Neurogenomics is a multidisciplinary field at the intersection of neuroscience and genomics, focusing on understanding how genes influence the development, structure, function, and disorders of the nervous system. The Neurogenomics research program explores the genetic basis of various neurological processes and conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Sub-cortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy), concussion, human neurogenesis, depression, epilepsy, memory, migraine, postnatal depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia. The Program aims to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms in patients and biologically relevant human models to develop new and personalised treatments or interventions tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup.
Program Leader: Associate Professor Divya Mehta
Associate Professor Divya Mehta is a geneticist and biostatistician with an international reputation in statistical genomics in mental health, with a focus on Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. The aim of her research is to identify the biological mechanisms of mental health disorders and understand how environmental risk factors such as stress, diet, exercise and sleep affect our gene activity and function. By investigating short and long-term trajectories of health after exposure to trauma in a range of populations, her research has identified novel acute and chronic markers of stress and stress-related health outcomes. Her research integrates psychological, social, genomics and clinical data to identify risk and protective factors associated with the response to trauma, providing knowledge that will facilitate early detection, improved diagnosis and personalised treatment of stress-related disorders. View Associate Professor Divya Mehta’s profileDeputy Program Leader: Dr Heidi Sutherland
I am a researcher in molecular biology and genetics, with an interest in how genomic information orchestrates the complicated processes associated with the development and life of an organism. I have been working in the fields of gene expression, epigenetics, nuclear structure and function, mouse development and human genetics, completing a PhD at The University of Sydney, Australia, followed by a post-doc at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh, UK. I am now a Senior Research Fellow in the Genomics Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Australia, investigating the genetic basis of complex human traits and disorders. View Dr Heidi Sutherland's academic profile.