Using early developmental predictors to understand heterogeneity in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Hodge Centre for Translational Neuroscience

“Towards innovative treatments for mental illness”

Cardiff University Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute

Please provide a summary of the project aims and objectives suitable for a general audience. This will be used to advertise your project if selected. (max. 500 words)

Schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizoaffective disorder (SAD) are severe mental illnesses. These conditions affect around 3 out of every 100 people from across the world. Everyone’s experiences of these conditions are different but may include hallucinations, delusions, difficulty concentrating, high mood (mania), or depression. These conditions may also impact education, employment, relationships with others, physical health and life expectancy. Because of this, these conditions place an enormous burden on those affected, their loved ones, carers, and wider society.

In general, these conditions tend to first develop in early adulthood. However, for some people, symptoms of these conditions can start in childhood, or they may have other mental health difficulties before they develop these more severe conditions. These can include neurodevelopmental conditions like autism or learning difficulties, as well as child mental health conditions like anxiety. Studies suggest that about half of adults who develop psychosis have had contact with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) when they were younger.

There are many gaps in our knowledge of what early life or childhood social and mental or physical health factors are linked to the development of SZ, BD and SAD. These factors could include contact with CAMHS or social care services, having diagnoses of childhood conditions, and experiencing physical health problems like infections or auto-immune conditions. Understanding these links across the life span could help us to identify those affected earlier and understand the variation in people impacted by these conditions. This PhD project will involve working closely with people with lived experiences of these conditions to analyse existing patient datasets. The specific objectives are:

1.          To work with Bipolar UK and people with lived experiences of SZ, BD and SAD to improve participant experiences of taking part in a new research study.

2.          To analyse existing patient data to improve understanding of the links between childhood social and health factors and diagnosis of SZ, BD and SAD.

3.          To better understand whether certain childhood factors are linked to earlier development of SZ, BD and SAD.

4.          To examine the link between childhood social and health factors and genetic factors that are known to be involved in SZ and BD and relevant biological pathways.

5.          To consider the influence of factors such as sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status on the above associations.

Please contact Dr Joanna Martin, MartinJM1@cardiff.ac.uk for more information about this project.           

Application forms and further information about applying to the Hodge PhD Scholarship Programme can be obtained from HodgeAdmin@cardiff.ac.uk.

Competed application forms must be sent to HodgeAdmin@cardiff.ac.uk

Only one form will be considered per applicant. You can select up to 2 projects funded by the Hodge PhD Scholarship Programme in one application form. 

Only Home applicants are eligible to apply for projects.

Provisional Interview Date – Tuesday 25th June 2024

Over 2023-2028 the Centre will fund 18+ 3-year PhD scholarships through the Hodge PhD Scholarship Programme. We are currently supporting our first 6 PGR students. We intend to fund a further 7 studentships per year for October intakes in 2024 and 2025. A key aim of the Scholarship Programme is to train and nurture the brightest researchers in the skills needed to address the complex problem of treating brain disorders related to mental health. To meet this strategic aim each project should have a link with a key non-academic external partner, so that our PhD students have the opportunity to learn about the challenges of translating their research findings into impact beyond academia.  

 In addition, we will support the development of supervisory skills for ECRs through direct supervision of projects, in project selection and via training programme delivery. We actively encourage ECRs to apply as part of the supervisory team. Each Studentship will cover ‘Home’ tuition fees, a stipend at the UKRI rate and a generous contribution towards the consumable costs of each project.  

 The overarching theme for supported projects is the neuroplasticity and/or neuroimmunology of psychiatric illness relevant to mental health. We will support cross-disciplinary projects that overlap with these research themes and aims. One legacy-funded project will be supported in the area of schizophrenia for 2024.