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Hire Dr. Anna M.
United Kingdom
USD 200 /hr

Director, Research Scientist & Author | Expert in R

Profile Summary
Subject Matter Expertise
Services
Writing Clinical Trial Documentation, Medical Writing, Non-Medical Regulatory Writing, Technical Writing, Business & Legal Writing, Copywriting, Creative Writing, Newswriting, Audio Transcription, General Proofreading & Editing
Research Market Research, User Research, Meta-Research, Feasibility Study, Technology Scouting, Fact Checking, Gap Analysis, Gray Literature Search, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review, Secondary Data Collection
Consulting Healthcare Consulting, Scientific and Technical Consulting
Data & AI Predictive Modeling, Statistical Analysis, Algorithm Design-Non ML, Algorithm Design-ML, Data Visualization, Big Data Analytics, Text Mining & Analytics, Data Mining, Data Cleaning, Data Processing, Data Insights
Product Development Concept Development
Work Experience

Director

Sci-translate

March 2021 - Present

Post Doctoral Research Associate

King's College London

March 2021 - August 2021

Communication Manager

King's College London

May 2019 - January 2021

Science Writer and Communicator

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

November 2017 - December 2020

Consultant & Writer

London School of Economics

April 2019 - November 2019

Research Assistant

King's College London

October 2016 - September 2017

Hr consultant

The Guardian

March 2015 - September 2015

Education

King's College London

- July 2021

PhD in Neuroscience & Psychology (Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience)

King's College London

October 2017 - May 2021

MSc Psychiatric Research (Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry & Neuroscience)

