Current EDIT Lab members
Thalia
My work focuses on exploring interplay between genes and the environment with respect to the development and treatment of anxiety and depression, particularly in young people. I have always been fascinated by the fact that different people react so differently from one another when under stress. In my research I use both twin studies, in order to estimate the relative contribution of genes and the environment, and also molecular genetic approaches, which can identify links between specific genes and outcomes of interest. I also draw on methods used in experimental psychology to explore aspects of information processing that may be relevant mechanisms when trying to understand the role of genes and the environment on the development and treatment of anxiety and depression.
Alicia
My research focuses on investigating the mechanisms that underlie retrospectively self-reported responses to environmental experiences, both positive and negative. This work aims to identify genetic influences on self-reported experiences, including major life events and outcomes following psychological treatment. I am also interested in differences in the presentation and outcomes of psychiatric disorders associated with self-reported traumatic life events, such as symptom profiles and treatment response.
Ellen
I am Postdoctoral Research Associate working across The Department of Twins Research & Genetic Epidemiology (DTR) and The Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre. My current research focuses on investigating the relationship between mental and physical health and their shared risk factors and outcomes using data from TwinsUK and the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS).
Bridie
I am a part-time Research Assistant, working under the supervision of Prof Thalia Eley on the Predicting Outcome Response to Treatment (PORT) Study. My research interests involve: anxiety & depression, psychological treatment response, fear conditioning and cognitive and behavioural processes that maintain psychological distress. Outside of research and therapy I spend as much time as I can outdoors doing something active. I love hiking, running, cycling and open water swimming.
Johan
My research is aimed at the genetics of anxiety and depression. I am interested in how genetics underpin behavioural traits and interact with environmental effects through hypothesised and previously unmeasured phenotypes; endophenotypes. I am a dad to two wonderful kids, 8 and 2 years old. In my spare time I am mostly into games and learning how to play flamenco guitar.
Molly
My research utilises the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study cohort to investigate methods of assessing anxiety and depressive disorders and patterns of comorbidity.
Helena
My research interests include understanding genetic and environmental factors influencing the development of eating disorders. I am primarily working on the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI) and the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) study. I am also undertaking a placement at the eating disorder charity, Beat.
Tom
I am a postdoctoral research associate working on the Fear Learning and Anxiety Response (FLARe) project. My interests are predominantly focused on how fear conditioning experiments can be used to model anxiety and its treatment. I am also interested in the ways that mobile technology can be used to improve research, helping to either reach more participants or capture more ecologically valid data.
Megan
My research focuses on understanding treatment phenotypes in depression and anxiety, using longitudinal and genetic approaches. I employ a range of analytical methods, including statistical genetic techniques such as genome-wide association and polygenic scores, and structural equation modelling for phenotypic data. My final project will use data from the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study.
Shannon
I am the Deputy Manager of the NIHR Bioresource Maudsley team and part-time PhD student. I work closely with Professor Thalia Eley and Professor Gerome Breen to coordinate the GLAD, EDGI and TEDS studies. My research interests are depression and anxiety including exploring strategies to address the lack of research participant diversity within psychological research.
Past team members
Kirstin
Interested in the intersect between psychology and genetics, particularly in regards to anxiety, treatment and fear conditioning.
Yasmin
My research is focussed on understanding how common mental health problems run in families. I use genetically informed research methods to disentangle the role of genes and environments, particularly in the context of parent and child anxiety and depression. I am deeply concerned about a major caveat in our research to date, and across mental health research more broadly, in that large-scale, family-based cohorts are comprised almost exclusively of white families. I am a member of the SGDP anti-racism working group, aimed at raising awareness and instigating change in our department to address racial inequalities at work and in our research.
Georgina
My research interests include using genetically-informative approaches to understand factors underpinning the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder in young people. I am also interested in understanding psychological processes that maintain these disorders, in order to improve cognitive behavioural treatments and optimise outcomes.
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