Global attendees discover cutting-edge research at Fourteenth Annual Summer School in Brain Disorders Research

The Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG) at Cardiff University welcomed 48 attendees from across the world to their 14^th annual summer school in Brain Disorders Research.

The school takes place from Monday 8 July to Thursday 12 July in the Hadyn Ellis Building. The four-day programme aims to provide medical trainees and researchers a grounding in brain disorders research, hoping to inspire and inform the researchers of tomorrow. This year the school attracted its largest cohort of attendees, and delegates travelled internationally from China, India, and around Europe.

This year’s programme included talks on topics ranging from genetic research, such as Professor Anthony Isles’s work with preclinical mouse models for schizophrenia, and Professor Arianna Di Florio’s reproductive psychiatry and mental health research.

The centre was pleased to welcome Dr Mathew Hoskins back to the summer school to share crucial updates into his research for the use of psychedelics in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Attendees had the opportunity to tour the cutting-edge facilities technology available at Cardiff University, such as the neuro-imaging facilities at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC).

Attendees also participated in practical workshops that provided valuable insight and personalised advice into career pathways and funding opportunities for clinical and non-clinical professionals, hosted by Dr Kimberley Kendall and Dr William Davies.

Attendee Dr Pradeep Dheerendra, a Research Associate in School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Glasgow, reflected on the week:

“I am grateful to the CNGG, Cardiff University for organising such an excellent event and giving me an opportunity to participate in this summer school where I learnt so much about such varied topics. I hope to take the learnings from the summer school to help me further my research."

“If you wish to learn about genetics of psychiatric and neurological disorders and get a chance to participate in this annual summer school on Brain Disorders Research then do not miss it as it is a great learning opportunity.”

Read more about Dr Dheerendra’s experience at the summer school in a blog post covering the programme.

Summer School 2025

The CNGG’s next summer school will take place in July 2025.

The dates and details of how to apply will be finalised later this year.

If you are interested in attending, please visit the centre’s Summer School page in early February when details on how to apply will be published.