King's College London

September 2015 - September 2016

BSc Psychological Science

University of Adelaide

February 2010 - December 2013

Certifications
  • Certification details not provided.
Publications
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Maria Antonietta Nettis, Giulia Lombardo, Caitlin Hastings, Zuzanna Zajkowska, Nicole Mariani, Naghmeh Nikkheslat, Courtney Worrell, Daniela Enache, Anna Patricia McLaughlin, Melisa Kose, et al.(2021). Augmentation therapy with Minocycline in treatment-resistant depression patients with low-grade peripheral inflammation: results from a double-blind randomized clinical trial . Neuropsychopharmacology. Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
Anna Patricia McLaughlin, Naghmeh Nikkheslat, Caitlin Hastings, Maria Antonietta Nettis, Melisa Kose, Courtney Worrell, Zuzanna Zajkowska, Nicole Mariani, Daniela Enache, Giulia Lombardo, et al.(2021). The influence of comorbid depression and overweight status on peripheral inflammation and cortisol levels . Psychological Medicine. Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Whole-blood expression of inflammasome- and glucocorticoid-related mRNAs correctly separates treatment-resistant depressed patients from drug-free and responsive patients in the BIODEP study @article{cece816dfeb64c43ba709d3ae353b8cf, title = "Whole-blood expression of inflammasome- and glucocorticoid-related mRNAs correctly separates treatment-resistant depressed patients from drug-free and responsive patients in the BIODEP study", abstract = "The mRNA expression signatures associated with the {\textquoteleft}pro-inflammatory{\textquoteright} phenotype of depression, and the differential signatures associated with depression subtypes and the effects of antidepressants, are still unknown. We examined 130 depressed patients (58 treatment-resistant, 36 antidepressant-responsive and 36 currently untreated) and 40 healthy controls from the BIODEP study, and used whole-blood mRNA qPCR to measure the expression of 16 candidate mRNAs, some never measured before: interleukin (IL)-1-beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, macrophage inhibiting factor (MIF), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), SGK1, FKBP5, the purinergic receptor P2RX7, CCL2, CXCL12, c-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), acquaporin-4 (AQP4), ISG15, STAT1 and USP-18. All genes but AQP4, ISG15 and USP-18 were differentially regulated. Treatment-resistant and drug-free depressed patients had both increased inflammasome activation (higher P2RX7 and proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines mRNAs expression) and glucocorticoid resistance (lower GR and higher FKBP5 mRNAs expression), while responsive patients had an intermediate phenotype with, additionally, lower CXCL12. Most interestingly, using binomial logistics models we found that a signature of six mRNAs (P2RX7, IL-1-beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, CXCL12 and GR) distinguished treatment-resistant from responsive patients, even after adjusting for other variables that were different between groups, such as a trait- and state-anxiety, history of childhood maltreatment and serum CRP. Future studies should replicate these findings in larger, longitudinal cohorts, and test whether this mRNA signature can identify patients that are more likely to respond to adjuvant strategies for treatment-resistant depression, including combinations with anti-inflammatory medications.", author = "{the Neuroimmunology of Mood Disorders and Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease (NIMA) Consortium} and Annamaria Cattaneo and Clarissa Ferrari and Lorinda Turner and Nicole Mariani and Daniela Enache and Caitlin Hastings and Melisa Kose and Giulia Lombardo and McLaughlin, {Anna P.} and Nettis, {Maria A.} and Naghmeh Nikkheslat and Luca Sforzini and Courtney Worrell and Zuzanna Zajkowska and Nadia Cattane and Nicola Lopizzo and Monica Mazzelli and Linda Pointon and Cowen, {Philip J.} and Jonathan Cavanagh and Harrison, {Neil A.} and {de Boer}, Peter and Declan Jones and Drevets, {Wayne C.} and Valeria Mondelli and Bullmore, {Edward T.} and Pariante, {Carmine M.}", year = "2020", month = dec, day = "1", doi = "10.1038/s41398-020-00874-7", language = "English", volume = "10", journal = "Translational psychiatry", issn = "2158-3188", publisher = "Nature Publishing Group", number = "1", } . Translational psychiatry.
Childhood Trauma, HPA Axis Activity and Antidepressant Response in Patients with Depression @article{130416e91ca246fdabf9941d35ee64c8, title = "Childhood Trauma, HPA Axis Activity and Antidepressant Response in Patients with Depression", abstract = "Childhood trauma is among the most potent contributing risk factors for depression and is associated with poor treatment response. