Anna Moon
Research Associate, Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute
- moonal@cardiff.ac.uk
- 3.44, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Overview
I am a Research Associate in the Neuroscience and Mental Health Insitute, who has always been fascinated about how our genes dictate our biology and behaviour. My research focuses on both early life stress and calcim channel genes, and how they work separately and together to increase risk for psychiatric disorders. I feel passionate about applying the incredible genetic findings in these disorders to various models in order to understand the underlying biological pathways, which may help us to develop more effective drugs for these disorders which desperately need them.
Biography
EDUCATION
2014-2018: PhD in Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics: Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University
2010-2014: BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, Cardiff University: Degree class: First Class Honours
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2018-2021: Research Associate at Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute
Title of project: Investigating genetic and environmental risk for psychosis mediated through L-Type voltage gated calcium channels
2014-2018: Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics 4 year PhD project, funded by the Medical Research Council
Supervisors: Prof Jeremy Hall, Dr Kerrie Thomas and Dr Nichola Brydges
Thesis Title: The impact of genetic variation in Cacna1c and prepubertal stress on hippocampal function
Brief Synopsis: My thesis involved using a combination of molecular and behavioural approaches in rodents to examine the effects of both genetic and environmental factors implicated in psychiatric disorders
2014-2015: First Year Rotational Projects for PhD, Cardiff University
Rotation 1: Arc in gene-environment interactions: a rodent model of prenatal stress
Rotation 2: Investigation into how the haplotype on 17q21.31 mediates risk in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy via methylation alterations
2013-2014: BSc Dissertation Project, Cardiff University
Title: The effect of high intensity interval training on serum resistin, a potential risk factor in type II diabetes mellitus
2012-2013: Wales Heart Institute, Professor Training Year: Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine (Embryology)
Title: The mechanism of action of PLCζ in mammalian oocytes
Honours and awards
- Primer Design Silver Sponsorship Award 2016 and 2017
- Shortlisted for Max Perutz Science Writing Award 2015
Speaking engagements
- The Foundation for Young People’s Mental Health: Cambridge Project to innovate early interventions for depression in young people – Invited Speaker and participant in workshops to identify and develop roadmaps for promising innovations in young people’s mental health research (2020)
- British Association for Psychopharmacology: Annual Meeting 2019, Manchester – Invited Speaker
- World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics: 2018 Meeting, Glasgow – Speaker