Turning Points

 Duncan Astle is the Gnodde Goldman Sachs Professor of Neuroinformatics at the University of Cambridge, and leads a research group focussing on how the brain develops through childhood and adolescence. In recent years Duncan has pioneered some really exciting methods for modelling how brain networks develop over time. In this episode, Duncan tells us about his last minute decision to study psychol...

Dr Camilla Nord leads the Mental Health Neuroscience Lab at the University of Cambridge. Her research investigates the brain mechanisms causing poor mental, and Camilla has particularly championed the importance of understanding how the brain interacts with other systems in the body, like the gut, immune system and metabolism. Recently, she published her first popular science book, 'The Balanced B...

 Michael Coleman is the van Geest Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge. He leads a research group investigating the mechanisms underlying axon degeneration, and how these contribute to diseases like ALS, traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease. Michael has also recently launched a blog, 'Science Without Anguish', which is a guide to doing great research and enjoying acad...

Dr Amy Orben is a Programme Leader at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge. Here, she leads the Digital Mental Health group and her research focuses on the intersection of digital technologies and mental health. In this episode, Amy tells us about social media, shaping your career, research quality, investing in skills, public engagement, thinking big, deciding...

Dr Lucy Foulkes is a Research Fellow in the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, where she conducts research looking at teenage mental health, and particularly the possible negative consequences of increased public mental health awareness. She's also recently published her second popular science book, titled "Coming of age: How adolescence shapes us".   In this episod...

Dr Kate Baker is a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge. She leads a research programme  looking at rare genetic disorders that affect brain development, and is also a medical doctor, specialising in clinical genetics.   Being both a medic and a scientist can be a challenge. Why is it important that we have clinician scientists who combine both roles? How do you know whether research is f...