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis abnormalities have been linked to both childhood trauma and depression, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the link between childhood trauma, HPA axis activity and antidepressant response in patients with depression. As part of the Wellcome Trust NIMA consortium, 163 depressed patients and 55 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Adult patients meeting Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Version-5 criteria for major depression were categorised into subgroups of treatment responder (n=42), treatment non-responder (n=80) and untreated depressed (n=41) based on current depressive symptom severity measured by the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and exposure to antidepressant medications established by Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was obtained. Baseline serum C-reactive protein was measured using turbidimetric detection. Salivary cortisol was analyzed at multiple time points during the day using the ELISA technique. Glucocorticoid resistance was defined as the coexistence of hypercortisolemia and inflammation. Our results show that treatment non-responder patients had higher exposure to childhood trauma than responders. No specific HPA axis abnormalities were found in treatment non-responder depressed patients. Untreated depressed showed increased diurnal cortisol levels compared with patients on antidepressant medication, and higher prevalence of glucocorticoid resistance than medicated patients and controls. The severity of childhood trauma was associated with increased diurnal cortisol levels only in individuals with glucocorticoid resistance. Therefore, our findings suggest that the severity of childhood trauma experience contributes to a lack of response to antidepressant treatment. The effects of childhood trauma on increased cortisol levels are specifically evident in patients with glucocorticoid resistance and suggest glucocorticoid resistance as a target for the development of personalized treatment for a subgroup of depressed patients with a history of childhood trauma rather than for all patients with resistance to antidepressant treatment.", keywords = "Childhood trauma, Cortisol response, Glucocorticoid resistance, HPA axis hyperactivity, Inflammation, Major depressive disorders, Treatment resistant depression", author = "Naghmeh Nikkheslat and Mclaughlin, {Anna P.} and Caitlin Hastings and Zuzanna Zajkowska and Nettis, {Maria A.} and Nicole Mariani and Daniela Enache and Giulia Lombardo and Linda Pointon and Cowen, {Philip J.} and Jonathan Cavanagh and Harrison, {Neil A.} and Bullmore, {Edward T.} and Pariante, {Carmine M.} and Valeria Mondelli", year = "2019", month = nov, day = "30", doi = "10.1016/j.bbi.2019.11.024", language = "English", journal = "Brain Behavior and Immunity", issn = "0889-1591", publisher = "ACADEMIC PRESS INC", } . Brain Behavior and Immunity.
Nikkheslat, N., McLaughlin, A.P., Hastings, C., Zajkowska, Z., Nettis, M.A., Mariani, N., Enache, D., Lombardo, G., Pointon, L., Cowen, P.J., et al.(2019). Childhood trauma, HPA axis activity and antidepressant response in patients with depression . Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Increased resting perfusion of the hippocampus in high positive schizotypy @article{45594532406e4bc6a5097dcfa39790b8, title = "Increased resting perfusion of the hippocampus in high positive schizotypy: A pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling study", abstract = "Arterial spin labeling (ASL) provides absolute quantification of resting tissue cerebral blood flow (CBF) as an entirely noninvasive approach with good reproducibility. As a result of neurovascular coupling, ASL provides a useful marker of resting neuronal activity. Recent ASL studies in individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR) have reported increased resting hippocampal perfusion compared with healthy controls. Schizotypy refers to the presence of subclinical psychotic-like experiences in healthy individuals and represents a robust framework to study neurobiological mechanisms involved in the extended psychosis phenotype while avoiding potentially confounding effects of antipsychotic medications or disease comorbidity. Here we applied pseudo-continuous ASL to examine differences in resting CBF in 21 subjects with high positive schizotypy (HS) relative to 22 subjects with low positive schizotypy (LS), as determined by the Oxford and Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences. Based on preclinical evidence that hippocampal hyperactivity leads to increased activity in mesostriatal dopamine projections, CBF in hippocampus, midbrain, and striatum was assessed. Participants with HS showed higher CBF of the right hippocampus compared to those with LS (p =.031, family-wise error corrected). No differences were detected in the striatum or midbrain. The association between increased hippocampal CBF and HS supports the notion that hippocampal hyperactivity might be a central characteristic of the extended psychosis phenotype, while hyperactivity in subcortical dopamine pathways may only emerge at a higher intensity of psychotic experiences.", keywords = "ASL, CBF, medial temporal lobe, MRI, neuroimaging, psychosis, psychosis proneness", author = "Gemma Modinos and Alice Egerton and Katrina McMullen and Anna McLaughlin and Veena Kumari and Barker, {Gareth J.} and Williams, {Steve C.R.} and Fernando Zelaya", year = "2018", month = oct, day = "1", doi = "10.1002/hbm.24231", language = "English", volume = "39", pages = "4055--4064", journal = "Human Brain Mapping", issn = "1065-9471", publisher = "Wiley-Liss Inc.", number = "10", } . Human Brain Mapping.
Modinos, G., Egerton, A., McMullen, K., McLaughlin, A., Kumari, V., Barker, G.J., Williams, S.C.R., Zelaya, F.(2018). Increased resting perfusion of the hippocampus in high positive schizotypy: A pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling study . Human Brain Mapping. 39. (10). p. 4055-4064.
