Severe mental illness, brain iron and adverse metabolic consequences

Project Code

MRCNMH26Ex Tyrrell

Project Type

Dry lab

Research Theme

Neuroscience and Mental Health

Project Summary Download

Summary

This exciting PhD combines big data and genetics to understand the role of brain iron in metabolic psychiatry. This is important has people with severe mental illness are more likely to have adverse metabolic health problems and we don’t know why. Preliminary results from the supervisory team suggest brain iron may be a crucial factor. This PhD will test this in more detail using novel brain iron metrics and new imaging methodology. The student will train in 3 world leading centres and will gain skills in brain imaging, statistics and genetic epidemiology.

Lead Supervisor

Professor Jess Tyrrell

Lead Supervisor Email

j.tyrrell@exeter.ac.uk

University Affiliation

Exeter