On November 12th, the University of Illinois celebrated the launch of The Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior and Society. Hosted by the IGB, the Center for Social & Behavioral Sciences (CSBS), and the School of Social Work, the half-day event drew researchers from across campus to learn about and discuss the center’s mission to study the intersection of genes, brain, and behavior, and their collective impact on mental health as well as society more broadly. 

Alison Bell, director of the Kellner Center and professor of evolution, ecology, and behavior, began the event with an overview of the Center and its broader goals. Through two interdisciplinary panel discussions, researchers and attendees explored how the center’s work could accelerate progress in understanding the fundamental mechanisms linking genes, brain and behavior, with the ultimate goal of addresssing mental health challenges and societal perspectives on genetics. 

The first panel featured external Advisory Board members Frances Champagne (University of Texas), Jonathan Flint (UCLA), Dave Schulz (University of Missouri), and Sonia Sultan (Wesleyan University) and was moderated by Hypatia Bolivar (University of Illinois Springfield). They shared insights from their fields—ranging from epigenetics to neuroscience to mental health—and how their work aligns with the interdisciplinary vision of the Kellner Center. The panelists emphasized the importance of breaking down disciplinary silos to enable crosscutting research, and that collaboration can require time to develop shared language, understanding, and methods.  

Champagne highlighted how epigenetics provides a lens to understand how environmental factors influence gene expression, while Schulz shared advancements in neuroscience that could inform mental health interventions. Panelists also stressed the importance of communicating complex science to broader audiences and addressing the societal impact of mental health research.  

The second panel included Illinois faculty members Jaime Derringer (psychology), Tom Kwapil (psychology), David Sepkoski (history), and Jacob Sherkow (GSP, law) and was moderated by Brent Roberts (GNDP, psychology), who talked about the societal impacts and implications of the center’s work. Discussions covered topics from across the board, including the interacting and overlapping complexities of human mental health to the history of scientific debates on mental health and race, gender, and genetics. 

Kwapil highlighted the need to move beyond categorical mental health diagnoses to develop more nuanced and dynamic frameworks, noting that “understanding the etiology, risk, and resilience of mental health conditions requires a comprehensive approach that includes biological, psychological, and environmental factors.” Derringer discussed the importance of public understanding of genetics, pointing out that societal interpretations of science can often differ from the actual implications of the results. 

The event included an icebreaker discussion on the Kellner Center’s priorities over the next decade. The discussion gave attendees from across campus an opportunity to talk to each other, with an eye towards building the interdisciplinary connections and collaborations that the Center ultimately seeks to support. Topics ranged from studying the biological basis of free will to refining conceptual frameworks for psychological disorders and fostering bidirectional and interdisciplinary conversations between scientists and society, especially regarding mental health.  

Julie Kellner, whose generosity – along with her husband’s – made the center possible, shared her vision behind the center. “We wanted to create systemic change—to rethink how we view, study, and treat mental health.”  

This vision will guide the Kellner Center as it bridges disciplines to discover insights into the connections between genes, brain and society to improve our understanding of and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. The center’s commitment to responsible and impactful research ensures that results will be translated into best practices that truly benefit individuals and society.