The Immune System and Mental Health

Authors

Hymie Anisman Canada Research Chair in Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ONT, Canada. 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 Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. My research is focused upon how interactions between the brain and immune system may influence the development of psychiatric and neurological conditions. In particular, how stressors impact upon neuro-immune communication to promote emotional and behavioural disturbances. Current projects are also exploring how environmental factors and immune insults may cause brain inflammation that contributes to neurodegeneration. Alexander W. Kusnecov Professor, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA. Alex Kusnecov received his doctorate from the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, after which he conducted postdoctoral research in psychoneuroimmunology at the University of Rochester. Subsequently, he held a faculty appointment in the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA. He is currently a Professor within the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University, where his research involves the analyses of functional relationships between the brain and behavior, endocrine systems, and immune processes. His research on psychoneuroimmunology has appeared in prestigious journals, and together with Dr. Anisman, he has published two books (one an edited volume, and the other a text dealing with the involvement of the immune system in mental illnesses and neurodegenerative disorders). His research is funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH). He serves on the editorial board of Brain, Behavior and Immunity, and has served on several National Institute for Health research grant panels, and has reviewed grants for Canadian and European grant agencies. He has acted as undergraduate director of the Department of Psychology, and currently co-chairs the Department of Psychology Diversity and Climate Committee.