Emily DiBlasi

Emily DiBlasi, PhD

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Psychiatry

Divisions: Adult Psychiatry

Research Interests

  • Genomic Study Design
  • Psychiatric Genetics

Emily DiBlasi, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. She obtained her MS in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior from the University at Buffalo and her PhD in Biology from the University of Utah. Dr. DiBlasi’s training background in statistical genetics, evolutionary theory, and empirical population genetics has led to a primary research interest in understanding the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to complex neuropsychiatric human traits. Her research focuses on the discovery of risk factors in suicide death.

Education History

Fellowship University of Utah School of Medicine
 Postdoctoral Fellow
Doctoral Training University of Utah
 PhD
Graduate Training University at Buffalo,The State University of New York
 MS
Undergraduate University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
 BS

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Coon H, Shabalin AA, DiBlasi E, Monson ET, Han S, Kaufman EA, Chen D, Kious B, Molina N, Yu Z, Staley MJ, Crockett DK, Colbert SM, Mullins N, Bakian AV, Docherty AR, Keeshin BR (2025). Absence of nonfatal suicidal behavior preceding suicide death reveals differences in clinical risks. Psychiatry Res, 347, 116391. (Read full article)
  2. DiBlasi E, Shabalin AA, Nicholas TJ, Monson ET, Ferris E, Yefimov L, Han S, Baird LM, Callor WB, Staley MJ, Li Q, Willour VL, Coon H (2025). Intragenic deletions from whole genome sequencing of 1054 suicide deaths. (Read full article)
  3. DiBlasi E, Kaufman EA, Webster S, Hagn EE, Shabalin AA, Chen D, Han S, Jawish R, Monson ET, Staley MJ, Keeshin BR, Docherty AR, Bakian AV, Okifuji A, Coon H (2024). Phenome-wide diagnostic comparison among suicide deaths and living individuals with chronic pain diagnoses. BMC Med, 22(1), 568. (Read full article)
  4. Kaufman EA, Coon H, Shabalin AA, Monson ET, Chen D, Staley MJ, Keeshin BR, Docherty AR, Bakian AV, DiBlasi E (2024). Diagnostic profiles among suicide decedents with and without borderline personality disorder. Psychol Med, 54(15), 1-10. (Read full article)
  5. Monson ET, Colbert SMC, Andreassen OA, Ayinde OO, Bejan CA, Ceja Z, Coon H, DiBlasi E, Izotova A, Kaufman EA, Koromina M, Myung W, Nurnberger JI Jr, Serretti A, Smoller JW, Stein MB, Zai CC, Suicide Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Aslan M, Barr PB, Bigdeli TB, Harvey PD, Kimbrel NA, Patel PR, Cooperative Studies Program CSP 572, Ruderfer D, Docherty AR, Mullins N, Mann JJ (2024). Defining Suicidal Thought and Behavior Phenotypes for Genetic Studies. (Read full article)
  6. Han S, DiBlasi E, Monson ET, Shabalin A, Ferris E, Chen D, Fraser A, Yu Z, Staley M, Callor WB, Christensen ED, Crockett DK, Li QS, Willour V, Bakian AV, Keeshin B, Docherty AR, Eilbeck K, Coon H (2023). Whole-genome sequencing analysis of suicide deaths integrating brain-regulatory eQTLs data to identify risk loci and genes. Mol Psychiatry, 28(9), 3909-3919. (Read full article)
