Neurogenetics Researchers Identify Stress Disorders of Maine People a Priority for Further Investigation (Eastern Maine Healthcare News Release)
Contact: Karen Cashman, (207) 973-6164.
(Bar Harbor, Maine) September 14 -15, 80 Maine scientists, researchers, and students gathered at the Mount Desert Biological Laboratories to discuss the most leading issues in neurogenetics that affect the health of Maine people. The conference, hosted by the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health, supports the institute’s mission to facilitate research in Maine that will ultimately lead to new treatments and decrease the risk of neurologic and psychiatric diseases statewide.
“The Neurogenetics Consortium Conference was a huge success,” commented Marie Hayes, PhD, professor, University of Maine, and allied senior scientist at the genetics institute, “The two-day event was filled with catalytic research discussion and productive networking. We established new collaborations and brainstormed across a wide variety of levels from bench science to translational research.”
The importance of neuroscience and neurogenetics research relates fundamentally to genetic and environmental factors that promote stress responses, which over the long term can compromise health. Future work, ignited from the conference, will explore synergies across the neuroscience research laboratories statewide. One effort, identified as a priority for Maine, will focus on the neurogenetics of stress and stress disorders. “Like much of the American population, Maine has a high rate of stress disorders with lifetime risk of approximately 30 percent. The long term health impact is reflected in an increase of compromised cardiac and immune function, risk of addiction, and psychiatric disease. Through collaboration with our partners across the state, we hope to find ways to decrease the risk of stress disorder, which in turn will decrease the risk of the many illnesses that are associated with it,” says, Dr. Hayes.
Future research is supported by seed grant funding, $220,000 invested by the institute. During the conference eight out of 14 research groups statewide were awarded funding to plan for individual and interinstitutional grant submissions in the current months.
The Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health is a member of EMHS. Together, EMHS members readily share best practices and support innovation and research to improve the lives of Maine people. Together We’re Stronger!