B4474 - Exploring the Interplay of Genetic Psychosocial and Metabolic-Immune Nexus in Mental Development Trajectories - 18/12/2023

B number: 
B4474
Principal applicant name: 
Jianhua Chen | Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (China)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
Exploring the Interplay of Genetic, Psychosocial, and Metabolic-Immune Nexus in Mental Development Trajectories
Proposal summary: 

Unraveling the Link Between Our Bodies and Minds

Ever wondered why our mental well-being is so unique to each of us? Our research project is like a treasure hunt for answers. We believe our mental health is indeed influenced by a complex web of factors, with a spotlight on our immune and metabolic systems.

What We're Doing:
We're investigating the interrelationships among our genes, the surrounding environment, and the internal mechanisms of our bodies. These factors significantly impact how we think, feel, and live. Our objective is to comprehend the roles played by our immune and metabolic systems in this intricate web of connections.

Why It's Important:
Mental health is a big part of life, and we want to help people live their best lives. By studying how our genes, environment, and our body's inner processes influence our mental well-being, we aim to uncover new insights into mental health and develop effective interventions.

How We're Doing It:
We're collecting information from a diverse group of individuals, collecting information, and studying their genes. Additiionally, brain imaging is being conducted to gain a better understanding of how the brain works. We'll keep following these individuals over time to observe any changes that may occur.

What We Hope to Discover:
Our goal is to explore the connetion between our immune and metabolic systems and our mental well-being. By connecting the dots between genes, our environment, and how our bodies function, we aimto uncover new ways to enhance people's happiness and overall quality of life.

In a nutshell, our research is like solving a puzzle. We're dedicated to understanding how our genes, the environment, and our body's inner workings come together to create our unique stories and help us live our best lives.

Impact of research: 
Our research will advance the understanding of the complex interplay between genetic, psychosocial, metabolic, and immune factors in mental health, contributing to scientific progress. By uncovering novel pathways and mechanisms, our study has the potential to lead to more effective, personalized interventions and treatments, enhancing mental health outcomes. We hope our findings may foster interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing research and practice.
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 28 November, 2023
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 1 December, 2023
Keywords: 
Genetic epidemiology (including association studies and mendelian randomisation), Allergy, Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Cognitive impairment, Diabetes, Eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia, Eczema, Hypertension, Mental health, Obesity, Computer simulations/modelling/algorithms, DNA sequencing, Gene mapping, GWAS, Microarrays, NMR, Proteomics, Biomarkers - e.g. cotinine, fatty acids, haemoglobin, etc., Blood pressure, Genetic epidemiology, Genetics, Genomics, Genome wide association study, Hormones - cortisol, IGF, thyroid, Immunity, Mendelian randomisation, Metabolic - metabolism, Methods - e.g. cross cohort analysis, data mining, mendelian randomisation, etc., Nutrition - breast feeding, diet, BMI, Parenting, Psychology - personality, Whole genome sequencing, Cohort studies - attrition, bias, participant engagement, ethics, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Cognition - cognitive function, Development, Endocrine - endocrine disrupters, Environment - enviromental exposure, pollution, Epigenetics