Ann M. Manzardo, Ph.D.

Professional Background

I am a behavioral pharmacologist with over twenty years of experience in translational research and statistical analysis of psychiatric disorders focusing on risk factors, etiology, course and co-morbidities of alcoholism and the addictions. This includes extensive experience in database development, data management and analysis. My thesis research utilized rat self-administration modeling to investigate the reinforcement properties of cocaine, heroin and nicotine. I have directed funded research projects and clinical trials [e.g., benfotiamine treatment in alcoholism] resulting in over 85 peer-reviewed publications describing genotype/phenotype associations in psychiatric and rare diseases including the evaluation of functional relationships between behavioral, genetic, cytokine and neuropeptide profiles in alcoholism.

I have advanced training and experience in genomic research using advanced genomic technologies including biostatistics and bioinformatics, structural and functional microarray and sequencing (gene and transcriptome) analysis as applied to the genetics of alcoholism, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), autism and other disorders. I have established a strong collaborative research partnership with international experts examining clinical and molecular characteristics of PWS and factors influencing lifespan and clinical course. This includes characterization of developmental markers and relationship to phenotype, severity and course. Our collaboration of experts generated educational resources to support family groups and developed an operationalized list of characteristics required for PWS-specific groups homes. I created and launched the PWS Rainbow Registry in 2024 to track causes of death and advance care for individuals with PWS.

• BS, Biochemistry, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI
• MS, Organic Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA
• PhD, Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA
• MS, Clinical Research Science, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Neuropharmacology of Addictions, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Minority Opportunities in Research, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas

• 2023 PWSA|USA Medical & Scientific Conference, PWSA|USA, Co-Chair, 2022 - 2023
• PWSA|USA Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board, Vice Chair, 2022 - Present
• PWSA|USA Research Committee, Member, 2022 - Present
• KUMC Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research , KUMC Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research , Member, 2009 - Present
• Research Society on Alcoholism , Member, 2007 - Present
• Society for Neurosciences, Member, 1999 - Present

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Research

Overview

My early clinical and pre-clinical research focused on psychosocial and neurobiological risk factors for alcohol and substance use disorders emphasizing the role of early childhood development and co-morbid psychiatric illnesses. My research utilized data from the Danish longitudinal Study on Alcoholism, a 50-yr old Danish birth cohort, and Danish National Registries to characterize psychosocial and neurodevelopmental factors predictive of alcoholism. These studies identified gender-selective developmental markers related to premature birth that predicted later alcoholism in males and may reflect predisposing disruption of brain neurocircuitry.

These research activities and discoveries led me to examine the role of nutritional factors in alcoholism pathology and their impact on drinking behaviors and recovery in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of benfotiamine, a highly efficacious thiamine analogue, in alcoholism. This study found reduced alcohol consumption in females treated with benfotiamine and reduced psychiatric symptomatology in males with severe alcoholism supporting the possible utility of benfotiamine supplementation as an adjuvant therapy for alcoholism rehabilitation particularly in the outpatient setting. Further genomic characterization of this sample led to additional findings of immunological and other factors influencing behavioral outcomes in alcoholism.

My continued professional development and collaborative relationships at the University of Kansas Medical Center lead to the exploration of genetic mechanisms associated with alcoholism and other common and rare genetic disorders using advanced genetic platforms and bioinformatics methods. These techniques were applied to the examination of DNA methylation, structural, functional miRNA and exon level disturbances, gene and transcriptome sequencing in alcoholism, Prader-Willi syndrome, Alstrom syndrome, autism and other disorders.

I have established a strong collaborative research partnership with international experts examining clinical and molecular characteristics of Prader-Willi syndrome and factors influencing lifespan and clinical course. This includes characterization of developmental markers and relationship to phenotype, severity and course; development of the PWS Rainbow Registry to track causes of death in PWS and development of an operationalized list of characteristics required for PWS-specific groups homes.

• Implementation of Zero Suicide in Health Systems, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

• Manzardo, A., M, He, J, Poje, A, Penick, E., C, Campbell, J, Butler, M., G. 2013. Double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of benfotiamine for severe alcohol dependence.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 133 (2), 562-70
• Manzardo, A., M, Pendleton, T, Poje, A, Penick, E., C, Butler, M., G. 2015. Change in psychiatric symptomatology after benfotiamine treatment in males is related to lifetime alcoholism severity.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 152, 257-63
• Manzardo, A., M, Poje, A., B, Penick, E., C, Butler, M., G. 2016. Multiplex Immunoassay of Plasma Cytokine Levels in Men with Alcoholism and the Relationship to Psychiatric Assessments.. International journal of molecular sciences, 17 (4), 472
• Manzardo, A., M, Loker, J, Heinemann, J, Loker, C, Butler, M., G. 2018. Survival trends from the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) 40-year mortality survey.. Genet Med, 20 (1), 24-30
• Manzardo, A., M, Ely, B, Davila, M., C. 2019. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) using different TMS instruments for major depressive disorder at a suburban tertiary clinic. Ment Illn, 11 (1), 7947
• Manzardo, A., M, Heinemann, J, McManus, B, Butler, M., G. 2019. Venous thromboembolism in Prader-Willi syndrome: a questionnaire survey. Genes