Clone of Clone of Clone of Clone of Psychobiology

The Psychobiology research group is concerned with the pathways through which sociodemographic and psychosocial factors influence mental and physical disease processes. A major aim of the group is to understand how socioeconomic factors (e.g. social status), psychological states (e.g. depression, positive psychological wellbeing), and social factors (e.g. isolation, loneliness, and social and cultural engagement) 'get under the skin', and influence biological functions in health and disease. We have a particular interest in health at older ages, including long-term conditions such as diabetes and cognitive decline and dementia. A second theme is the investigation of lifestyle and patterns of health and social behaviours, and how behaviours interact with biological processes to affect disease risk. Our research includes experimental studies focusing on neuroendocrine and neuro-immune biomarkers, behaviour change interventions, clinical trials and implementation science studies, and secondary data analyses of cohort studies and electronic patient records.

Group members

Academic staff: Professor Andrew Steptoe, Dr Daisy Fancourt

Research staff: Dr Olesya Ajnakina, Dr Alexandra Burton, Dr Feifei Bu, Dr Dorina Cadar, Dr Meg Fluharty, Dr Giorgio di Gessa, Dr Alexandra Lyons, Dr Karen Mak, Dr Thomas May,  Dr Lydia Poole, Angela (Eun-Jung) Shim, Katey Warran, Liam Wright, Vas James

PhD Students: Gireesh Aswathikutty, Mifuyu Akasaki, Henry Aughterson, Chris Evans, Saoirse Finn, Philipp Frank, Joyce (Yun-Ting) Huang, Eleonora Iob, Pamela Almeida Meza, Laura Panagi, Keir Philip, Emma Walker

Contact 

This group is led by Professor Andrew Steptoe (a.steptoe@ucl.ac.uk)

Research 

Ongoing Projects 

• Arts, Society and Public Health
• Cortisol Output and Academic Stress Study
• Cultural Contexts of Health
• Depression across Physical Illnesses
• Diabetes Study
• Discrimination and Health
• English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) 
• EpiArts Lab
• Get Creative
• Healthy Cognitive Ageing Project (ELSA-HCAP)
• MARCH Network: Social, Cultural and Community Assets and Mental Health
• Polygenic Score (PGS) study
• SHAPER
• Social determinants of dementia in the UK and Japan
• The Health, Economic and Social Impact of Arts engagement (HEartS)

Current PhD Projects

• Diabetes, glycaemic control and wellbeing (Laura Panagi)
• Depression and inflammation (Samantha Lawes)
• Early life psychosocial adversity, HPA-axis function, and stress-related mental disorders (Eleonora Iob)

Completed Projects 

• Acute Coronary Syndrome: Emotions and Triggers (ACCENT) Study
• Adjustment and Recovery after Cardiac Surgery (ARCS) Study 
• Daytracker Study 
• Exercise Withdrawal and Stress Study 
• Heart Scan Study
• International Health and Behaviour Survey
• Promoting Independence in Dementia (PRIDE)
• Shape-Up Sister
• Silent Ischemia Study 
• Stress, Immunity and Mood Study 
• Stress Pathways Study
• Tracking Recovery after Cardiac Events (TRACE) Study 
• Whitehall Psychobiology Study 

Publications - Andrew Steptoe

RPS Widget Placeholderhttps://research-reports.ucl.ac.uk/RPSDATA.SVC/pubs/ASTEP39

 

 

Publications - Daisy Fancourt

RPS Widget Placeholderhttps://research-reports.ucl.ac.uk/RPSDATA.SVC/pubs/dfanc73