Prof. Dr. Derntl receives DFG funding for International Research Training Group

The group is one of 13 new research training groups that will be funded for a period of five years. In addition, the group led by Prof. Derntl is one of only two new international Research Training Groups. Together with colleagues from Uppsala University in Sweden, the scientists from Tübingen are researching the connections between hormonal transition phases and women's mental health over the reproductive years.

It is precisely these hormonal transitional phases that women go through several times during their reproductive years and have an impact on their cognitive and emotional abilities, brain plasticity and (mental) health. It is during these transitional periods that the risk for mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders increases dramatically. by exploring specific hypotheses focusing on the influence of sex hormones. The goal of the international research training group is to better understand these relationships. In doing so, the interdisciplinary team intends to focus on negative and positive valence, as mental illness is characterized by emotional imbalance, i.e., high levels of negative emotions and/or loss of positive emotional experiences. The long-term perspective is to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of mental illness in women.

The quintessence of the Research Training Groups is to support female and male scientists in early career phases. Therefore, the international Research Training Group has developed a comprehensive and unique qualification program that focuses on principles of clinically relevant research, international exchange and the creation of synergies. In this way, the group guarantees its young junior scientists an optimal research environment by providing excellent training in the field of women's mental health.