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Dr Livia A Carvalho

Livia A

Senior Lecturer in Neuropsychopharmacology

Centre: Clinical Pharmacology and Precision Medicine

Email: l.carvalho@qmul.ac.uk
Telephone: +44(0) 20 7882 2101

Profile

Dr. Carvalho obtained a BSc in Pharmacology and Biochemistry, MSc in Neurosciences, and PhD in Pharmacology from University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She subsequently trained in psychoneuroimmunology with Prof. Carmine Pariante at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, KCL subsequently moving to the Psychobiology Group at University College London with Prof. Andrew Steptoe. Dr. Carvalho became a Lecturer at the William Harvey Research Institute in 2016. She holds an Honorary Senior Lecturer Post at the Department of Psychobiology, University of Malaga, Spain and is a Fellow of the Institute of Clinical Research.

Her interests rely in understanding whether immunophenotyping depression can influence treatment decisions both in improved disease stratification and in the discovery of secondary inflammation targets for drug discovery and repositioning in depression. This translational approach involves a combination of laboratory-based experiments, clinical trials and real-world measures using epidemiology and molecular (dry and wet lab) approaches.

Memberships/Awards

Dr Carvalho has received several prestigious awards including Young Investigator Awards from the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD), the European Neuropsychopharmacology Society (ECNP), the British Association for Psychopharmacology Non-clinical Award, and the American Psychosomatic Society.

Teaching Activities

Dr Carvalho leads the module SSCY2 “Brain Behaviour and Immunity” and co-leads the modules and “Clinical Pharmacology and Drug Safety Assessment” with Dr. Aisah Abdool; whilst also contributing to the teaching of other modules within the FMD. She contributes widely for the MBBS Programme by supporting Interviews for Medicine A100 and GEP, OSCE, PBLs, and SSC Y4. She is an academic advisor for several students in the MBBS and Biomedical Sciences Programme, and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I have directly trained numerous researchers inspiring the next generation of Translational Scientists. Some of whom have obtained academic faculty positions Daisy Fancourt (UCL) and Ann Liljn (University Hospital of Northen Sweden), and others followed a career path of their dreams in academia, Naghmeh Nikkheslat (Post doc KCL), Amy Ronaldson (Post doc KCL), or industry Laura Hanns (Senior Scientist UCB), Samantha Lawes (Clinical Trials Manager at IESO), and Gill Weston (Consultant at Flourishing).

Reviewer Activities

Reviewer Ad-hoc for the following journals Brain Behaviour and Immunity, Psychoneuroendocrinology, Neuropsychopharmacology, among others.

External reviewer for fellowships, project and programme grant for the FWO Research Foundation, Brussels; ME Research, Dunhill Medical Trust, UK; Economic and Social Research Council, UK, Alzheimer Research Trust; National Institute of Health Research, UK, Medical Research Council, UK.

Research

Group members

  • Luis de Souza Teodoro
  • Christoper Clesse
  • Simone Jayakuma

Summary 

Most of her research involves improving precision medicine by immune-related phenotyping individuals with mental illnesses to find and develop tests to allow better targeting of the available treatments to those who would benefit the most, and to identify new targets for patients who are not benefiting from treatment with monoaminergic drugs.

Her projects more specifically revolve around two major themes:

  1. Understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms which underpins disease progression/resistance for novel target identification (precision pathogenesis/discovery)
  2. Who will respond/non-respond to current/novel medications? (Precision stratification/therapy)

Studies are carried out in human volunteers (epidemiological cohorts, general and clinical populations) and involve a combination of laboratory-based experiments as well as real world settings. Improved understanding of the pathways linking the peripheral immune systems is essential for the development of new interventions to prevent and treat mental health, as well as the behavioural and depressive symptoms that commonly accompany physical illnesses. It could also influence treatment decisions and provide alternative targets for potential new antidepressant agents.

If you are interested in this area of research, I am happy to consider full-time or part-time PhD studentship applications. Please email me your CV explaining reasons why you would like to apply.

Figure: Theoretical framework motivating our studies. Successful amelioration of depression is associated to correction of neuroendocrine disturbances. Clinical non-responsiveness to antidepressants is reflected in an inability of antidepressants to exert potent anti-inflammatory effects.

Publications

Scopus h-index=36, I am an Associate Editor of the Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity Impact Factor 19.227, ranking 6 out of 274 in Neurosciences.

