The Rockefeller University and University of Oslo (Norway)
Lead Investigators: Bruce McEwen, Ph.D., Svenn Torgersen, Ph.D., and Maria Karayiourgou, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators: Wayne Brake, Ph.D., Christina Sobin, Ph.D.

Project: Establish promising animal models of BPD features and to study the human genetics of BPD.

Preliminary Findings: The Rockefeller group has shown that the emotionality of mice can be altered by deficits in early maternal care. They anticipate generating anatomical information that will begin to elucidate how early life stressors and neglect change gene expression during development and possibly into adulthood. These insights may help us to understand the types of genetic and environmental interactions that predispose people to BPD.