Stress-related psychiatric disorder research with Dr Dhanisha Jhaveri

An introduction to Dr Dhanisha’s research

Stress-related psychiatric disorders are the defining health epidemic of this century, for which treatment remains a challenge. Our research vision is to understand and recruit neuroplasticity mechanisms to promote resilience to and recovery from these disorders.

Our research findings will provide a new understanding of how stress regulates key neuroplasticity mechanisms in the brain that contribute to cognition and mood-related behaviour and will aid the development of resilience-enhancing therapeutics.

We use multi-level approaches to visualise and manipulate molecular and cellular mechanisms in the brain and study their effects on behaviour using preclinical models. These include transgenic mouse models, viral vectors, optogenetic manipulation, and cognitive- and mood-related behavioural tests.

Dr Dhanisha Jhaveri

Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader, Mater Research and Queensland Brain Institute (QBI)

Researcher profile

Using pre-clinical models in research 

Pre-clinical models are vital to establish cause-and-effect relationships and to identify key cell types, genes and neural circuits underpinning the link between chronic stress and psychiatric disorders. Discovering neurobiological mechanisms that drive stress response and recovery will enable the development of next generation of therapeutic strategies to combat these mood-related disorders.

Dr Jhaveri’s findings

Using molecular, cellular and behavioural approaches in mouse models, we have discovered how chronic stress impacts the production and integration of new neurons (i.e. neurogenesis) in the adult brain and have demonstrated that this neuroplasticity could be harnessed to promote resilience.

This research establishes adult neurogenesis as a key neuroplasticity mechanism that modulates stress-induced mood-related behaviour and mental health and could become target of new therapeutic approaches.

Future research opportunities 

As always, the process of scientific enquiry opens up more questions than it answers. Deciphering how specific genes identified in our current study regulate brain circuits and alter mood-related behaviour will be the next major challenge.

Dr Jhaveri’s advice to others 

Uncovering ways to promote mental health and well being is a major challenge of our society. Be creative, bold and fearless to pursue this challenge with a vision to help and contribute in this area.