  7. Docherty AR, Mullins N, Ashley-Koch AE, Qin X, Coleman JRI, Shabalin A, Kang J, Murnyak B, Wendt F, Adams M, Campos AI, DiBlasi E, Fullerton JM, Kranzler HR, Bakian AV, Monson ET, Rentera ME, Walss-Bass C, Andreassen OA, Behera C, Bulik CM, Edenberg HJ, Kessler RC, Mann JJ, Nurnberger JI Jr, Pistis G, Streit F, Ursano RJ, Polimanti R, Dennis M, Garrett M, Hair L, Harvey P, Hauser ER, Hauser MA, Huffman J, Jacobson D, Madduri R, McMahon B, Oslin DW, Trafton J, Awasthi S, Berrettini WH, Bohus M, Chang X, Chen HC, Chen WJ, Christensen ED, Crow S, Duriez P, Edwards AC, Fernndez-Aranda F, Galfalvy H, Gandal M, Gorwood P, Guo Y, Hafferty JD, Hakonarson H, Halmi KA, Hishimoto A, Jain S, Jamain S, Jimnez-Murcia S, Johnson C, Kaplan AS, Kaye WH, Keel PK, Kennedy JL, Kim M, Klump KL, Levey DF, Li D, Liao SC, Lieb K, Lilenfeld L, Marshall CR, Mitchell JE, Okazaki S, Otsuka I, Pinto D, Powers A, Ramoz N, Ripke S, Roepke S, Rozanov V, Scherer SW, Schmahl C, Sokolowski M, Starnawska A, Strober M, Su MH, Thornton LM, Treasure J, Ware EB, Watson HJ, Witt SH, Woodside DB, Yilmaz Z, Zillich L, Adolfsson R, Agartz I, Alda M, Alfredsson L, Appadurai V, Artigas MS, Van der Auwera S, Azevedo MH, Bass N, Bau CHD, Baune BT, Bellivier F, Berger K, Biernacka JM, Bigdeli TB, Binder EB, Boehnke M, Boks MP, Braff DL, Bryant R, Budde M, Byrne EM, Cahn W, Castelao E, Cervilla JA, Chaumette B, Corvin A, Craddock N, Djurovic S, Foo JC, Forstner AJ, Frye M, Gatt JM, Giegling I, Grabe HJ, Green MJ, Grevet EH, Grigoroiu-Serbanescu M, Gutierrez B, Guzman-Parra J, Hamshere ML, Hartmann AM, Hauser J, Heilmann-Heimbach S, Hoffmann P, Ising M, Jones I, Jones LA, Jonsson L, Kahn RS, Kelsoe JR, Kendler KS, Kloiber S, Koenen KC, Kogevinas M, Krebs MO, Landn M, Leboyer M, Lee PH, Levinson DF, Liao C, Lissowska J, Mayoral F, McElroy SL, McGrath P, McGuffin P, McQuillin A, Mehta D, Melle I, Mitchell PB, Molina E, Morken G, Nievergelt C, Nthen MM, ODonovan MC, Ophoff RA, Owen MJ, Pato C, Pato MT, Penninx BWJH, Potash JB, Power RA, Preisig M, Quested D, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Reif A, Ribass M, Richarte V, Rietschel M, Rivera M, Roberts A, Roberts G, Rouleau GA, Rovaris DL, Sanders AR, Schofield PR, Schulze TG, Scott LJ, Serretti A, Shi J, Sirignano L, Sklar P, Smeland OB, Smoller JW, Sonuga-Barke EJS, Trzaskowski M, Tsuang MT, Turecki G, Vilar-Rib L, Vincent JB, Vlzke H, Walters JTR, Weickert CS, Weickert TW, Weissman MM, Williams LM, Wray NR, Zai CC, Agerbo E, Brglum AD, Breen G, Demontis D, Erlangsen A, Gelernter J, Glatt SJ, Hougaard DM, Hwu HG, Kuo PH, Lewis CM, Li QS, Liu CM, Martin NG, McIntosh AM, Medland SE, Mors O, Nordentoft M, Olsen CM, Porteous D, Smith DJ, Stahl EA, Stein MB, Wasserman D, Werge T, Whiteman DC, Willour V, VA Million Veteran Program MVP, MVP Suicide Exemplar Workgroup, Suicide Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Bipolar Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Eating Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, German Borderline Genomics Consortium, Coon H, Beckham JC, Kimbrel NA, Ruderfer DM (2023). GWAS Meta-Analysis of Suicide Attempt: Identification of 12 Genome-Wide Significant Loci and Implication of Genetic Risks for Specific Health Factors. Am J Psychiatry, 180(10), 723-738. (Read full article)