Modinos, G., Egerton, A., McLaughlin, A., McMullen, K., Kumari, V., Lythgoe, D.J., Barker, G.J., Aleman, A., Williams, S.C.R.(2018). Neuroanatomical changes in people with high schizotypy: Relationship to glutamate levels . Psychological Medicine. 48. (11). p. 1880-1889.
Neuroanatomical changes in people with high schizotypy: relationship to glutamate levels @article{543e1e6f35c745dbb4c43d8556d9d852, title = "Neuroanatomical changes in people with high schizotypy: relationship to glutamate levels", abstract = "Background: Cortical glutamatergic dysfunction is thought to be fundamental for psychosis development, and may lead to structural degeneration through excitotoxicity. Glutamate levels have been related to gray matter volume (GMV) alterations in people at ultra-high risk of psychosis, and we previously reported GMV changes in individuals with high schizotypy (HS), which refers to the expression of schizophrenia-like characteristics in healthy people. This study sought to examine whether GMV changes in HS subjects are related to glutamate levels. Methods: We selected 22 healthy subjects with HS and 23 healthy subjects with low schizotypy (LS) based on their rating on a self-report questionnaire for psychotic-like experiences. Glutamate levels were measured in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and GMV was assessed using voxel-based morphometry. Results: Subjects with HS showed GMV decreases in the rolandic operculum/superior temporal gyrus (p FWE = 0.045). Significant increases in GMV were also detected in HS, in the precuneus (p FWE = 0.043), thereby replicating our previous finding in a separate cohort, as well as in the ACC (p FWE = 0.041). While the HS and LS groups did not differ in ACC glutamate levels, in HS subjects ACC glutamate was negatively correlated with ACC GMV (p FWE = 0.026). Such association was absent in LS. Conclusions: Our study shows that GMV findings in schizotypy are related to glutamate levels, supporting the hypothesis that glutamatergic function may lead to structural changes associated with the expression of psychotic-like experiences.", keywords = "glutamate, gray matter volume, MRS, psychosis, Schizotypy, sMRI", author = "Gemma Modinos and Alice Egerton and Anna McLaughlin and Katrina McMullen and Veena Kumari and Lythgoe, {David J.} and Barker, {Gareth J.} and Andr{\'e} Aleman and Williams, {Steve C.R.}", year = "2017", month = dec, day = "4", doi = "10.1017/S0033291717003403", language = "English", pages = "1--10", journal = "Psychological Medicine", issn = "0033-2917", publisher = "Cambridge University Press", } . Psychological Medicine.
Corticolimbic hyper-response to emotion and glutamatergic function in people with high schizotypy @article{1e92a079c4194588ac236c4579108442, title = "Corticolimbic hyper-response to emotion and glutamatergic function in people with high schizotypy: a multimodal fMRI-MRS study", abstract = "Animal models and human neuroimaging studies suggest that altered levels of glutamatergic metabolites within a corticolimbic circuit have a major role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Rodent models propose that prefrontal glutamate dysfunction could lead to amygdala hyper-response to environmental stress and underlie hippocampal overdrive in schizophrenia. Here we determine whether changes in brain glutamate are present in individuals with high schizotypy (HS), which refers to the presence of schizophrenia-like characteristics in healthy individuals, and whether glutamate levels are related to altered corticolimbic response to emotion. Twenty-one healthy HS subjects and 22 healthy subjects with low schizotypy (LS) were selected based on their Oxford and Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences rating. Glutamate levels were measured in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, followed by a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan to measure corticolimbic response during emotional processing. fMRI results and fMRI × glutamate interactions were considered significant after voxel-wise Po0.05 family-wise error correction. While viewing emotional pictures, HS individuals showed greater activation than did subjects with LS in the caudate, and marginally in the ACC, hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and putamen. Although no between-group differences were found in glutamate concentrations, within the HS group ACC glutamate was negatively correlated with striatal activation (left: z = 4.30, P = 0.004 and right: z = 4.12 P = 0.008 caudate; left putamen: z = 3.89, P = 0.018) and marginally with MPFC (z = 3.55, P = 0.052) and amygdala (left: z = 2.88, P = 0.062; right: z = 2.79, P = 0.079), correlations that were not present in LS subjects. These findings provide, to our knowledge, the first evidence that brain glutamate levels are associated with hyper-responsivity in brain regions thought to be critical in the pathophysiology of psychosis.", author = "G. Modinos and A. McLaughlin and A. Egerton and K. McMullen and V. Kumari and Barker, {G. J.} and C. Keysers and Williams, {S. C R}", year = "2017", month = apr, day = "4", doi = "10.1038/tp.2017.53", language = "English", volume = "7", journal = "Translational psychiatry", issn = "2158-3188", publisher = "Nature Publishing Group", number = "4", } . Translational psychiatry.
Modinos, G., McLaughlin, A., Egerton, A., McMullen, K., Kumari, V., Barker, G.J., Keysers, C., Williams, S.C.R.(2017). Corticolimbic hyper-response to emotion and glutamatergic function in people with high schizotypy: A multimodal fMRI-MRS study . Translational Psychiatry. 7. (4).