World Mental Health Day: ECR Research Spotlight

This World Mental Health Day, we are excited to announce the launch of our ECR Research Spotlight series.

We wanted to shine a light on some of the amazing research being done by Early Career Researchers across the Circadian Mental Health Network.

We invited Early Career Researchers (ECRs) working in the field of mental health, sleep and circadian rhythms to share their current and ongoing work in our upcoming series of blogs.

These exciting blogs cover a range of the latest research happening in mental health and circadian science, including stem cell models, Daylight Savings Time, exploring different devices to measure sleep and activity, and much more.

We have fourteen exciting blogs from across the Network to share with you. Check out this sneak peak of the research spotlights coming soon.

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The great time debate: What does the science say about daylight saving time (DST) and our health? Aiste Steponenaite (University of Kent)

Twice a year we change our clocks for DST, but does this affect our health? One of my projects looks at all the scientific evidence to see if shifting the clock has acute impact on things like our risk of a heart attack, traffic accidents, or how much sleep we get. We found the evidence is quite mixed, with a few clear and high confidence findings for positive as well as negative effects due to time transitions. Ultimately, our work is clarifying the true impact of the clock change so we can have a more informed public discussion about DST.

Influence of sex steroid hormones on neuroendocrine effects of light Carolina Guidolin (University of Munich)

Light affects not only how we see but also how our body functions: it influences sleep, alertness, and hormone rhythms. My PhD research explores how sex hormones, such as oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, change our sensitivity to light. We will test how light affects pupil responses and the hormone melatonin in women with natural menstrual cycles, women taking the contraceptive pill, and men. By understanding how hormonal changes shape our responses to light, this research aims to make scientific studies more inclusive and improve recommendations for healthy sleep and light exposure.

Subjective experiences of sleep in bipolar disorder- Insights from the recent SubSleep study Raahat Manrai (University of Edinburgh)

SubSleep is a project exploring how people with bipolar disorder think and feel about their sleep. It looks at how things like bedroom setup, daily mood, and mental health influence how well they sleep. The study uses friendly conversations and images to help guide discussions between researchers and participants. By talking openly and using visual prompts, we hope to learn more about the everyday factors that shape sleep and sleep quality.

How Sleep Treatment Changes the Brain in Depression Emily Stanyer & Islay Campbell (University of Oxford)

We are interested in understanding how improving sleep could help with depression treatment. There is evidence that sleep problems contribute to depression, and improving sleep may help reduce depression symptoms. Previous research has shown that we can improve sleep and depression using behavioural sleep interventions. However, it is unclear how these treatments affect the structure and function of the brain especially in people with depression and insomnia. We want to compare the effects of two sleep treatments on brain function (MRI), sleep, and mental health. We hope this study will improve understanding of how sleep influences brain health and well-being.

Using stem cell derived retinal organoids to investigate circadian rhythms in bipolar disorder Sally Harwood (Newcastle University)

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mood disorder with episodes of mania and depression. Disruption of circadian rhythms (the 24-hr internal clocks that maintain functioning) is likely a key feature. Lithium is a BD treatment, but how this works is unknown.

We aim to understand circadian dysfunction in BD and how Lithium corrects this. The main circadian input is light, detected by the eye’s retina. We created model patient retinas, called retinal organoids. These were exposed to light mimicking days and nights. Circadian gene and protein measurements revealed abnormalities in BD. Next, lithium will be applied, and any changes observed.

Circadian disturbances as a pathophysiological mechanism of mood disorders

Emiliana Tonini (University of Sydney)

Mood disorders are very different from person to person, which makes it hard to find the right treatment. My research focuses on a particular subtype of mood disorder that seems to be linked to problems with the circadian rhythm, our body’s internal 24-hour clock. People with this “circadian type” of depression appear to have unique genetic risk patterns and often don’t respond as well to standard antidepressants. By studying their biology, I aim to help match people to treatments that work better for them, especially therapies that restore healthy sleep and circadian rhythms.

