Scholars' Day 2018

On February 23, 2018, Mental Health Research UK (MHRUK) trustees, PhD students, their supervisors and supporters braved an uncharacteristically cold London day to attend the Annual Scholars’ Day, hosted at the Wellcome Trust. This annual day of research and networking is a chance to meet MHRUK trustees, supporters, and other MHRUK-funded scholars. This year’s event attracted over 50 people, and it has been exciting to see the growth of Scholars’ Day over the past 3 years that I have been attending this event.

We were welcomed by Prof Clair Chilvers, Chair of Trustees, who noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of MHRUK as a registered charity. In this time, they have funded 16 Scholarships, and have plans for future exciting opportunities for research psychiatrists.

Scholars’ day showcases a tremendous variety of psychiatric research, and this year’s presentations did not disappoint! Delegates from across the UK presented active research projects in suicide (Andrea Fernandes, Kamelia Harris, Hannah Scott), schizophrenia & psychosis (Christina Filannino, Jyothika Kumar, Poppy Brown, Heather McDonald, and me – (Jen Dykxhoorn), bipolar disorder (Sumit Mistry), post-traumatic stress disorder (Milan Wiedemann), anxiety and depression (Daisy Parker), obsessive compulsive disorder (Marjan Biria), and emerging psychological difficulties in adolescence (Lucie Crowter).

In addition to covering a wide breadth of mental health conditions, each presentation showcased novel methodologies – from systematic reviews to genetic studies, qualitative narrative synthesis to EEG brain scans.

This is my 3rd Scholars’ Day, and the annual opportunity to present my research and get comments from other researchers, trustees, and supporters. These conversations have highlighted new perspectives on my research, which has enriched my work. Despite coming from diverse backgrounds and fields, each participant is passionate about understanding mental health better.

I am certain the coming year will be filled with success – with several scholars near completion of their PhD, and others on track to publish papers and present findings at international conferences.

I am so grateful to Mental Health Research UK for providing support to make this research possible and I look forward to next year’s Scholars’ Day!

Jen Dykxhoorn
PhD candidate, UCL Division of Psychiatry
jennifer.dykxhoorn.15@ucl.ac.uk
@jen.dykxhoorn

Below are all the presentations from the day.

Andrea Fernandes Presentation


Jyothica Kumar Presentation














Cristina Filannino Presentation


 

Jennifer Dykxhoorn Presentation
















Sumit Mistry Presentation


Milan Wiedemann Presentation



















Kamelia Harris Presentation


Poppy Brown Presentation

















Heather McDonald Presentation



Lucie Crowter Presentation
















Hannah Scott Presentation


Daisy Parker Presentation






















Marjan Biria presentation




                                     








                            







For details of Scholars' Day 2017, click on the link