Duncan is a third year graduate student in the schizophrenia research laboratory. Before joining the lab, he worked with individuals with schizophrenia; Duncan tried to help them manage the stress of returning to the workforce. How we respond to stress determines how well all of us navigate the ups and downs of life. This is particularly true of those who live with, or are at risk of developing, schizophrenia Now, his research focuses on the molecular mechanism of how the brain stress response differs in individuals with schizophrenia and how molecules in the brain that turn genes on and off in response to stressful situations and stressful periods in our lives may change across the lfe span. He has discovered that one of these molecules, the glucocorticoid receptor, is present at varying levels and in different forms in individuals with schizophrenia, potentially altering stress responsivity and worsening some hallmarks of the illness. He is currently exploring the genetic factors and environmental influences which may underlie these differences in the stress pathways in schizophrenia, in the hope of helping people with schizophrenia manage their illness more successfully while navigating life’s challenges. He currently has 2 papers in the highest impact journal in psychiatry and one paper under review at Biological Psychiatry. He is presenting is work at national and international meetings.
