VIPBG News

By Lanie Mullins

Hope Wolf’s journey to the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics (VIPBG) at VCU began with a deep-rooted passion for science and a desire to connect research to real-world clinical outcomes. Originally from Stanly County, North Carolina, Hope graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a residential public magnet school focused on STEM. It was there she had her first exposure to research—working in a molecular genetics lab under the mentorship of Dr. Chatterjee at North Carolina Central University. “He was so supportive and encouraging,” she recalled. “That mentorship had a big influence on me and solidified my interest in science.”

Hope earned her B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During her undergraduate years, she spent a year in Madrid, Spain, studying advanced chemistry and genetics entirely in Spanish at the Complutense University. After graduation, she worked as a clinical research coordinator in UNC’s Department of Cardiology, which sparked her interest in human subjects research and clinical care. “It reaffirmed my desire to work with patients but also got me thinking about how I could stay involved in research long-term.”

In 2017, Hope was accepted into the dual-degree program at VCU, where she pursued both a Ph.D. in Human Genetics (Quantitative Genetics concentration) and an M.S. in Genetic Counseling. “VCU was one of the only programs offering this kind of integrated training at the time,” she said. “It was the perfect fit.”

Her dissertation work, titled “The Genetic Architecture of Cervical Change During Pregnancy: From Modeling to Mechanism – Does the Cervix Mediate Maternal Risk for Spontaneous Preterm Birth?”, focused on identifying genetic factors underlying cervical shortening and their link to preterm birth in Black/African American women. Hope analyzed longitudinal sonographic data and genomic sequencing from a cohort of over 5,000 participants in Detroit, MI. Her findings revealed that cervical change during pregnancy is highly heritable and genetically correlated with gestational age at delivery. “This is the largest genetic study of pregnancy in Black women to date,” she explained. “And it shows how genetic profiles could potentially help us identify women at risk for preterm birth—before symptoms even appear.”

In addition to the rigorous analytical training, Hope found deep fulfillment in the clinical aspect of her dual program. Her rotations took her across Virginia—prenatal care, pediatrics and cancer genetics at different locations including Fredericksburg, Norfolk, VCU and UVA. “I thought I’d gravitate toward general genetics, but prenatal surprised me. Working with families during emotionally challenging moments and helping them navigate complex decisions was incredibly meaningful.”

Outside of academics, Hope fully embraced life in Richmond. “There was always something going on—music festivals, biking the Capital Trail, hiking in Shenandoah. I even went caving and whitewater kayaking through VCU RecWell’s Outdoor Adventure program!” she said. “Those experiences helped keep me grounded.” She also enjoyed knitting, reading fiction, and hopes to return to baking and cooking— “things that fell off a bit during the Ph.D. years.”

Now back in North Carolina, Hope hopes to build a career at a major academic medical center like UNC or Duke—working as a genetic counselor while continuing to contribute to clinical research. “Long term, I’d love to co-lead research studies that combine patient interaction with meaningful data analysis,” she said. “I want to be the kind of researcher who’s involved, accessible, and passionate about making research count for patients.”

When asked what advice she’d give to future students, she said, “Completing a PhD is more like a marathon (or sometimes even an ultramarathon), rather than a sprint! It requires stubbornness, persistence, and resilience above all else. So never stop believing in yourself and your abilities! And always remember to take care of your mental and physical well-being along the way!”

We thank Hope for taking the time to meet with us and share her story. It was a true pleasure to have her in our department, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors—both professionally and personally.