GRK 2350:  Impact of adverse childhood experience on psychiatric and somatic disorders across the lifespan

• Subject Area: Neurosciences
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 324164820

The planned RTG investigates psychosocial, neurobiological, and somatic sequelae of ACE. It is embedded in the central lines of research at the CIMH and the MFH, with two already existing BMBFfunded networks on trauma-related disorders and existing patient cohorts, and based on long-lasting experience with doctoral training programmes. ACE such as sexual and physical abuse or neglect are frequent in childhood and constitute a massive stressor with long-lasting consequences for mental and physical health. Despite their obvious relatedness, neither the causal relation nor the mechanisms involved are clear. On the one hand, traumatic experiences are diverse, differing in type, timing, and intensity with social support and other protective factors contributing to this. On the other hand, ACE-related manifestations range from psychosocial to somatic problems such as heightened stress sensitivity, emotional disturbances, interpersonal problems, depression, substance dependence, chronic pain, or inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Therefore, the central aims of the planned RTG are (1) Investigation of the role of type, timing and intensity of ACE and protective factors in the emergence of ACE-related disorders; (2) Elucidation of the psychosocial, neurobiological and epigenetic mechanisms underlying ACE-related psychiatric and somatic disorders; (3) Development of novel psychosocial and pharmacological treatment possibilities as well as public health programmes for ACE-related conditions. The planned RTG will carefully select and train doctoral researchers with a background in medicine, psychology, biology, and related natural sciences. Complementing the RTG’s scientific excellence, the structured concept for qualification and supervision builds on a long-standing experience in similar programmes such as in SFB 636, KFO 256 and other graduate schools at Heidelberg University and will further develop institutional prerequisites for training internationally leading scientists. Scientific development will be facilitated by the participation in regular scientific events together with a spring school, master class, symposia, and national or international internships. Participants will receive intensive training in scientific excellence, providing key knowledge, hard and soft skills in addition to support of personal development through mentoring and coaching.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Christian Schmahl
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Tobias Banaschewski; Professor Dr. Martin Bohus; Professor Dr. Michael Deuschle; Professor Dr. Joachim E. Fischer; Professorin Dr. Herta Flor; Professor Dr. Hans-Peter Hammes; Professorin Dr. Sabine C. Herpertz; Professor Dr. Falk Kiefer; Professorin Dr. Stefanie Lis; Privatdozentin Dr. Inga Niedtfeld; Professor Dr. Rainer Spanagel; Professor Dr. Marc Wolf Sütterlin; Professorin Dr. Heike Tost; Professor Dr. Rolf-Detlef Treede