Full list of publications

  • Souza-Teodoro LH, Davies NM, Warren HR et al. (2024). DHEA and response to antidepressant treatment: A Mendelian Randomization analysis. nameOfConference


  • Weston G, Zilanawala A, Webb E et al. (publicationYear). Work hours, weekend working, nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality: findings from the UK household longitudinal study. nameOfConference


  • Jayakumar S, Jennings S, Halvorsrud K et al. (2023). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence on inflammation in depressive illness and symptoms in chronic and end-stage kidney disease. nameOfConference


  • Clesse C, Yaqoob MM, Jayakumar S et al. (2022). Investigating inflammation in depression in the chronically ill: Theoretical model and perspectives. nameOfConference


  • Souza-Teodoro LH, Andrade LHSG, Carvalho LA (2022). Could dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) be a novel target for depression?. nameOfConference


  • Khandaker GM, Zuber V, Rees JMB et al. (2021). Correction: Shared mechanisms between coronary heart disease and depression: findings from a large UK general population-based cohort. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Hanns L, Radziszewska A, Suffield L et al. (2020). Association of Anxiety With Pain and Disability but Not With Increased Measures of Inflammation in Adolescent Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Wittenberg GM, Stylianou A, Zhang Y et al. (2020). Effects of immunomodulatory drugs on depressive symptoms: A mega-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in inflammatory disorders. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Sforzini L, Pariante CM, Palacios JE et al. (2019). Inflammation associated with coronary heart disease predicts onset of depression in a three-year prospective follow-up: A preliminary study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Khandaker GM, Zuber V, Rees JMB et al. (2020). Shared mechanisms between coronary heart disease and depression: findings from a large UK general population-based cohort. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Weston G, Zilanawala A, Webb E et al. (2019). Long work hours, weekend working and depressive symptoms in men and women: findings from a UK population-based study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Liljas AEM, Walters K, de Oliveira C et al. (2020). Self-Reported Sensory Impairments and Changes in Cognitive Performance: A Longitudinal 6-Year Follow-Up Study of English Community-Dwelling Adults Aged ⩾50 Years. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho KMB, Ronca DB, Michels N et al. (publicationYear). Does the Mediterranean Diet Protect against Stress-Induced Inflammatory Activation in European Adolescents? The HELENA Study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • RONALDSON AL, Carvalho LA, Kostich K et al. (2018). The effects of six-day SSRI administration on diurnal cortisol secretion in healthy volunteers.. nameOfConference


  • Lawes S, Demakakos P, Steptoe A et al. (2019). Combined influence of depressive symptoms and systemic inflammation on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: evidence for differential effects by gender in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Michels N, Clarke G, Olavarria-Ramirez L et al. (2018). Psychosocial stress and inflammation driving tryptophan breakdown in children and adolescents: A cross-sectional analysis of two cohorts. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Steptoe A, Ronaldson A, Kostich K et al. (2018). The effect of beta-adrenergic blockade on inflammatory and cardiovascular responses to acute mental stress. nameOfConference


  • Hanns L, Cordingley L, Galloway J et al. (2018). Depressive symptoms, pain and disability for adolescent patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: results from the Childhood Arthritis Prospective Study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Bell JA, Kivimäki M, Bullmore ET et al. (2017). Repeated exposure to systemic inflammation and risk of new depressive symptoms among older adults. nameOfConference


  • Liljas AEM, Carvalho LA, Papachristou E et al. (2017). Self-reported vision impairment and incident prefrailty and frailty in English community-dwelling older adults: findings from a 4-year follow-up study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Leday GGR, Vértes PE, Richardson S et al. (2018). Replicable and Coupled Changes in Innate and Adaptive Immune Gene Expression in Two Case-Control Studies of Blood Microarrays in Major Depressive Disorder. nameOfConference