  8. Li QS, Shabalin AA, DiBlasi E, Gopal S, Canuso CM, FinnGen International Suicide Genetics Consortium, Palotie A, Drevets WC, Docherty AR, Coon H (2022). Genome-wide association study meta-analysis of suicide death and suicidal behavior. Mol Psychiatry, 28(2), 891-900. (Read full article)
  9. Coon H, Shabalin A, Bakian AV, DiBlasi E, Monson ET, Kirby A, Chen D, Fraser A, Yu Z, Staley M, Callor WB, Christensen ED, Crowell SE, Gray D, Crockett DK, Li QS, Keeshin B, Docherty AR (2022). Extended familial risk of suicide death is associated with younger age at death and elevated polygenic risk of suicide. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 189(3-4), 60-73. (Read full article)
  10. Docherty AR, Bakian AV, DiBlasi E, Shabalin AA, Chen D, Keeshin B, Monson E, Christensen ED, Li Q, Gray D, Coon H (2021). Suicide and Psychosis: Results From a Population-Based Cohort of Suicide Death (N = 4380). Schizophr Bull, 48(2), 457-462. (Read full article)
  11. Mullins N, Kang J, Campos AI, Coleman JRI, Edwards AC, Galfalvy H, Levey DF, Lori A, Shabalin A, Starnawska A, Su MH, Watson HJ, Adams M, Awasthi S, Gandal M, Hafferty JD, Hishimoto A, Kim M, Okazaki S, Otsuka I, Ripke S, Ware EB, Bergen AW, Berrettini WH, Bohus M, Brandt H, Chang X, Chen WJ, Chen HC, Crawford S, Crow S, DiBlasi E, Duriez P, Fernndez-Aranda F, Fichter MM, Gallinger S, Glatt SJ, Gorwood P, Guo Y, Hakonarson H, Halmi KA, Hwu HG, Jain S, Jamain S, Jimnez-Murcia S, Johnson C, Kaplan AS, Kaye WH, Keel PK, Kennedy JL, Klump KL, Li D, Liao SC, Lieb K, Lilenfeld L, Liu CM, Magistretti PJ, Marshall CR, Mitchell JE, Monson ET, Myers RM, Pinto D, Powers A, Ramoz N, Roepke S, Rozanov V, Scherer SW, Schmahl C, Sokolowski M, Strober M, Thornton LM, Treasure J, Tsuang MT, Witt SH, Woodside DB, Yilmaz Z, Zillich L, Adolfsson R, Agartz I, Air TM, Alda M, Alfredsson L, Andreassen OA, Anjorin A, Appadurai V, Soler Artigas M, Van der Auwera S, Azevedo MH, Bass N, Bau CHD, Baune BT, Bellivier F, Berger K, Biernacka JM, Bigdeli TB, Binder EB, Boehnke M, Boks MP, Bosch R, Braff DL, Bryant R, Budde M, Byrne EM, Cahn W, Casas M, Castelao E, Cervilla JA, Chaumette B, Cichon S, Corvin A, Craddock N, Craig D, Degenhardt F, Djurovic S, Edenberg HJ, Fanous AH, Foo JC, Forstner AJ, Frye M, Fullerton JM, Gatt JM, Gejman PV, Giegling I, Grabe HJ, Green MJ, Grevet EH, Grigoroiu-Serbanescu M, Gutierrez B, Guzman-Parra J, Hamilton SP, Hamshere ML, Hartmann A, Hauser J, Heilmann-Heimbach S, Hoffmann P, Ising M, Jones I, Jones LA, Jonsson L, Kahn RS, Kelsoe JR, Kendler KS, Kloiber S, Koenen KC, Kogevinas M, Konte B, Krebs MO, Landn M, Lawrence J, Leboyer M, Lee PH, Levinson DF, Liao C, Lissowska J, Lucae S, Mayoral F, McElroy SL, McGrath P, McGuffin P, McQuillin A, Medland SE, Mehta D, Melle I, Milaneschi Y, Mitchell PB, Molina E, Morken G, Mortensen PB, Mller-Myhsok B, Nievergelt C, Nimgaonkar V, Nthen MM, ODonovan MC, Ophoff RA, Owen MJ, Pato C, Pato MT, Penninx BWJH, Pimm J, Pistis G, Potash JB, Power RA, Preisig M, Quested D, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Reif A, Ribass M, Richarte V, Rietschel M, Rivera M, Roberts A, Roberts G, Rouleau GA, Rovaris DL, Rujescu D, Snchez-Mora C, Sanders AR, Schofield PR, Schulze TG, Scott LJ, Serretti A, Shi J, Shyn SI, Sirignano L, Sklar P, Smeland OB, Smoller JW, Sonuga-Barke EJS, Spalletta G, Strauss JS, witkowska B, Trzaskowski M, Turecki G, Vilar-Rib L, Vincent JB, Vlzke H, Walters JTR, Shannon Weickert C, Weickert TW, Weissman MM, Williams LM, Wray NR, Zai CC, Ashley-Koch AE, Beckham JC, Hauser ER, Hauser MA, Kimbrel NA, Lindquist JH, McMahon B, Oslin DW, Qin X, Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Bipolar Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Eating Disorders Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, German Borderline Genomics Consortium, MVP Suicide Exemplar Workgroup, VA Million Veteran Program, Agerbo E, Brglum AD, Breen G, Erlangsen A, Esko T, Gelernter J, Hougaard DM, Kessler RC, Kranzler HR, Li QS, Martin NG, McIntosh AM, Mors O, Nordentoft M, Olsen CM, Porteous D, Ursano RJ, Wasserman D, Werge T, Whiteman DC, Bulik CM, Coon H, Demontis D, Docherty AR, Kuo PH, Lewis CM, Mann JJ, Rentera ME, Smith DJ, Stahl EA, Stein MB, Streit F, Willour V, Ruderfer DM (2021). Dissecting the Shared Genetic Architecture of Suicide Attempt, Psychiatric Disorders, and Known Risk Factors. Biol Psychiatry, 91(3), 313-327. (Read full article)
  12. Docherty A, Kious B, Brown T, Francis L, Stark L, Keeshin B, Botkin J, DiBlasi E, Gray D, Coon H (2021). Ethical concerns relating to genetic risk scores for suicide. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 186(8), 433-444. (Read full article)
  13. Monson ET, Shabalin AA, Docherty AR, DiBlasi E, Bakian AV, Li QS, Gray D, Keeshin B, Crowell SE, Mullins N, Willour VL, Coon H (2021). Assessment of suicide attempt and death in bipolar affective disorder: a combined clinical and genetic approach. Transl Psychiatry, 11(1), 379. (Read full article)
  14. William N, Reissner C, Sargent R, Darlington TM, DiBlasi E, Li QS, Keeshin B, Callor WB, Ferris E, Jerominski L, Smith KR, Christensen ED, Gray DM, Camp NJ, Missler M, Williams ME, Coon H (2021). Neurexin 1 variants as risk factors for suicide death. Mol Psychiatry, 26, 7436-7445. (Read full article)
  15. DiBlasi E, Shabalin AA, Monson ET, Keeshin BR, Bakian AV, Kirby AV, Ferris E, Chen D, William N, Gaj E, Klein M, Jerominski L, Callor WB, Christensen E, Smith KR, Fraser A, Yu Z, Gray D, PsychChip Investigators of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Camp NJ, Stahl EA, Li QS, Docherty AR, Coon H (2021). Rare protein-coding variants implicate genes involved in risk of suicide death. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 186(8), 508-520. (Read full article)
  16. Coon H, Darlington TM, DiBlasi E, Callor WB, Ferris E, Fraser A, Yu Z, William N, Das SC, Crowell SE, Chen D, Anderson JS, Klein M, Jerominski L, Cannon D, Shabalin A, Docherty A, Williams M, Smith KR, Keeshin B, Bakian AV, Christensen E, Li QS, Camp NJ, Gray D (2018). Genome-wide significant regions in 43 Utah high-risk families implicate multiple genes involved in risk for completed suicide. Mol Psychiatry, 25(11), 3077-3090. (Read full article)
