Translational Psychiatry

Welcome to the Translational Psychiatry Lab!

The focus of our group is on molecular and systemic mechanisms in the development and treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders. We are particularly interested in how environmental adversity across the lifespan (prenatal, childhood, adulthood) relates to epigenetic modifications and respective changes of neuroendocrine stress response systems that are directly implicated in the pathogenesis of psychiatric diseases. In our research, we combine DNA methylation analyses (EPIC array, epigenetic risk scores), gene expression studies, and genetic analyses (polygenic scores) with the assessment of prenatal stressors and critical life events. For a multimodal characterization of individual stress sensitivity, we use experimental stress paradigms (Trier Social Stress Test), stress hormone analyses in hair and saliva (e.g. cortisol) as well as (functional) magnetic resonance imaging.