The Immune System and Mental Health

Hymie Anisman received his PhD from the University of Waterloo, where he was also on faculty for two years, and has been a Professor at Carleton University, since 1994. He has also held an adjunct appointment with the Institute of Mental Health Research (Royal Ottawa Hospital) since 1993. Professor Anisman was a Senior Ontario Mental Health Research Fellow, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and held a Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience from 2001-2015, and has since held the position of Canada Research Professor. The principle theme of his research has concerned the influence of stressors on neurochemical, neuroendocrine and immune systems, and how these influence psychological (anxiety, depression) and physical illnesses including neurodegenerative, heart disease, and cancer progression.Shawn Hayley is a Full Professor and previous Canada Research Chair in the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University. Some of his research examines how the immune system influences neuroplasticity of the brain and consequently, how could be important for the development of new antidepressant drugs. As well, Dr. Hayley has been focused on how inflammation within the brain can cause neuronal degeneration and contribute to the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease. The Hayley lab is involved in studies in assessing how chemical (e.g. pesticides) immunologic (e.g. viral, bacterial agents) and even psychological environmental stressors can contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease, as well as it comorbid states (e.g. depression, anxiety). Much of this research is focused on how the brain's specialized immune cells, the microglia, are involved in the generation of neuronal pathology, as well as possibly recovery from pathology.

1. Multiple Pathways Linked to Mental Health and Illness 2. The Immune System: An Overview 3. Bacteria, Viruses, and the Microbiome 4. Life-Style Factors Affecting Biological Processes and Health 5. Stressor Processes and Effects on Neurobiological Functioning 6. Stress and Immunity 7. Prenatal and Early Postnatal Influences on Health 8. Depressive Disorders 9. Anxiety Disorders 10. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 11. Pain Processes 12. Autism 13. Schizophrenia 14. Inflammatory Roads to Parkinson's Disease 15. A Neuroinflammatory View of Alzheimer's Disease 16. Comorbidities in Relation to Inflammatory processes