Emily DiBlasi

Emily DiBlasi, PhD

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Psychiatry

Divisions: Adult Psychiatry

Academic Office Information

emily.diblasi@utah.edu

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

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

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. 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.
  2. 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 (2020). Genome-Wide Association Study of Suicide Death and Polygenic Prediction of Clinical Antecedents. The American journal of psychiatry, 177(10), 917-927.
  3. 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, Fernández-Aranda F, Fichter MM, Gallinger S, Glatt SJ, Gorwood P, Guo Y, Hakonarson H, Halmi KA, Hwu HG, Jain S, Jamain S, Jiménez-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, Landén 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, Müller-Myhsok B, Nievergelt C, Nimgaonkar V, Nöthen MM, O'Donovan 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, Ribasés M, Richarte V, Rietschel M, Rivera M, Roberts A, Roberts G, Rouleau GA, Rovaris DL, Rujescu D, Sánchez-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, ¿wi'tkowska B, Trzaskowski M, Turecki G, Vilar-Ribó L, Vincent JB, Völzke 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, Børglum 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, Rentería ME, Smith DJ, Stahl EA, Stein MB, Streit F, Willour V, Ruderfer D (2021). Dissecting the Shared Genetic Architecture of Suicide Attempt, Psychiatric Disorders, and Known Risk Factors. Biological psychiatry, 91(3), 313-327.
  4. DiBlasi E, Johnson KP, Stringham SA, Hansen AN, Beach AB, Clayton DH, Bush S (2018). Phoretic dispersal influences parasite population genetic structure. Molecular ecology, 27(12), 2770-2779.
  5. Bush SE, Weckstein JD, Gustafsson DR, Allen J, DiBlasi E, Shreve SM, Boldt R, Skeen HR, Johnson K (2016). Unlocking the black box of feather louse diversity: A molecular phylogeny of the hyper-diverse genus Brueelia. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 94(Pt B), 737-751.
  6. Sweet AD, Bush SE, Gustafsson DR, Allen JM, DiBlasi E, Skeen HR, Weckstein JD, Johnson K (2018). Host and parasite morphology influence congruence between host and parasite phylogenies. International journal for parasitology, 48(8), 641-648.
  7. DiBlasi E, Kirby AV, Gaj E, Docherty AR, Keeshin BR, Bakian AV, Coon (2020). Brief Report: Genetic Links Between Autism and Suicidal Behavior-A Preliminary Investigation. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 50(10), 3525-3530.
  8. DiBlasi E, Morse S, Mayberry JR, Avila LJ, Morando M, Dittmar (2011). New Spiroplasma in parasitic Leptus mites and their Agathemera walking stick hosts from Argentina. Journal of invertebrate pathology, 107(3), 225-8.
  9. Docherty AR, Bakian AV, DiBlasi E, Shabalin AA, Chen D, Keeshin B, Monson E, Christensen ED, Li Q, Gray D, Coon (2021). Suicide and Psychosis: Results From a Population-Based Cohort of Suicide Death (N = 4380). Schizophrenia bulletin, 48(2), 457-462.
  10. 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 (2020). Genome-wide significant regions in 43 Utah high-risk families implicate multiple genes involved in risk for completed suicide. Molecular psychiatry, 25(11), 3077-3090.
  11. 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 (2021). Neurexin 1 variants as risk factors for suicide death. Molecular psychiatry, 26(12), 7436-7445.
  12. Knutie SA, Owen JP, McNew SM, Bartlow AW, Arriero E, Herman JM, DiBlasi E, Thompson M, Koop JAH, Clayton D (2016). Galápagos mockingbirds tolerate introduced parasites that affect Darwin's finches. Ecology, 97(4), 940-950.
  13. 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 (2021). Rare protein-coding variants implicate genes involved in risk of suicide death. American journal of medical genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric genetics, 186(8), 508-520.
  14. Docherty A, Kious B, Brown T, Francis L, Stark L, Keeshin B, Botkin J, DiBlasi E, Gray D, Coon (2021). Ethical concerns relating to genetic risk scores for suicide. American journal of medical genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric genetics, 186(8), 433-444.
  15. Dittmar K, Morse S, Gruwell M, Mayberry J, DiBlasi (2011). Spatial and temporal complexities of reproductive behavior and sex ratios: a case from parasitic insects. PloS one, 6(5), e19438.
  16. Monson ET, Shabalin AA, Docherty AR, DiBlasi E, Bakian AV, Li QS, Gray D, Keeshin B, Crowell SE, Mullins N, Willour VL, Coon (2021). Assessment of suicide attempt and death in bipolar affective disorder: a combined clinical and genetic approach. Translational psychiatry, 11(1), 379.
  17. Anderson JS, Shade J, DiBlasi E, Shabalin AA, Docherty A (2019). Polygenic risk scoring and prediction of mental health outcomes. Current opinion in psychology, 27, 77-81.
