RESEARCHER PROFILE
Professor Divya Mehta, Principal Research Fellow
Stress Genomics Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences
QUT (Queensland University of Technology), Australia
Understanding the interaction between genes and lifestyle factors in response to stress can lead to potential therapeutic interventions for stress-related disorders. This research is crucial for promoting health and well-being.
Professor Divya Mehta works as a Principal Research Fellow at the Stress Genomics Laboratory, in QUT (Queensland University of Technology) in Australia, specialising in stress genomics and mental health. Her education started in the UK with undergraduate and Masters, followed by her PhD in Germany and postdoctoral at Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry. 11 years ago Professor Mehta moved to Australia.
Her focus is research is understanding how genes and lifestyle factors interact to drive our response to stress, particularly in emergency responders, veterans, and elite athletes, with a focus on epigenetics.
Epigenetics are the dynamic part of our DNA, that change across our lifetime in response to stress, exercise, social support, and nutrition, impacting our overall health.
Social support can reduce and reverse negative impacts of stress on genes, leading to potential therapeutic interventions for stress-related disorders.
Research at the intersection of statistics, genomics, and mental health can provide valuable insights into the devastating impact of mental health disorders on individuals, families, and communities.
Professor Mehta has recently commenced research into elite athlete physical and mental health impact performance, with research at the intersection of statistics, genomics, and mental health. This research is ahead of, and in anticipation of, the Summer Olympics in Brisbane in 2032.
Understanding the drivers of health and well-being is crucial for ensuring a happy and healthy life, which is Professor Mehta’s passion. Outside of the work environment, she also enjoys sports, volunteering for animal rescue, and spending time with family.
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Genetics of the choroid and impact on eye health
Dr Samantha Lee is a Senior Research Fellow at Lions Eye Institute and the University of Western Australia. Dr Lee obtained her PhD in 2017 and the Queensland University of Technology and has since been working on the genetics and environmental causes of various eye diseases, with a focus on glaucoma and myopia. She has published 57 full-length scientific papers and her work has been cited over 1,000 times. She serves on the Editorial Board for the journal BMC Ophthalmology and Scientific Reports, and on the Research Advisory Committee for the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia.
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Good and bad extracellular vesicles in health and disease
Associate Professor Joy Wolfram has joint appointments in the School of Chemical Engineering and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland, and through her work at the AIBN, she aims to develop a new paradigm of therapeutics (using nanotechnology and cell products) to treat life-threatening diseases that are major causes of death globally, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and breast cancer.
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Earlier identification and early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
As Director of NextSense Institute, Professor Leigh is responsible for leading the not-for-profit organisation’s world-class research and education programs and facilities. He has held a variety of positions in the education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing before entering academia. He holds a degree in Special Education from Griffith University, a Master of Science (Speech and Hearing) from Washington University and a PhD in Special Education from Monash University. In 2001, he was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and in 2014, he was invested as an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished services to the deaf and hard of hearing community.