Radar Sensing for Sleep Research Lorna Caddick (University of Edinburgh)

Regular and sufficient sleep is crucial for healthy living and to promote positive mental health. Typical methods used to study changes in our sleep, such as activity bands or diaries, are not always well-tolerated by many individuals especially for extended periods of time. Therefore, contactless radar-based sleep sensors provide potential for continuous measurement of sleep for many months. We aim to explore if radar sensors are feasible and accepted by adolescents. We also aim to use these sensors in individuals with bipolar disorder to look for changes and patterns in their sleep over 18 months.

Adversities as Key Factor in the Sleep-Mental Health Relationship Marina Carpena (Federal University of Pelotas)

My research explores why some teenagers develop mental health challenges or sleep problems while others don't. We find that the answer isn't just in their genes or their environment alone, but in the combination of both. We discovered that growing up in poverty can change how genetic risk for conditions like ADHD or depression plays out. This shows that improving socioeconomic conditions doesn't just help a few—it has the potential to create a healthier environment for all children, allowing their unique genetic strengths and vulnerabilities to be seen more clearly.

Using big data and genetics to understand how insomnia impact the relationship between depression and T2D Renu Bala (University of Exeter)

Ever noticed how depression and diabetes are besties in the worst way? Scientists have been puzzled over why these two love to tag along together. While risk factors like body mass index play some role in this, another major culprit might be sleep. Sleep problems like insomnia seem to fuel this toxic relationship, increasing diabetes risk in people with depression and vice-versa. Our research shows that depression and diabetes share genetic factors, with insomnia acting as a partial mediator and an independent risk factor. Therefore, prioritizing good sleep isn’t just about feeling rested, it could help protect both mental and physical health.

Finding Our Rhythm: The Role of Circadian Science in Mental Health Emma Ryan (Maynooth University)

I work on the Ambient-BD project which explores how sleep and daily rhythms affect people with bipolar disorder. Problems with sleep and our body’s internal clock can influence mood and trigger relapses. Traditional ways of measuring this are complicated and only capture short snapshots of time. In Ambient-BD, we are testing radar sensors that quickly track sleep and circadian timing at home over three months. By comparing these to gold-standard methods, we aim to better understand how daily rhythms affect mood and wellbeing and help find better ways of supporting people with bipolar disorder.

Tired Minds, Stubborn Emotions: How Does Sleep Shape Our Daily Mood? Emma Sullivan (University of York)

Everyone experiences sadness, but for some, negative moods (e.g. feeling down) are difficult to shake off. Understanding why negative moods persist and how to manage them is key to mental health. This study examines how sleep influences daily moods using both real-world and lab-based methods.

Over 7 days, participants will rate their mood several times a day using a smartphone app and wear a wristwatch that tracks sleep. They will then attend an overnight lab session, including questionnaires, sleep monitoring, and a task involving emotional responses to film clips.

The study aims to identify ways to enhance mood through better sleep.

How sleep can help us spot early signs of mental health challenges Abiola Saka (University of Bristol)

I study how sleep and daily activity patterns, captured through wearable devices, might reveal early signs of mental health issues in young people with a genetic condition linked to psychiatric risk. I’m also working to apply these insights to maternal mental health, aiming to create digital tools that help mothers monitor and improve their sleep and wellbeing, especially in low-resource settings.

How our internal clock affects our mood Valentina Paz (Universidad de la República)

I study how the body’s internal clock—known as the circadian system—affects mental health, with a focus on depression. Although disruptions in circadian rhythms have been linked to depression, it remains unclear which alterations are most relevant and whether they play a causal role. I use a combination of methods, including self-report questionnaires, actigraphy (to track activity), and biological markers such as melatonin, cortisol, and body temperature. I also apply epidemiological methods to explore population-level associations. My goal is to improve understanding of how circadian rhythms influence mental health, ultimately contributing to the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Novel targets for memory impairment in depression: Harnessing the potential of coupled sleep oscillations Alexandra Stainton (University of Melbourne and Orygen)

Memory problems are common in depression and affect daily life, but they are not well understood and therefore go untreated. During sleep two natural brain waves (sleep spindles and slow oscillations) play a key role in transferring new memories to long-term storage. Recent research suggests these sleep-related brain waves may be disrupted in depression, potentially impairing memory functioning. This pilot study explores how these brain waves impact memory in young people with depression. This is an important age group to study because this is when depression usually has its first onset.