Cheers to Mental Health Research

Every cell in the body contains essentially the same DNA, but the cells are very different and have highly specialised functions. These properties are conferred by different cells turning on and off different genes, which must be tightly controlled in space and time. In my laboratory, we are fascinated by how genes are activated or repressed. There are regions of DNA outside genes called ‘enhancers’, and these regions are critical for appropriate gene regulation. We identify enhancers that are required for the development of the brain. We also investigate how enhancers are affected in neurological diseases and how they are influenced by stress.

One in six people in the UK are living with hearing loss. This talk will consider some of the reasons why people with hearing loss are more likely to have anxiety disorders than the general population, with a particular focus on the biology of anxiety. We have an understanding of the brain wiring involved in anxiety processing. The sensory systems – which include hearing – are part of anxiety processing. Hearing loss could alter anxiety processing and so increase the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder. Understanding this may help develop better treatment for those with anxiety disorder and hearing loss.