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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Engineering bacteria to detect colorectal cancer cells
An international team of researchers from Adelaide and the United States has engineered bacteria capable of detecting mutated DNA released from colorectal cancer cells, opening the door to faster disease detection.
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Professor Matthew Kiernan
BRAIN AND MIND CENTRE
@ UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA -
Forensic psychiatry research in the setting of the justice system
Prof Kimberlie Dean is Head of the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health at UNSW. She was appointed to the inaugural Chair in Forensic Mental Health at UNSW in 2011, a joint appointment with Justice Health NSW. She also holds a Clinical Academic appointment as a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist with Justice Health NSW. She is Academic Program Director for the Masters Forensic Mental Health at UNSW.