  18. Bush SE, Weckstein JD, Gustafsson DR, Allen J, DiBlasi E, Shreve SM, Boldt R, Skeen HR, Johnson K (2015). Data supporting a molecular phylogeny of the hyper-diverse genus Brueelia. Data in brief, 5, 1078-91.
  19. Gustafsson DR, Diblasi E, Olsson U, Najer T, Sychra O, Bush S (2018). Checklist and key to the lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) of Sweden. 139(4), 205-396.
  20. 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 A (2022). Extended familial risk of suicide death is associated with younger age at death and elevated polygenic risk of suicide. American journal of medical genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric genetics, 189(3-4), 60-73.
  21. Li QS, Shabalin AA, DiBlasi E, Gopal S, Canuso CM, FinnGen, International Suicide Genetics Consortium., Palotie A, Drevets WC, Docherty AR, Coon (2022). Genome-wide association study meta-analysis of suicide death and suicidal behavior. Molecular psychiatry, 28(2), 891-900.
  22. 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, Rentería 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, Fernández-Aranda F, Galfalvy H, Gandal M, Gorwood P, Guo Y, Hafferty JD, Hakonarson H, Halmi KA, Hishimoto A, Jain S, Jamain S, Jiménez-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, Landén 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, Nöthen MM, O'Donovan MC, Ophoff RA, Owen MJ, Pato C, Pato MT, Penninx BWJH, Potash JB, Power RA, Preisig M, Quested D, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Reif A, Ribasés 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-Ribó L, Vincent JB, Völzke H, Walters JTR, Weickert CS, Weickert TW, Weissman MM, Williams LM, Wray NR, Zai CC, Agerbo E, Børglum 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 D (2023). GWAS Meta-Analysis of Suicide Attempt: Identification of 12 Genome-Wide Significant Loci and Implication of Genetic Risks for Specific Health Factors. The American journal of psychiatry, 180(10), 723-738.
  23. 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 (2023). Whole-genome sequencing analysis of suicide deaths integrating brain-regulatory eQTLs data to identify risk loci and genes. Molecular psychiatry, 28(9), 3909-3919.
  24. Kaufman EA, Coon H, Shabalin AA, Monson ET, Chen D, Staley MJ, Keeshin BR, Docherty AR, Bakian AV, DiBlasi (2024). Diagnostic profiles among suicide decedents with and without borderline personality disorder. Psychological medicine, 54(15), 1-10.
  25. 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 J (2024). Defining Suicidal Thought and Behavior Phenotypes for Genetic Studies.
  26. 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 (2024). Phenome-wide diagnostic comparison among suicide deaths and living individuals with chronic pain diagnoses. BMC medicine, 22(1), 568.
  27. 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 B (2025). Absence of nonfatal suicidal behavior preceding suicide death reveals differences in clinical risks. Psychiatry research, 347, 116391.
  28. 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 (2025). Intragenic deletions from whole genome sequencing of 1054 suicide deaths.
  29. Colbert SMC, Monson ET, Andreassen OA, Ayinde OO, Barr PB, Bejan CA, Ceja Z, Coon H, DiBlasi E, Edenberg HJ, Gelernter J, Hatoum A, Izotova A, Johnson EC, Kaufman EA, Kranzler HR, Koromina M, Lehto K, Myung W, Nurnberger JI Jr, Serretti A, Smoller JW, Stein MB, Zai CC, Erlangsen A, Gaine M, Martorell L, Sud R, Toma C, Bigdeli TB, Kimbrel NA, Ruderfer D, Docherty AR, Mann JJ, Mullins N, Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Suicide Working Grou (2025). Defining suicidality phenotypes for genetic studies: perspectives of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Suicide Working Group. Molecular psychiatry, 30(12), 6144-6154.
  30. Monson ET, Colbert SMC, Barr PB, Bejan CA, Andreassen OA, Ayinde OO, 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, Aslan M, Bigdeli TB, Harvey PD, Kimbrel NA, Patel PR, Ruderfer DM, Docherty AR, Mullins N, John Mann (2025). Defining and assessing international classification of disease suicidality phenotypes for genetic studies. Psychiatry research, 353, 116760.
  31. Coon H, Shabalin AA, Monson ET, DiBlasi E, Han S, Baird LM, Kaufman EA, Tharp D, Staley MJ, Yu Z, Li QS, Colbert SM, Bakian AV, Docherty AR, McIntosh AM, Whalley HC, Amaro D, Crockett DK, Mullins N, Keeshin B (2025). Genetic Liabilities to Neuropsychiatric Conditions in Suicide Deaths With No Prior Suicidality. JAMA network open, 8(10), e2538204.
  32. Han S, DiBlasi E, Monson ET, Shabalin AA, Baird L, Chen D, Lamichhane D, Tharp D, Ferris E, Yu Z, Brandon Callor W, Staley MJ, Li QS, Willour V, Crockett DK, Eilbeck K, Bakian AV, Keeshin BR, Okifuji A, Coon H, Docherty A (2026). Genetic risk of chronic pain conditions associated with risk of suicide death through an integrative analysis of EHR and genomics data. Translational psychiatry, 16(1),

Review

  1. DiBlasi E, Kang J, Docherty A (2021). Genetic contributions to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Psychological medicine, 51(13), 2148-2155.