Prof. Dr. Laura M. Thornton is a Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at UNC and is the Deputy Director of the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI). She holds a B.S. from William Paterson College, an M.S., and a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University. She has over 20 years of experience in survey design, data collection and management, analysis, and dissemination of findings of large-scale epidemiologic and community-based research and as an international eating disorders research co-ordinator. Her research focus includes the evaluation of genetic factors influencing liability to and examining phenotypic aspects of eating disorders and obesity. Identifying and understanding risk factors for disordered eating and full-threshold eating disorders will aid in prevention, detection, and treatment efforts, eventually ameliorating the effects of these devastating illnesses. She is committed to advancing our understanding of all aspects of disordered eating from both an etiological and developmental perspective.