Description
Depression and anxiety disorders are more common in women than men, and many women also suffer from hormone-related conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, postpartum depression, and perimenopausal disturbances. Sex and gender differences in treatment response have been identified, yet no guidelines exist for sex- or gender-oriented psychiatric treatments, including psychedelic therapies.
This project will investigate sex differences in the acute effects of psilocybin across behavioural, neurobiological, and pharmacokinetic domains in male and female rodents. It will assess the influence of the estrous cycle and the interaction of exogenous hormone administration with psilocybin. The rapid antidepressant effects of psilocybin will be compared to other rapid-acting compounds in rodent models. Taken into consideration findings from human studies with psychedelics and other rapid-acting treatments, animal findings will be evaluated to enhance translational relevance.
This project aims to identify sex differences in psilocybin’s effects on rodent behaviour, neurochemistry, neurobiology, and neuroplasticity, and to translate these findings to humans. Dosage will be optimized, the ideal administration timing based on estrous/menstrual phase will be proposed, and information on potential hormonal contraceptive interactions will be gathered.
The doctoral candidate will design and conduct behavioural and pharmacological experiments in male and female rodents. Data from animal models, and from brain and blood analyses, will be collected, analyzed, and evaluated according to findings derived from human studies.
Location
Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Athens, Greece)
Supervisors
Prof. Christina Dalla is a psychopharmacologist at the 2nd Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at Aretaieio Hospital of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). She is leading the Psychopharmacology Research Group, with a focus on sex differences in models of depression and anxiety and on innovative treatments. She is also involved in human studies and clinical trials, including one on psychedelics.
Prof. Katerina Antoniou is a psychopharmacologist at the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, and has long experience in pharmacological studies in animals and humans, including ketamine studies, as well as models of depression, addiction, and psychosis.
Assist. Prof. Nikos Kokras, MD, is a psychiatrist at the First Psychiatric Clinic of Aiginiteion Hospital of the Medical School of NKUA. He performs clinical studies, including a trial on psychedelics, and has long experience in animal pharmacological studies with a focus on sex differences in models of depression and anxiety.
Secondments
Institute: University Medical Center Groningen (Groningen, The Netherlands)
Supervisors: Prof. Iris Sommer
Purpose: To gain experience with human ketamine and psilocybin studies that take into consideration sex differences.
Institute: Copenhagen University Hospital (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Supervisors: Prof. Vibe Frøkjær
Purpose: To gain experience in human depression studies, as well as imaging techniques. To compare and discuss animal with human psilocybin studies on hormonal contraceptives and the menstrual cycle.
General eligibility criteria
- The position is open to candidates of any nationality (European and non-European) who fulfil the requirements set for the Doctoral Candidates (DCs) funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions.
- Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant academic field, allowing enrolment in a PhD program at the hiring beneficiary.
- Applicants must not previously have been awarded a PhD degree.
- Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country in which the DC project for which they are applying is based for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to recruitment. This excludes short stays such as holidays, compulsory national service or time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention.
- Applicants must be willing to undertake secondments at another institute of the network during the DC project, including at institutes in other countries.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English at a level that is sufficiently high to fully benefit from the network training (C1/C2 level).
- Applicants are expected to be motivated to work in the field of psychedelic therapy.
- Applicants are expected to work independently, well-structured and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary consortium.
Additional eligibility criteria
A Master’s degree in pharmacology, neuroscience, or another related field or a Medical Doctor Degree. Before enrollment degrees must be recognized by the National Organisation for the Recognition of Academic Degrees in Greece.
Experience with animal behavioural studies and animal experimentation FELASA-C accreditation is highly appreciated.
Interest in psychedelic research, in sex differences and hormonal effects.
Understanding of statistics, experimental design and analysis.
Work ethics and collaborative skills for teamwork.
Knowledge of modern Greek language is helpful, but not an obligatory eligibility criterion.