Research over the last decade has demonstrated that alongside genetic factors, childhood adversity plays a vital role in the development of psychiatric illnesses. Several meta-analyses have shown robustly that childhood adversity is a cross-diagnostic risk factor, increasing rates of depression and anxiety to schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. Despite this association, the biological processes underlying this phenomenon are not well understood. Without this knowledge, development of effective therapeutics is impossible. The precise effects of childhood adversity on function per se (e.g. cognition, emotion, social function) are not well known. The aim of this research is investigate the links between adverse childhood experiences and later function, identifying domains which are most affected (both in psychiatric and clinically well populations). These domains will then be explored further using translational animal models and more focused human studies, uncovering underlying biological mechanisms and leading to novel treatment options for people affected by childhood adversity.

Not all individuals exposed to childhood adversity will develop psychiatric illness, and genetics is likely to play a role in determining susceptibility vs. resilience. The role that genetics plays in moderating the effects of childhood adversity on function will therefore also be explored.