AXIS 2 : ENVIRONMENT AND THE BRAIN

Psychopathological consequences of stress during development and from traumatic life experiences.

WP#4 – DEVELOPMENTAL STRESS

The objective of this project is to evaluate, both in humans and in mice, the long-term effect of exposure to stress at different developmental stages . A major focus will be the role of the HPA axis as well as that of glucocorticoids, which will be analyzed longitudinally.Physiological, behavioral and epigenetic markers will also be studied. The role of serotonin will be further investigated with regards to genetic and epigenetic alterations associated with perinatal stress as well as during the development of cortical neurons.

PROJECT LEADERS

Clinical cohorts

François ANSERMET

Daniel SCHECHTER

Fundamental neurosciences

Alexandre DAYER

Johannes GRAEFF

Anthony HOLTMAAT

Carmen SANDI

WP#5 – MOOD DISORDERS

The aim of this project is to identify biological markers early in the course of bipolar disorders in high-risk children. The means used for this will be brain imaging, and investigation of the HPA axis, of possible immune and epigenetic alterations as well as of growth factors. Within the realm of these conditions, the role of astrocytes will also investigated at the cellular and molecular level and in the response to antidepressants.