Adolfo Sequeira, PhD, serves as an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at the School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine. His research program is devoted to advancing our understanding of the neurobiology and genetics of neuropsychiatric disorders—particularly major depression and suicidal behavior.

Dr. Sequeira brings deep expertise in neuroanatomy and gene-expression profiling across both brain tissue and peripheral samples. He has carried out extensive studies in major human brain banks (including the Douglas–McGill Brain Bank at McGill University and the University of California, Irvine Brain Bank) and contributed significantly to the creation of the Allen Human Brain Atlas.

In recent years, his work has pivoted toward translational biomarker discovery for suicide and depression risk prediction. His lab integrates multi-omic approaches including gene expression, epigenomics, synaptic structure analyses and targeted metabolomics in post-mortem brain and matched blood samples. These efforts aim to identify blood-based molecular signatures relevant for suicide prevention in the context of major depressive episodes.

Dr. Sequeira earned his BSc in molecular biology from the Université du Québec, his MSc in neurosciences from Université de Montréal, and his PhD in human genetics at McGill University in 2007. Since 2011 Dr Sequeira has held multiple roles within the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior since that time.

His work stands at the interface of fundamental neurobiology, molecular genetics and translational psychiatry, and it holds promise for advancing risk stratification and preventive strategies in suicide and depression research.