NCTalks with Reid Alisch: epigenetics and neuropsychiatry


In this NCTalks podcast, we speak to Dr Reid Alisch, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine (WI, USA). We recently featured the paper ‘New hope: the emerging role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in mental health and disease’ from the journal, Epigenomics, of which Reid is the senior author. In this interview for #NCMentalHealthMonth, Reid gives us a deeper insight into the paper and discusses the role of epigenetics in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as how new epigenetic research could change research and treatment practices in the future.
Summary:

00.07 – Introduction

00.30 – First, please could you tell us a little about your research background and how you became interested in the field of epigenetics in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders?

03.11 – What are your research group’s current focuses?

03.41 – Your group recently published the paper, ‘New hope: the emerging role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in mental health and disease’ – could you give us a brief outline of this research?

06.02 – What implications could recent findings around the role of DNA methylation in neurological disorders have on the future of neuropsychiatry research?

08.23 – Looking from a more clinical approach, how do you anticipate that an increased knowledge of epigenetic changes could change the way that mental health is diagnosed and treated in the future?

10.05 – And finally, what do you believe are the most exciting new avenues for epigenetics in neurology? Where do you hope that the field will be 5–10 years from now?

You can find more exclusive #NCMentalHealthMonth content here.