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Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care

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Psychobiology

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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 investigating 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 neuro-endocrine 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 BurtonDr Feifei Bu, Dr Dorina Cadar, Dr Meg FluhartyDr Giorgio di Gessa, Dr Alexandra Lyons, Dr Karen MakDr Thomas May,  Dr Lydia Poole, Angela (Eun-Jung) Shim, Katey WarranLiam 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 

Current PhD Projects

Completed Projects 


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