  • Nikkheslat N, Zunszain PA, Carvalho LA et al. (2017). Antidepressant Actions on Glucocorticoid Receptors. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Liljas AEM, Carvalho LA, Papachristou E et al. (2017). Self‐Reported Hearing Impairment and Incident Frailty in English Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: A 4‐Year Follow‐Up Study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Liljas AEM, Wannamethee SG, Whincup PH et al. (2016). Hearing impairment and incident disability and all-cause mortality in older British community-dwelling men. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fancourt D, Williamon A, Carvalho LA et al. (publicationYear). Singing modulates mood, stress, cortisol, cytokine and neuropeptide activity in cancer patients and carers. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fancourt D, Perkins R, Ascenso S et al. (publicationYear). Effects of Group Drumming Interventions on Anxiety, Depression, Social Resilience and Inflammatory Immune Response among Mental Health Service Users. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Liljas AEM, Wannamethee SG, Whincup PH et al. (2016). Sensory Impairments and Cardiovascular Disease Incidence and Mortality in Older British Community‐Dwelling Men: A 10‐Year Follow‐Up Study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fancourt D, Perkins R, Ascenso S et al. (2016). Group Drumming Modulates Cytokine Response in Mental Health Services Users: A Preliminary Study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Souza-Teodoro LH, de Oliveira C, Walters K et al. (2016). Higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate protects against the onset of depression in the elderly: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA). nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Gerdes JM, Strell C et al. (2015). Interplay between the Endocrine System and Immune Cells. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Endrighi R, Hamer M, Hackett RA et al. (2015). Effect of short-term weight loss on mental stress-induced cardiovascular and pro-inflammatory responses in women. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Liljas AEM, Wannamethee SG, Whincup PH et al. (2016). Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and burden of morbidity associated with self-reported hearing and vision impairments in older British community-dwelling men: a cross-sectional study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Lazzarino AI, Hamer M, Carvalho L et al. (2015). The mediation of coronary calcification in the association between risk scores and cardiac troponin T elevation in healthy adults: Is atherosclerosis a good prognostic precursor of coronary disease?. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Hackett RA, Lazzarino AI, Carvalho LA et al. (2015). Hostility and Physiological Responses to Acute Stress in People With Type 2 Diabetes. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Grosse L, Carvalho LA, Birkenhager TK et al. (2016). Circulating cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells as potential predictors for antidepressant response in melancholic depression. Restoration of T regulatory cell populations after antidepressant therapy. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Zalli A, Jovanova O, Hoogendijk WJG et al. (2016). Low-grade inflammation predicts persistence of depressive symptoms. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Ronaldson A, Gazali AM, Zalli A et al. (2016). Increased percentages of regulatory T cells are associated with inflammatory and neuroendocrine responses to acute psychological stress and poorer health status in older men and women. nameOfConference


  • Nikkheslat N, Zunszain PA, Horowitz MA et al. (2015). Insufficient glucocorticoid signaling and elevated inflammation in coronary heart disease patients with comorbid depression. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Steptoe A, Hackett RA, Lazzarino AI et al. (2014). Disruption of multisystem responses to stress in type 2 diabetes: Investigating the dynamics of allostatic load. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Urbanova L, Hamer M et al. (2015). Blunted glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid sensitivity to stress in people with diabetes. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Grosse L, Carvalho LA, Wijkhuijs AJM et al. (2015). Clinical characteristics of inflammation-associated depression: Monocyte gene expression is age-related in major depressive disorder. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Rybka J, Kędziora-Kornatowska K, Banaś-Leżańska P et al. (2014). Corrigendum to “Interplay between the pro-oxidant and antioxidant system, and proinflammatory cytokine levels, in relation to iron metabolism and the erythron in depression” [Free Rad. Bio. Med. 63C (2013) 187–194]. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Zalli A, Carvalho LA, Lin J et al. (2014). Shorter telomeres with high telomerase activity are associated with raised allostatic load and impoverished psychosocial resources. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Kidd T, Carvalho LA, Steptoe A (2014). The relationship between cortisol responses to laboratory stress and cortisol profiles in daily life. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Bergink V, Sumaski L et al. (2014). Inflammatory activation is associated with a reduced glucocorticoid receptor alpha/beta expression ratio in monocytes of inpatients with melancholic major depressive disorder. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Petros N, Carvalho LA (2014). The role of mineralocorticoid receptors in major depressive disorder. nameOfConference

    DOI: doi

    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Rybka J, Kupczyk D, Kędziora-Kornatowska K et al. (2011). Age-related changes in an antioxidant defense system in elderly patients with essential hypertension compared with healthy controls. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Rybka J, Kędziora-Kornatowska K, Banaś-Leżańska P et al. (2013). Interplay between the pro-oxidant and antioxidant systems and proinflammatory cytokine levels, in relation to iron metabolism and the erythron in depression. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Torre JP, Papadopoulos AS et al. (2013). Lack of clinical therapeutic benefit of antidepressants is associated overall activation of the inflammatory system. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Jackowska M, Hamer M, Carvalho LA et al. (2012). Short Sleep Duration Is Associated with Shorter Telomere Length in Healthy Men: Findings from the Whitehall II Cohort Study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Barbosa IG, Rybka J, Svedberg N et al. (2012). Neuroinflammation and depression. nameOfConference

