Global Perspectives: The Significance of Visiting Scholars in Research and Teaching at the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences - Part 3 of 4: Dr. Claire Gillan, PhD
BACKGROUND
Claire Gillan, leading her laboratory at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, employs cognitive neuroscience methodologies to investigate the factors that predispose individuals to mental health disorders. Leveraging this understanding, her research aims to predict, in advance, the onset of such illnesses and to enhance treatment efficacy by aligning patients with the most appropriate therapeutic interventions, embodying the principles of precision medicine. Her laboratory notably utilizes citizen science approaches (where the public voluntarily helps conduct scientific research), employing a smartphone application to amass data from thousands of participants who might otherwise lack the time to engage in traditional research studies. "This strategy enables us to augment the reliability of our observations and, more uniquely, to examine the development and evolution of mental health issues within individuals over time," Claire remarked.
OPPORTUNITIES
Claire has been a regular visitor to the Twin Cities over the past 12 years, during which time she has established significant collaborations with colleagues at the University. These connections have enabled her to initiate joint projects with members of our department. Currently, Claire is collaborating with Dr. Alik Widge, MD, PhD on brain stimulation research and with Dr. Christine Conelea, PhD on aspects of Tourette Syndrome. One downside of her involvement in citizen science research is that some of her students, who although typically work with large datasets, have had little to no direct interaction with patients. Their experience here has been invaluable for them as they have been able to interact with real life patients for the first time. "Being here and working alongside the exceptional psychiatry faculty, gaining insights into their clinical practices, has been profoundly rewarding for me and for several members of my research team who have already spent one to two weeks here gaining clinical experience."
The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, in collaboration with international colleagues, recently hosted the Computational Psychiatry Conference, attracting 250 attendees. Last year, the conference was held in Dublin, marking its inaugural event. Several members of Claire’s lab attended and extended their stay to conduct this research at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB), where Claire is based.
RESEARCH AND CONNECTION
Claire expressed her aspiration to transcend her previous accomplishments, emphasizing that collaboration has been instrumental in advancing her research. Her lab's efforts are primarily directed towards enhancing reproducibility and expanding sample sizes, with a particular focus on psychiatric research. This aligns well with her work at MIDB with Dr. Brenden Tervo-Clemmens, PhD, LP, who was among the first to highlight the limitations associated with methodology and sample sizes in psychiatric neuroimaging in recent years. Claire and Dr. Tervo-Clemmens are co-authoring a paper and exploring future research projects together. Additionally, Claire has made significant strides through her collaboration with Dr. Robert Krueger, PhD from the Department of Psychology. Dr. Krueger’s work with the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) Consortium offers a novel approach to conceptualizing and measuring mental illness, shifting from categorical to dimensional perspectives. Claire remarked, “This is something my lab has been independently pursuing for many years [...] and I have greatly enjoyed engaging with researchers in this field [...] to discover new methods of describing mental illness that will advance both research and practice.”
TIME WITH OUR DEPARTMENT
Claire noted that she aims to deepen her clinical expertise through interactions with colleagues in the psychiatry department. Additionally, she plans to develop a grant proposal that explores new approaches to understanding mental illness and leverage large empirical data sets to make advances in her field.
LIVING IN THE USA
"My kids are thrilled to be spending so much time with their grandparents," said Claire, who has family here in Minnesota. Despite heavy downpours and thunderstorms early in her stay, she also appreciates the weather, noting that after the rainy days in Ireland, it's a relief to enjoy the warmth and sunshine here. However, she was quick to add that she's glad they won't be around when the snow arrives. Claire and her family have also taken an RV trip to the Badlands, enjoyed boondock camping on a cliff edge, and she praised the Minneapolis food scene, calling it an "unsung hero."
ON A FINAL NOTE
Claire mentioned that she will miss MIDB, along with her students and trainees who have all been impressed by the building and its offerings. "It's a spacious, comfortable, and highly impressive facility," she remarked.
