How stress and common genes affect mental health
Modeling the interaction of physiological and environmental stressors on common variants to psychiatric traits
We are looking at how everyday stresses and common genetic differences combine to change brain cells and influence psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235162 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study many genetic variants linked to psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions and see how physiological and environmental stressors change their effects. They will use human genetic data and laboratory models of different brain cell types, such as neurons and glia, to observe how combinations of common variants alter cell function under stress. The focus is on how multiple common variants work together, rather than single-gene effects, and how stress shifts those interactions. The goal is to trace how genetic differences lead to cellular changes that may underlie symptoms or disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with psychiatric or neurodegenerative conditions, or people able to provide genetic data or biological samples for research.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate new treatments or those without genetic data or sample availability are unlikely to receive direct short-term benefits from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could explain why some people with genetic risk develop brain disorders under stress and point to new targets for treatment or prevention.
How similar studies have performed: Previous genetic and laboratory studies have suggested that combinations of genes and stress interact, but applying this across multiple human brain cell types is relatively new and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huckins, Laura Marianne — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Huckins, Laura Marianne
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.