    DOI: doi

    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Antonioli M, Rybka J, Carvalho LA (2012). Neuroimmune endocrine effects of antidepressants. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Barbosa IG, Rocha NP, Huguet RB et al. (2012). Executive dysfunction in euthymic bipolar disorder patients and its association with plasma biomarkers. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Goljevscek S, Carvalho LA (2011). Current management of obsessive and phobic states. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Antonioli M, Rybka J, Carvalho LA (2011). Neuroendocrinological effects of antidepressants: Is there a role for melatonin?. nameOfConference

    DOI: doi

    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Barbosa IG, Huguet RB, Sousa LP et al. (2011). Circulating levels of GDNF in bipolar disorder. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Anacker C, Zunszain PA, Cattaneo A et al. (2011). Antidepressants increase human hippocampal neurogenesis by activating the glucocorticoid receptor. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Anacker C, Zunszain PA, Carvalho LA et al. (2011). The glucocorticoid receptor: Pivot of depression and of antidepressant treatment?. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Weigelt K, Carvalho LA, Drexhage RC et al. (2011). TREM-1 and DAP12 expression in monocytes of patients with severe psychiatric disorders. EGR3, ATF3 and PU.1 as important transcription factors. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Rybka J, Kupczyk D, Kędziora-Kornatowska K et al. (2011). Glutathione-Related Antioxidant Defense System in Elderly Patients Treated for Hypertension. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Zunszain PA, Anacker C, Cattaneo A et al. (2011). Glucocorticoids, cytokines and brain abnormalities in depression. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Garner BA, Dew T et al. (2010). Antidepressants, but not antipsychotics, modulate GR function in human whole blood: An insight into molecular mechanisms. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Pariante CM (2008). In vitro modulation of the glucocorticoid receptor by antidepressants. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Juruena MF, Papadopoulos AS et al. (2009). Reply: ‘Clomipramine and Glucocorticoid Receptor Function’. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Markus R, Franco D, Carvalho L et al. (2010). Acute increase in urinary 6-sulfatoximelatonin after clomipramine, as a predictive measure for emotional improvement. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho L, Gorenstein C, Moreno R et al. (2009). Effect of antidepressants on melatonin metabolite in depressed patients. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Juruena MF, Papadopoulos AS et al. (2008). Clomipramine In Vitro Reduces Glucocorticoid Receptor Function in Healthy Subjects but not in Patients with Major Depression. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Gorenstein C, Moreno RA et al. (2006). Melatonin levels in drug-free patients with major depression from the southern hemisphere. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Reno LAC, Zago W, Markus RP (2004). Release of [3h]-l-glutamate by stimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rat cerebellar slices. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Markus RP, Santos JM, Zago W et al. (2003). Melatonin Nocturnal Surge Modulates Nicotinic Receptors and Nicotine-Induced [3H]Glutamate Release in Rat Cerebellum Slices. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Carvalho LA, Carmona-Ribeiro AM (1998). Interactions between Cationic Vesicles and Serum Proteins. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref

Sponsors

Collaborators

Internal

External

  • Glyn Lewis
  • Kam Bhui

 

Teaching

Livia Co-leads the module “Clinical Trials and Regulatory Affairs with Prof. Patricia McGettigan and Prof. Steffen Petersen; whilst also contributing to the teaching of other modules within the FMD. Livia is an academic advisor for several students on the BScPhIT course and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. 

As a supervisor, she has mentored the following research staff and projects:

  • 3 PhD students to completion (Naghmeh Nikkheslat 2011-2014, Daisy Fancourt 2012-2015, Amy Ronaldson 2013-2016);
  • 5 PhD students currently working to completion (Laura Hanns, Ann Liljn finishing 2017); Gill Weston (part-time, 2018); Sam Lawes (2018) and 1 MRes student Thomas Mitchell
  • 2 postdocs Kenia Baiochi (2015); Joshua Bell (2015-2016)
  • 10 MSc students, 3 final year medical students, 2 Erasmus students from Spain

Also:

Honorary Senior Lecturer
Psychobiology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
University College London
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychobiology/people/carvalhol

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