Welcome to the
13^th MHeNs Annual Research Day

Our brains are under a lot of pressure each and every day, from environmental and genetic influences, and interactions thereof. The current corona pandemic has further increased this pressure on everyone’s brain and mind, and in many cases even more so in individuals with psychiatric or neurological disorders and diseases. It has also changed which and how research is performed. 

The 13^th Annual MHeNs Research Day focuses on research on disorders of the nervous system, and mental health care for individuals with these disorders, while they are under the added pressure of the current pandemic. How has it impacted daily life of patients - e.g. through loss of much needed structure and social interactions -, impacted treatment methods and opportunities, and possibly even symptomatology? What consequences has it had for mental health and neuroscience research and scientific work in general? What new research challenges and initiatives have come to the forefront?

Prof David Linden
Title: View on the future of MHeNs.
See Biography >

Prof Annemie Schols
Title: Update on the faculty’s endeavours to deal with the consequences of the pandemic for staff and students. See Biography >

Dr Martin van Boxtel and Marjan Drukker
PhD Coordinator Dr Martin van Boxtel and Dr Marjan Drukker (Epidemiologist, department Psychiatry & Neuropsychology). Title: General issues of interest to PhD students, the ramifications of the pandemic for PhD students, and the importance of scientific integrity.
See Biography Dr Martin van Boxtel >
See Biography Dr Marjan Drukker >

Pre-recorded lectures
We have several pre-recorded lectures within three themes linked to the overall topic of the day: Sophie Leijdesdorff, on the role of E- and M-health in the age of corona-virus; Prof Caroline van Heugten on the neuropsychological consequences of COVID-19; Prof Philippe Delespaul on the application of the Experience Sampling Method in research; Dr Mayke Oosterloo on Huntington’s Disease; and Prof Thérèse van Amelsvoort on 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. In the latter two sessions the researchers will present their ongoing studies as well as presenting and discussing the patient/caregiver perspective.

Pre-recorded e-pitches and the Award prices
Furthermore, the annual MHeNs Research Day is an important part of the training of young scientists in the field of Mental Health and Neuroscience Research. Thus, selected PhD students will pitch their research in pre-recorded e-pitches, and all PhD abstracts are available on this website. MHeNs will award prizes for the 3 best e-Pitches and 3 best PhD theses from the past year to highlight some of the work being carried out at our School.
See the 3 Best E-pitches Presentation E-Pitches awards >
See the 8 Best PhD theses 2020 Presentation PhD these awards >

We hope that you will enjoy our very topical Research Day, take this opportunity to get to know your colleagues’ research better, and be inspired by our collective scientific work.