Podcast series
The ECNP podcast series brings you conversations with some of the leading researchers in applied neuroscience, discussing their work, their career, their vision on the field, and why they do what they do.
*Views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official position of ECNP. The content of this podcast should not be used in any way as the basis for treatment decisions.
Tribulations and perks of building a career in the neuroscience landscape* — April 2024
Duration: 37 mins
The building of an academic career can be a beautiful but challenging road. Anna Beyeler, France, is a principal investigator at the French Institute of Health (INSERM). In this podcast, Ilse Graat, the Netherlands, talks with her about the ups and downs of her academic career path and how she currently helps early career scientists in building their own career. Amongst other things, she highlights that there should be more attention for the full range of neuroscience careers, not only emphasizing careers in academia.
Read more about Anna Beyeler and Ilse Graat.
PRISM 2 project – Precision medicine for psychiatry: from brain function to behaviour* — March 2024
Duration: 37 mins
The PRISM 2 project aims to develop a quantitative biological approach to the understanding of neuropsychiatric diseases. In this episode Abi Abrahams interviews Martien Kas and Hugh Marston, where they discussed the aims and legacy of the PRISM 2 project. Conversation covered areas such as industry and academia collaboration, advice for early career scientists, and their hopes for the future in the field of neuropsychiatry.
Read more about Martien Kas, Hugh Marston and Abigail Abrahams.
From tokenism to empowerment: lived experience experts in research* — February 2024
Duration: 38 mins
Lived experience experts bring unique insights and perspectives to the research process. In this podcast, Vanessa Pinfold, United Kingdom, and Annemiek van Berkel, the Netherlands, discuss how to truly engage lived experience in research. As research director at the McPin Foundation, Vanessa has over a decade experience on how to put lived experience at the core of mental health research. She shares strategies and practical tips on how to ensure meaningful involvement - especially for those who would like to start but unsure how. Join this insightful conversation and get inspired!
Read more about Vanessa Pinfold and Annemiek van Berkel.
Why sex differences matter in applied neuroscience* — January 2024
Duration: 43 mins
In this podcast, pharmacologist Christina Dalla, shares with Aiste Lengvenyte, France, her journey into the world of sex differences in depression models and antidepressant response. They discuss why sex matters in neuroscience and how it should be integrated into research. Christina also shares the challenges and rewards of her career and gives insight into the role of sex and gender in the future of applied neuroscience.
Read more about Christina Dalla and Aiste Lengvenyte.
The paradox of wealth and mental health* — April 2023
Duration: 39 mins
We are more prosperous, but mentally sicker than ever. Does prosperity bring bad luck? In this podcast Damiaan Denys, the Netherlands, and Ilse Graat, the Netherlands, discuss the paradox of greater economic wealth and the increase of mental complaints. Additionally, Damiaan talks about the choices he made as an early career researcher, his professional journey and his reasons to combine philosophy, psychiatry, clinical work and scientific research. One of his research topics focusses on confidence and in this podcast he explains that confidence abnormalities are associated with different psychiatric disorders.
Read more about Damiaan Denys and Ilse Graat.
Challenges in youth mental health – awareness, prevention and access to treatment*— February 2023
Duration: 35 mins
The Covid pandemic created a beneficial momentum in mental health research. In this podcast, Celso Arango, Spain, and Aiste Lengvenyte, France, discuss the challenges in youth mental health including —awareness, prevention and access to treatment. They also talk about the latest discoveries on the causes of neurodevelopmental conditions and the need for a more dimensional approach in mental health.
Read more about Celso Arango and Aiste Lengvenyte.
Psychedelic research: the what, why and how* — February 2023
Duration: 35 mins
The use of psychedelics in the treatment of psychiatric disorders has been receiving widespread attention from the nonprofessional and scientific community for the last few years. The practice of taking a small, non-psychedelic dose of LSD or psilocybin to improve particular behaviour, emotions, or a psychiatric condition is claimed to be effective by its users. In this podcast Ilse Graat, the Netherlands, interviews Kim Kuypers, the Netherlands, on her path towards psychedelics, discussing where this young research field stands and where it is heading, including new research on microdosing yet to be explored.
Read more about Kim Kuypers and interviewer Ilse Graat.
In part one of the two-part podcast series, recorded during the 35th ECNP Congress 2022 in Vienna, PhD student Veerle van Gils, the Netherlands, and senior clinical scientist and psychologist Silke Matura, Germany, discuss the role of dysfunctional insulin signalling as modulator of mental and non-mental chronic diseases. They are both part of the PRIME (Prevention and Remediation of Insulin Multimorbidity in Europe) project trying to identify and specify the molecular mechanisms underlying insulin comorbidities.
Would you like to know ‘why we just don’t do the things we know are good for us'? Listen to part two of the podcast series with Silke Matura and Veerle van Gils.
Learn more on the effects of lifestyle on cognition and get familiar with the various techniques used to measure different types of cognition.
Read more about Veerle van Gils and Silke Matura.
On what it was like to be an Early Career Scientist two decades ago, comorbidities in ADHD, being part of the ECNP Network ADHD across the lifespan and the impact of the pandemic* — March 2022
Duration: 45 mins
Andreas Reif, Germany, past-chair of the Scientific Programme Committee (SPC), is in conversation with Early Career Advisory Panel (ECAP) past chair Nils Opel, Germany. Andreas Reif, who studies molecular underpinnings of neuropsychiatric disorders, talks about his life in science and how science has sped up since he started his career. In addition, he shares some advice on how to ensure a successful career start, elaborates on his participation in research networks and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on research and mental health.
Read more about Andreas Reif and interviewer Nils Opel.
On the value of scientific work, collaboration and communication, the younger generation and being a woman in science*— March 2022
Duration: 30 mins
ECNP President Gitte Moos Knudsen, Denmark talks about neurobiology, her personal career history and future plans.
Additionally, she gives advice to early career researchers on creating a successful career without neglecting personal life.
Read more about Gitte Moos Knudsen and interviewer Sofi Atshemyan.
Mechanisms behind emotional processing and drug response in the treatment of depression and anxiety*— February 2022
Duration: 45 mins
Catherine Harmer, United Kingdom, talks about her personal research path and the major findings on the mechanisms behind emotional processing and depression. She also discusses the novel findings on the cognitive mechanisms of the response to drugs used in the treatment of depression and anxiety.
Read more about Catherine Harmer and interviewer Aiste Lengvenyte.
Duration: 22 mins
Declan Murphy, United Kingdom, is project coordinator of AIMS-2-TRIALS. The goal of the project is to better understand autism, to test new medicines, to better analyse data and to explore policies on autism. In this podcast, Prof Murphy shares his thoughts about the project and the future of autism research.
Inaugural podcast — On career, research, and the renaissance of psychedelics*— March 2021
Duration: 36 mins
David Nutt, United Kingdom, a leading expert in neuropsychopharmacology, shares his thoughts about the major findings in brain science and the future of psychiatry. He also talks about his curious path as a psychiatrist-turned-researcher and a fierce advocate for evidence-based treatments and policies.
Read more about David Nutt and interviewer Aiste Lengvenyte.
