Uncovering the roots of psychiatric disorders

Many mental illnesses appear later in life, but their origins start much earlier—in the developing brain. In this talk, I will take you on a journey into how the brain builds itself before birth, and how tiny changes in that process can increase the risk for mental disorders decades later. 

By using insights from my recent research, I will share our efforts to identify the precise periods of brain development, brain regions, and cell types most sensitive to disruptions. I will also talk about the key insights that can help us to better understand conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. 

My goal is to show how understanding the brain’s earliest building blocks might help us reshape approaches to treating psychiatric disorders.

(Photo: Shutterstock)