Mental illnesses are thought to result from the combined influence of genes and environment. While studies have identified critical risk periods for the development of mental illnesses, the biological bases for these diseases have remained elusive until recently. The field of epigenetics seeks to identify the biological markers that reflect the interaction of a person’s genes and the environments they experience.
In this talk, I will discuss the evidence for these biological markers that can be influenced by environmental exposures such as ACEs. These epigenetic changes can result in the dysregulation of normal stress response and underwrite a number of mental and general health problems. Since early environmental insults may leave a measurable epigenetic mark, I will discuss the discovery of epigenetic biomarkers capable of predicting risk to future mental illness. As an example, I will highlight work in our laboratory on an epigenetic biomarker for HPA axis dysregulation and future risk of suicidal behaviors. Click here to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.c...r/821545572149318402
Zachary A. Kaminsky, PhD
Assistant Professor
Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine
Department of Psychiatry
Dr. Kaminsky trained in one of the first labs studying epigenetics in psychiatry. He had investigated epigenetic influences on suicide, post partum depression and PTSD where he generated some of the first and most widely replicating epigenetic biomarkers in psychiatry. He is working on the development of disease predictive biomarkers. Dr. Kaminsky attempts to better understand the molecular epigenetic underpinnings of psychiatric conditions to enable the generation of “bench to bedside” translational findings.
The Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) is a national organization comprised of individuals and groups from all sectors and walks of life working together to create a better future by promoting trauma-informed policy and practice. This webinar is being organized by the CTIPP Science Committee chaired by David L. Shern, Ph.D., along with co-chair Jonathan Purtle, DrPH, MSc.
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