To kick off Season 4, Charles Marmar, MD, explains how precision psychiatry is reshaping the way clinicians and researchers think about diagnosis, treatment selection, and the underlying biology of psychiatric disorders. This conversation is a overview of where the field stands today—including emerging molecular markers, biologically informed subtypes, and new translational approaches inspired by oncology and other precision-based specialties.

Dr. Marmar is Chair of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Director of the Center for the Study of Alcohol Use Disorder and Traumatic Stress.

In this episode, he outlines current work on:

• Molecular and genomic signatures that may distinguish patient subtypes
• Clinical trials examining targeted treatments for alcohol use disorder
• The development of proxy “brain biopsy” methods such as exosomal analyses and iPSC-derived organoids
• How converging biological data could eventually support more individualized treatment planning

This discussion reflects ongoing efforts at NYU Langone Health to move psychiatry toward a more mechanism-based, biologically grounded model of care, while acknowledging the complexity and early stage of the work. For clinicians, scientists, and trainees, the episode provides a clear snapshot of the major directions shaping precision psychiatry today.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction: The Challenge in Psychiatry
• 00:34 Meet the Experts
• 01:07 Understanding PTSD: Types and Subtypes
• 04:47 Current Research and Innovations
• 06:19 The Future of Psychiatry: Precision Medicine
• 09:34 Case Study: Personalized Treatment Success
• 11:33 Conclusion: The Path Forward

Watch Insights on Psychiatry on YouTube
Senior Producer: Jon Earle