Barkovich, A.J., Dinkel, P., Freri, E., Heide, M., Gershon, E.S., Gertler, T.S., Hopkin, R.J., Jacob, S., Keedy, S.K., Kooshavar, D., Lockhart, P.J., Lohmann, D.R., Mahmoud, I.G., Parrini, E., et al., 2022. Monoallelic and biallelic mutations in RELN underlie a graded series of neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain: A Journal of Neurology, 145 (9): 3274-3287.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac164
PubMed ID: 35769015
Jacob, S., Anagnostou, E., Hollander, E., Jou, R., McNamara, N., Sikich, L., Tobe, R., Murphy, D., McCracken, J., Ashford, E., Chatham, C., Clinch, S., Smith, J., Sanders, K., Murtagh, L., Noeldeke, J., Veenstra-VanderWeele, J., 2022. Large multicenter randomized trials in autism: key insights gained from the balovaptan clinical development program. Molecular Autism, 13 (15)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00505-6
DuBois*, M., Tseng*, A., Francis, S., Haynos, A., Peterson, C., Jacob, S., 2022. Utility of Downstream Biomarkers to Assess and Optimize Intranasal Delivery of Oxytocin. Pharmaceutics, 14 (6): (Article Number 1178).
doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14061178
PubMed ID: 35745751
Freeman, H., Scholl, J.L., AnisAdellatif, M., Forster, G., Jacob, S., Kaflay, S., Bam, R., Do, T., Gnimpieba, E.Z., 2022. Experimental data exploring the effects of intranasal oxytocin on young adult social preference and attachment to romantic partners, parents, friends, and strangers. Data in Brief, 42: 108283.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2022.108283
PubMed ID: 35656124
Wang, T., Kim, C., Bakken, T., Gillentine, M., Henning, B., Mao, Y., Gilissen, C., 2022. Differential extrinsic brain network connectivity and social cognitive task-specific demands in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 119 (46)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.066
PubMed ID: 36350923
Zhou, X., Feliciano, P., Shu, C., Wang, T., Astrovskaya, I., Hall, J.B., Jacob, S., 2022. Integrated gene analyses of de novo variants from 46,612 trios with autism and developmental disorders. Nature Genetics, 59 (9): 1305-1319.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2203491119
PubMed ID: 35982159
Conley, A.J., Berger, T., del Razo, R.A., Cottermann, R.F., Sahagún, E., Goetze, L.R., Jacob, S., Weinstein, T.A.R., Dufek, M.E., Mendoza, S.P., Bales, K.L., 2022. The onset of puberty in colony-housed male and female titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus): Possible effects of oxytocin treatment during peri-adolescent development. Hormones and Behavior, 142: 105157.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105157
PubMed ID: 35338890
Wodka, E., Parish-Morris, J., Annett, R., Carpenter, L., Dillon, E., Michaelson, J., Kim, S., Landa, R., Kanne, S., Jacob, S., 2021. Co-occurring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety disorders differentially affect males and females with autism. Clinical Neuropsychol., 36 (5): 1069-1093.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2021.1942554
PubMed ID: 34315336
Dr. Jacob's research interests include social neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, and genetics. Her current research focuses on biomarkers, neurochemical/genetic risk, and treatments related to hormonal systems like oxytocin.
Minnesota State Medical License
Honors in Psychology, University of Chicago
Honors in The College, University of Chicago
Merit Award for Pritzker Medical School Summer Research
Association for Chemoreception Sciences
Associate Member, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society
Growth, Development and Disabilities Training Program, University of Chicago
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Health Emotions Research Institute Scholar & Travel Awards (multiple)
Lily Executive Leadership Program, American Psychiatric Association
CCSGO and AKRI Awarded Support (multiple), Regional/National Conferences
NIH Pediatric Loan Repayment Program (multiple), Competitive Application
NIMH Travel Fellow, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Ruffin Scholarship for the 2005 AKRI Leadership Institute, AKRI & CCSGO
American Psychiatric Association (multiple)
Illinois Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training
Career Development Institute for Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh/Stanford
Laughlin Fellow, The American College of Psychiatry (multiple)
American Association of Technology in Psychiatry Fellow (multiple)
Kavli Fellow (multiple), U.S. National Academy of Sciences, France-U.S. Frontiers
Foundations of Human Social Behavior Travel Award
Autism Spectrum Intensive at Cold Spring Harbor
Mentor Award for AACAP Summer Medical Student Fellowship (multiple)
Fraser Appreciation for Service , Community Mental Health Partnership
Full Member, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
Associate Member, American College of Neurosychopharmacology
Jacob, S. "Clinical Trials and Challenges with Autism.", Oregon Health & Science University- Autism Seminar Series. November 28, 2022.
Jacob, S. "Balovaptan Phase 3 Trial: Overview, Results, and Insights from this large Clinical Trials Program. Presentation for Panel Topic: Oxytocin and Vasopressin – Where Do We Go from Here?", International Society for Autism Research, Austin, Texas. May 06, 2022.
Jacob, S. "How the Pandemic Changed our Research?", University of Minnesota Autism Inititiative. February 21, 2022.
Conelea, C. A., *Apostolou, P., *DuBois, M., *Kellman, M., Raab, B., Pryor, A., Jacob, S., Papanikolopoulous, N., Lim, K. O. "Automated Detection of Eye Tics Using a Computer Vision Approach", American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual, San Juan, Puerto Rico. December 08, 2021.
Hollander, E., Jacob, S., Jou, R., MaNamera, N., Sikich, L., Tobe, R., Smith, J., Sanders, K., Squassante, L., Murtagh, L., Gleissl, T., Wandel, C., Nezgovorova, Veenstra-Vanderweele, J. "A Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of Balovaptan (BAL) in Pediatric Participants With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD.)", American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico. December 07, 2021.
Jacob, S., Francis, S., Rawls, E., Tseng, A., Conelea, C. A., Grissom, N., Kummerfeld, E., Ma, S. "Using Causal Discovery Analysis to Explore Sex Differences in Restricted/Repetitive Behaviors and Other Features of Autism", American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico. December 06, 2021.
Jacob, S. "Harris Developmental Neuropsychiatry Forum: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Identification and Treatment of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the United States. Suma Jacob’s Talk: Disparities in Identification and Resources for Neurodevelopmental Disorders", 68th Annual Meeting for American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. October 30, 2021.
*Brumley, C., *Dubois, M., Tseng, A., Jacob, S. "Sensory Processing Profiles and Response to Cognitive Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder", 68th Annual Meeting for American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. October 29, 2021.
Conelea, C. A., *Francis, S., Tseng, A., Greenberg, B., Lim, K. O., Jacob, S. "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Target Tics", Society of Biological Psychiatry 2021 Virtual Meeting. May 01, 2021.
Jacob, S. "Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Clinical/Research Adaptations during the Pandemic", Minnesota Psychiatric Society Spring Conference, Minnesota. March 27, 2021.
Minnesota Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
A. K. Rice Institute
Dr. Jacob's clinical specialties include developmental disorders that affect rigid, inflexible behaviors and social functioning including autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and selective mutism. She also focuses interest on treatment modalities including group, family, and individual cognitive behavioral therapy along with medication management.