Cortney Turner, Ph.D.

Throughout my research career, I have focused on the neurobiology of affective neuroscience. My main area of interest is neuromodulators of motivation and emotion, both positive and negative. I have primarily focused on the role of growth factors in the hippocampus. Specifically, I study various members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, and how they modulate behavior and neuroplasticity.

My overall goal is to develop biomarkers and novel therapeutics for depression and anxiety. Currently, I am involved in two projects, one clinical and one basic. The latter project involves identifying novel molecules from post-mortem human brain studies and then testing proprietary compounds that target these molecules for antidepressant activity. Promising candidates are then followed up by neuroanatomical and neurochemical techniques to identify their mechanism of action. The other project involves developing a predictive algorithm to determine vulnerability and resilience to depression and anxiety in college freshmen. Various clinical, hormonal, genetic and activity measures are collected at baseline, and the students are followed on measures of anxiety and depression during the year. The ultimate goal of these two projects is to improve the prevention and treatment of mood disorders.