At the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, consistent with the School of Medicine‘s vision for creating a vibrant community of healers, researchers, and innovators, we strive to conduct innovative, ethical research of the highest quality across all populations, while fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment in which to educate the next generation of scientists. Accordingly, we, the members of VIPBG, endeavor to create and nurture an environment where all voices are heard and access across personal, scientific, and organizational domains is valued and promoted. These efforts are ongoing and active, requiring continual self-reflection, dialogue, evaluation, and improvement. Collaborative groups who embrace individuals from a wide array of backgrounds and perspectives benefit from varied perspectives, increasing the likelihood of generating prolific, innovative, and impactful scientific output 1,2,3.

We recognize and condemn the practice of eugenics and the historical misuse of psychiatric and behavioral genetics research to justify discriminatory policies and atrocities. Our educational mission includes reflecting on this past and implementing equitable and just paths forward. As researchers we strive to achieve parity by including representative samples, and by developing and applying methods to best understand and improve population health for all.