  17. DiBlasi E, Kirby AV, Gaj E, Docherty AR, Keeshin BR, Bakian AV, Coon H (2020). Brief Report: Genetic Links Between Autism and Suicidal Behavior-A Preliminary Investigation. J Autism Dev Disord, 50(10), 3525-3530. (Read full article)
  18. Docherty AR, Shabalin AA, DiBlasi E, Monson E, Mullins N, Adkins DE, Bacanu SA, Bakian AV, Crowell S, Chen D, Darlington TM, Callor WB, Christensen ED, Gray D, Keeshin B, Klein M, Anderson JS, Jerominski L, Hayward C, Porteous DJ, McIntosh A, Li Q, Coon H (2020). Genome-Wide Association Study of Suicide Death and Polygenic Prediction of Clinical Antecedents. Am J Psychiatry, 177(10), 917-927. (Read full article)
  19. Amici AA, Nadkarni NM, DiBlasi E, Seger J (2019). Contrasting effects of host tree isolation on population connectedness in two tropical epiphytic bromeliads. Am J Bot, 106(12), 1602-1611. (Read full article)
  20. Anderson JS, Shade J, DiBlasi E, Shabalin AA, Docherty AR (2018). Polygenic risk scoring and prediction of mental health outcomes. Curr Opin Psychol, 27, 77-81. (Read full article)
  21. Sweet AD, Bush SE, Gustafsson DR, Allen JM, DiBlasi E, Skeen HR, Weckstein JD, Johnson KP (2018). Host and parasite morphology influence congruence between host and parasite phylogenies. Int J Parasitol, 48(8), 641-648. (Read full article)
  22. DiBlasi E, Johnson KP, Stringham SA, Hansen AN, Beach AB, Clayton DH, Bush SE (2018). Phoretic dispersal influences parasite population genetic structure. Mol Ecol, 27(12), 2770-2779. (Read full article)
  23. Gustafsson DR, Diblasi E, Olsson U, Najer T, Sychra O, Bush SE (2018). Checklist and key to the lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) of Sweden. 139(4), 205-396.
  24. Knutie SA, Owen JP, McNew SM, Bartlow AW, Arriero E, Herman JM, DiBlasi E, Thompson M, Koop JAH, Clayton DH (2015). Galápagos mockingbirds tolerate introduced parasites that affect Darwin's finches. Ecology, 97(4), 940-950. (Read full article)
  25. Bush SE, Weckstein JD, Gustafsson DR, Allen J, DiBlasi E, Shreve SM, Boldt R, Skeen HR, Johnson KP (2015). Unlocking the black box of feather louse diversity: A molecular phylogeny of the hyper-diverse genus Brueelia. Mol Phylogenet Evol, 94(Pt B), 737-751. (Read full article)
  26. Bush SE, Weckstein JD, Gustafsson DR, Allen J, DiBlasi E, Shreve SM, Boldt R, Skeen HR, Johnson KP (2015). Data supporting a molecular phylogeny of the hyper-diverse genus Brueelia. Data Brief, 5, 1078-91. (Read full article)
  27. DiBlasi E, Morse S, Mayberry JR, Avila LJ, Morando M, Dittmar K (2011). New Spiroplasma in parasitic Leptus mites and their Agathemera walking stick hosts from Argentina. J Invertebr Pathol, 107(3), 225-8. (Read full article)
  28. Dittmar K, Morse S, Gruwell M, Mayberry J, DiBlasi E (2011). Spatial and temporal complexities of reproductive behavior and sex ratios: a case from parasitic insects. PLoS One, 6(5), e19438. (Read full article)

Review

  1. DiBlasi E, Kang J, Docherty AR (2021). Genetic contributions to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. [Review]. Psychol Med, 51(13), 2148-2155. (Read full article)