Dr Marina Carpena is an early career researcher from the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil. Her primary focus is on understanding the relationship between sleep and mental health across the lifespan. Specifically, Marina's work centers on investigating how sleep-polygenic components interact with cortisol concentration, potentially leading to psychiatric disorders. With the Circadian Mental Health Network ECR funding Marina was able to travel across to both Ireland and Scotland to visit with other researchers working in sleep, circadian rhythms and mental health (chronopsychiatry). Hear all about her trip below.
In September, I had the privilege of traveling to Maynooth University and the University of Edinburgh to collaborate closely with the FamilySleeps and Chronopsychiatry research groups. This visit provided an invaluable opportunity to expand my professional network and deepen my expertise in genetic research related to sleep and psychiatric disorders.
At Maynooth University, I was warmly welcomed by Professor Lorna Lopez and her dynamic research team, including research assistant Aoife, PhD students Enya, Aung, and Jacob, undergraduate student Dearbhla, and research assistants Christiane and Sean. During the first two weeks, I worked intensively with Enya, a brilliant PhD student, to harmonize data and develop polygenic risk scores (PRS) for both the Pelotas Cohort and the ABCD Study. This collaborative project aims to compare the genomic relationships between these cohorts and investigate how polygenic factors interact with socioeconomic status to influence sleep patterns and psychiatric symptoms during adolescence. Some intriguing findings from this research will be published soon, under the expert guidance of Dr. Lorna Lopez and Dr. Cathy Wyse, I am sure it will be marking my career by significant strides in both genetic and data analysis. In addition, I attended a meeting with the FamilySleeps research group and external collaborators of Professor Eleisa Heron. We discussed cutting-edge genetic methods, particularly those used to identify phenotypic subtypes related to sleep and circadian rhythms. These discussions offered me cross-disciplinary training that has already begun to enhance my own research skills.
During my time at Maynooth, I also had the pleasure of meeting Professor Andrew Coogan and Dr. Cathy Wyse. Our conversations revealed shared scientific interests, particularly around the relationship between sleep and mental health across diverse populations. Professor Coogan's extensive research experience and his insights into the entire research process—right down to addressing common issues—were incredibly helpful.
On September 17th, I presented my ongoing Wellcome Trust-funded research in an open-access multidisciplinary seminar chair by Dr Lorna Lopez. This public engagement activity allowed me to share my work on applying epidemiological and genetic methods to public health issues related to sleep and mental health.
During this event, I also met with the Chrono-Epilepsy team from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), led by Professor Cristina Ruedel Reschke who invited me to a tour the labs at RCSI and FutureNeuro. In the RCSI I was warmly welcomed by postdoctoral researchers Melissa Alves Braga de Oliveira, Radharani Benvenutti, and Matheus Galas-Lopes. Melissa shows me offices and laboratories used to basic research and genomic analysis, and I have the opportunity met Professor Ciara Kelly, who shares my interest in understanding the complexities of conducting genomic studies with admixed populations.
On September 19th, I attended the Irish Society of Human Genetics (ISHG) meeting, where I had the pleasure of hearing insightful talks by Professors Aiden Corvin and Orla Hardiman. I also had the chance to meet PhD student Fiona Pantring, who is researching diverse ancestries, and many other talented researchers. Presenting a poster on my work generated stimulating discussions about the genetic aspects of sleep and mental health, which will likely lead to future collaborations.
My visit to Edinburgh University was equally productive. I delivered two talks: the first offered an in-depth overview of the Pelotas Birth Cohort, while the second presented preliminary results from my current project. These talks were hosted by the Chronopsychiatry group, sparking meaningful discussions on both topics. I also had fruitful meetings with Daniel Smith, who provided valuable insights into how ethnic groups may differ in the genetic and environmental factors influencing both sleep and mental health.
Additionally, Alex Kwong shared his experiences and methods from a recent publication, offering suggestions to optimize the statistical power of my analyses. Lorna Caddick introduced me to innovative methodological approaches they are using in two ongoing studies: "Ambient-Teens" and "Mental Health in the Moment." Our exchange of ideas left me eager to see the results of their work, and I feel excited about the potential for collaboration. An unexpected but delightful addition to my trip was my participation in an upcoming documentary about the brain and mental disorders. This experience gave me a unique perspective on how physical and sleep evaluations are conducted in clinical research settings.
In summary, my visits to Maynooth University, RCSI, and the University of Edinburgh were transformative. These collaborations have enriched my research and professional network, and I look forward to contributing to future international efforts in chronopsychiatry.
Blog by Marina Carpena
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