This Science Café was dedicated to ‘genes and molecular insights into mental wellbeing’. As always, in the Science Café experienced young experts and researchers exchange ideas and scientific updates from the different work packages* in our consortium.  

Cohort study on gene-environment-interaction

First guest was Dr. Sinan Gülöksüz. He is vice-coordinator of the Youth-GEMs project and lead of work package 5. In this work package researchers are investigating the interaction between genes and environmental factors by analysing large cohorts of data from different European countries and Australia. He updated the young experts on the organization of the cohort study.

Molecular insights into mental wellbeing

Sanne Berkers and Anna Wiersema came back to update on their work. They investigate how genes and environmental factors influence each other. The DNA-code (found in cells) has impact on how we experience our environment and vice versa. Anna and Sanne do their research in labs where they engineer the DNA-code from human cells and compare them to cells with different DNA-codes. They study (changes in) morphology and behavior in order to find out which DNA-codes are more responsive to stress and how they differentiate for example in electrophysiology (which determines how they communicate).

We’d like to share some of the valuable remarks of the young experts on the research in general and how to communicate about it:

• Try to be very clear about the goals and objectives of the research and explain the impact of (future) insights in every day live.
• Think about the language and how to formulate insights. For example: be clear about the fact that there is no direct relationship between genetic risks and mental well-being but that other factors/environment are very important too. Low genetic risk may therefore cause mental health problems and vice versa.
• Be aware of the cultural diversity in how to define and diagnose mental health. It is therefore better to focus on recognisable experiences rather than label.
• Be aware of the type of audience. It is more comfortable to talk to people one can relate to, especially if they have similar experiences. Advices and/or exchanging experiences have more impact if they come from people with lived experiences.
• Explain in more detail what exercises or interventions do in the body and why they are helpful.
• Combine scientific research with insights from lived experiences. Be aware of (and use) the power of storytelling.
• Embrace chaos 😉.