Olivé Isadora

My research goal is to investigate why individuals diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder present an increased prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases with aging. I have a broad background in cognitive sciences with specific postdoctoral training in neuropsychiatry at the University of Western Ontario, where I carried out research on the neurobiological aspects of posttraumatic stress disorder. Employing brain imaging techniques such as resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, I laid the groundwork for research about the candidate neurobiological vulnerability mechanisms for neurodegeneration in posttraumatic stress disorder. At the Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, I expanded my research to include diffusion tensor imaging methods unravelling microstructural lesions associated with an increased prevalence of neurodegeneration in patients diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder with psychosis. I am currently a Honorary Research Associate at the University College of London, Faculty of Brain Sciences, Division of Psychiatry, working with Prof. Vasiliki Orgeta in the development of a research project aiming to further investigate candidate vulnerability mechanisms for neurodegeneration in posttraumatic stress disorder. This project will count with the collaboration of Professor Scott P. Orr from Harvard Medical School, Massachussets General Hospital, Professor Martha Shenton MD, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Dr. Sylvain Bouix, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Dr. Nikos Makris MD, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory & Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School. The project will compete for MRC support. During 2019-2020 my career was disrupted due to family obligations, and from 2020 on because of the Covid pandemics. However, during this period I have had an active scientific life devoted to the development of my collaborative scientific project, writing and reviewing of scientific peer-reviewed papers, as well as participation in international conferences. In summary, I have a demonstrated record of accomplished and productive research projects in an area of high relevance for our trauma-exposed and aging populations, and my expertise and experience have prepared me to lead projects about candidate neurobiological vulnerability mechanisms for neurodegeneration in posttraumatic stress disorder.