Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Investigating how the immune system and sleep disorders affect mental health.

Theme Mental health

Researchers in this workstream are investigating whether problems with the immune system and with sleep contribute to causing certain types of mental illness.

For instance, we are studying whether anti-inflammatory medication can improve symptoms of psychosis in young people. We are also working to identify blood-based biomarkers that could help predict how patients will respond to new treatments for depression and psychosis. Finally, we are testing medication that changes sleep patterns. We want to see if it can improve cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Our analysis of large datasets will give us more information on the safety of medications in pregnancy. This is important because pregnant women are typically excluded from clinical trials testing the effectiveness of new medications.

Our researchers are also working on strategies to increase the number of people with neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism spectrum disorder) taking part in clinical trials. This will allow well-designed trials to take place in this underserved group.

View all research projects

Targeting inflammation to treat psychosis

The Psychosis Immune Mechanism Stratified Medicine (PIMS) trial is a proof-of-concept, randomised, double blind, placebo…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Psychosis prediction in primary care

This project aims to explore whether it would be feasible and acceptable for primary care…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Exploring safe moderation of online suicide and self-harm content

The aim of this project is to assess the impact of blocking online self-harm content.

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Informing a digital intervention for self-harm

Previous longitudinal research has helped us understand lifetime/long-term predictors of self-harm thoughts and behaviour (SHTB).

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Identifying biomarkers for treatment response and disease prognosis

The aim of this project is to identify biomarkers that could help us predict how…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Brainteract

The aim of this project is to understand the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Using virtual reality to develop novel treatments for eating disorders

The aim of this project is to develop novel treatments for eating disorders using immersive…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions